15 Best Places to Visit in Colombo
Colombo is Sri Lanka’s massive economic metropolis, an old port city teeming with stunning verdure. Despite having a long history as a trading post, Colombo’s past is echoed in its colonial architecture and cosmopolitan culture. A course of Dutch, Portuguese, and British conquests run between the high-rises and commercial malls. The beach legacies, on the other hand, are a fantastic starting point for Sri Lankan experiences in and of themselves. So are the amazing Buddhas in all shapes and sizes!
Colombo is a port on the Lakshadweep Sea, surrounded by coconut and palm-fringed beaches since the 8th century. It was named after the Kolam or Coconut palm. The harbour and Pettah are two of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods. The Greater Colombo neighbourhood, with its core cluster of high towers, is the newest addition to this China-built city. With a little empirical investigating, you’ll find delightful stores, cafés, and acclaimed local restaurants hidden amid the city’s growing skylines.
To get a feel of the city, explore Colombo in a Tuk Tuk, a popular local mode of transportation. I’ve compiled a list of the top 12 landmarks in Colombo, I recommend you visit, especially if you’re visiting Sri Lanka for the first time.
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Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple
Sri Lankan Monk, Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera, founded in the late nineteenth century what is now Colombo’s most famous Buddhist temple. One of the oldest, too! Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is not just an eclectic combination of Sri Lankan, Indian, Thai, and Chinese architecture, but also a compelling design that invites peaceful thoughts and tranquilly. After the respected Sri Sumangala, his pupil Devundera Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera took over the temple’s responsibilities. He is the one who started the process of making the temple a worldwide success.
In order, Devundara Keerthi Sri Sumangala Jinaratana Vacissara Thera, both disciples collaborated to make Gangaramaya into what it is today. As a result, Gangaramaya is more than a temple; it is also a spiritual learning centre and a wonderful marriage of traditional essence and modern architecture. It holds tens of thousands of different Buddhas!
Colombo Lotus Tower
Colombo Lotus Tower, at 356 metres tall, is the highest self-supported building in South Asia, making it one of the city’s top attractions. The Colombo Lotus Tower symbolises the natural element of Sri Lanka’s environment, in addition to its unbinding height, which makes it visible from most sections of the city.
Lotus is a Buddhist symbol of purity, and its buds may be seen all around Sri Lanka. As a result, dedicating a tower to this ceremonial flower was a fantastic opportunity to show off Sri Lanka’s culture to visitors. In addition to its environmental significance, this $100 million 17-storey skyscraper features a variety of restaurants, commercial stores, a hotel, a telecommunications museum, and an observation deck with the city’s greatest vistas on show.
The Old Dutch Hospital
One of the oldest cobblestone courtyards, tucked away in the Colombo Fort on hospital street, rapidly draws you away from the city’s rush and bustle. It’s the Old Dutch Hospital, built in the 16th century. The purlieu of Old Dutch Hospital is now a venue with concrete seats and a breezy environment. This landmark structure, however, served as a multi-purpose hospital throughout the Dutch colonial era. The hospital’s first records date from 1681 when it was founded to care for officials of the Dutch East India Company.
This structure housed the Colombo Fort Police Station in the early 1980s. However, it was heavily damaged during the LTTE attack in 1996, followed by the bombing of the Central Bank. Nothing concerns when you see the lovely colonnades, wooden doors, windows, and low-slung tiled roofs that embody the ancient elegance of a bygone age. In modern times, this is one of the greatest spots in Colombo to relax in a relaxed atmosphere while listening to calming music.
Colombo Town Hall
The Mayor’s Office, Colombo’s official Town Hall, is located just across from Viharamahadevi Park. This elegant, whitewashed colonial structure was built during British rule and now serves as the headquarters of the Colombo Municipal Council. Besides, this neo-gothic administrative complex contains arches, towering elegant columns, and an imposing central dome that is difficult to miss. The well-drawn details demonstrate a creative and functional design.
Bandaranaike Memorial ICH
The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall is another remarkable site in Colombo worth visiting. The Republic of China gave this convention centre to Colombo in commemoration of Prime Minister Solomon Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, and it was built in the late nineteenth century. It’s worth noting that this structure was constructed in collaboration between Chinese and Sri Lankan workers. According to reports, a significant amount of construction materials was imported from China. In current times, BMIC occupies 16,000 square feet in the Cinnamon Gardens and has an academic wing as well as a sophisticated library. Throughout the year, this Hall hosts high-profile events.
