Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the capital city of Sri Lanka.A bustling metropolis, the city is an attractive blend of old and new. It has the lazy charm of the bygone era combined with the verve and vivaciousness of a modern city. Colombo is an ideal location to start the Sri Lanka sojourn.History of Colombo is the strong point of Colombo tourism and the major historical and sight seeing places spread all over the city are its selling points. The National museum, the Fort, the Independence Memorial Hall, the Dehiwala Zoo, The Parliament Building, St. Lucia’s Cathedral are some of the major tourist attractions.

Places to visit

The Fort

Originally a fort during the Portuguese and Dutch periods but now simply the commercial center of the country and the site of most major offices, big hotels, some of the better shops, airline offices, banks, main post office, immigration office, travel agents and restaurants. Within Fort are several places of tourist interest which can be conveniently seen on foot. The colonial buildings include the Presidential Secretariat, previously the parliament house, the Grand Oriental Hotel, built in the mid 19th century as barracks for soldiers, and the Lighthouse Clock Tower.Fort’s prominent landmark also shows the time and the red and white Cargills and Millers departmental stores, with ancient brass signs and wooden display cabinets. There is also the General Post Office building, the Delft Gateway dating to the Dutch period, and the Fort Police Station which was once a Dutch Hospital. Other examples of pre independent Sri Lanka are the Chartered Bank Building, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and the statue of Queen Victoria in Gordon Gardens. Amongst the modern structures are the Ceylinco Building, Sri Lanka’s only high rise of the 1960’s, the World Trade Center and the Hilton, Galadari and Intercontinental Hotels.

Cinnamon Gardens

A century ago what is now Colombo’s equivalent to Sunset Boulevard was covered with cinnamon plantations. Today, on its elegant tree lined streets nestle palatial residences of Sri Lanka’s powerful elite. The Viharamahadevi Park, the city’s largest and oldest park in Colombo 7 is a riot of color with flowering trees from March to May. Called Victoria Park during British times it was renamed after one of Sri Lanka’s famous queens whose statue has been erected in its precincts.

The National Museum

Department of National Museums, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7. Tel: 11 269-4767. Closed Fridays and all public holidays. 9AM-5PM. Also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum, it is the largest museum in Colombo. Among its exhibits, it contains regalia of the 17th century Kandyan Kings.

Galle Face Green

This promenade on the sea face stretching one and a half kilometers was laid out in 1859 by the British Governor Sir Henry Ward. Used for horse racing a hundred years ago it is now the largest open space in Colombo and a haunt for children, vendors, teenagers, lovers, merrymakers and all those who want to indulge in their favorite pastimes next to the sea under the open sky. It is at its busiest on Saturday and Sunday evenings when it is packed with food vendors doing brisk business with hordes of picnickers. At one end is the Ceylon Intercontinental and at the other the quaint Galle Face Hotel, a relic of old world charm with its fine old furniture, hand carved doors, balconies and high ceilings.

Best time to visit

Colombo enjoys fairly temperate climate throughout the year. The weather has no extreme variations here. However it is better to avoid monsoons while visiting Sri Lanka. Rainy seasons fall in May-August or October-January.

Getting here

With Sri Lanka being an island and ferry services to the island being limited to cruise liners, almost all visitors to Colombo arrive by air at Bandaranaike International Airport, which is located at Katunayake, 18 miles from Colombo city centre.

Hotels in Colombo

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