The Independence Commemoration Hall
It was time to explore Colombo’s most famous monument after visiting its other outstanding landmarks. The Independence Commemoration Hall, Sri Lanka’s most iconic national landmark, is just five minutes away from BMICH. From a distance, this single-story structure in Independence Square gives the impression of a Japanese pagoda. This hall was built on February 4, 1948, to commemorate Ceylon’s independence from British control and the establishment of an elected legislature. Every inch of this structure exudes pride, as it was here that Sri Lankans had their first ceremonial independence celebration.
The majority of Sri Lanka’ Independence Day events take place at this venue. The monument of Don Stephen Senanayake, Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister, stands in front of the Independence Commemoration Hall. He is deemed the father of the nation! The interiors of the Independence Commemoration Hall are inspired by Kandy, Sri Lanka’s old capital. Intricate sculptures adorn the Main Hall. In recent times, this Hall hosts independence celebrations and other major religious gatherings. It’s a great site to honour sovereignty principles. The parliament has been relocated to a new facility from where the Senate of Ceylon formerly worked.
Colombo Lighthouse
Sri Lanka Ports Authority operates and maintains the Colombo Lighthouse in Sri Lanka located in Colombo Fort at Galbokka Point, along the marine highway. It has four lion sculptures at its base. A black and white checkered pattern is painted on the seaward side of the tower. This 95ft lighthouse was pitched after, Old Colombo Lighthouse was disengaged, in 1952, when its light was blocked by the neighbouring structures. The lighthouse was later inaugurated by Senanayake, Ceylon’s first prime minister.
Colombo Lighthouse became a municipal milestone because of the panoramic views of the Indian Ocean that surrounds it. A naval gun battery is located at its base and is utilised by the Sri Lanka Navy for traditional gun salutes. Momentarily public access was restricted owing to its high-security zone location but, you can now visit the Lighthouse.
Nelum Pokuna
The Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapakse Theatre, formerly the National Performing Arts Theatre, is a fully equipped performance venue designed for large-scale theatrical plays. The design of the building resembles Polonnaruwa’s Nelum Pokuna (lotus pond) from the 12th century. The Nelum Pokuna in Polonnaruwa was built by King Parakramabahu and is made to look like an eight-petalled lotus flower. The theatre has two performance spaces: a large auditorium and an open-air amphitheatre.
Because this architectural treasure is in the centre of Colombo, both local and international producers may easily access it. The facility has a total floor space of 150,000 sqft and features cutting-edge amenities such as a 1,288-seat theatre, a library, and training facilities. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and China’s Vice President of the Chinese Republican Committee, Sang Chiang, inaugurated it. The Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha was renamed to Nelum Pokuna Mawatha at the opening, but was afterwards changed back to Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha.
Colombo National Museum
A national museum serves as both a repository for a country’s historical and cultural heritage and a symbol of national pride. It enlightens the populace about historical lineage while reawakening nationalistic sentiments. However, most museums’ backstories will tell you what is needed to get them up and running. One such effort led to the foundation of the national museum in Colombo when on March 4, 1872, Sir William Henry Gregory of Britain, a keen watcher of museums, assumed the position of Governor of Ceylon.
He was astounded to discover the cultural legacy, that was then hiding among the ruins when he first came to Ceylon. To preserve the rapidly fading history of Ceylon, he proposed to the British Government that a museum be built. The British Government finally accepted his plan for building Ceylon’s first National Museum in 1874. The Colombo Museum was completed in two years as a two-storey structure with elaborate towers, arches, and open porches. On January 1, 1877, it was unveiled to the public along with 384 more specimens and 808 artefacts. Inscriptions, diverse stone sculptures, artefacts like jewellery and coins, and models of natural sciences are among the things on display.
Pettah Bazaar
In one of Colombo’s biggest commercial locations, the open-air Manning or Pettah Bazaar is a blazing trail of multi-ethnic stores. Pettah is an Anglo-Indian term that refers to a neighbourhood outside of a fort. This market’s entrance is distinguished by the towering Khan Clock Tower, which was pitched by Framjee Bhickajee Khan, a prominent Parsi family from Bombay who controlled the Colombo Oil Mills. Visit this local market where you will find Sri Lanka’s cultural secrets hiding.
Jami UI Alfar Masjid
The Red Mosque, with its candy-striped design and pomegranate-shaped domes, is the most visible building in the Pettah Bazaar. This remarkable house of worship, known as the Jami UI Alfar Mosque, was built in the early nineteenth century with a contrasting style of red and white bricks. This ancient Mosque, one of Colombo’s oldest, is located on the 2nd-cross street.
The fact that this Mosque’s hybrid design was commissioned by an untrained architect is noteworthy. He created a design that combined Neo-classical and Gothic features with aspects from local Indian and Indo-Islamic architecture. The current capacity of this Moorish structure is 10,000 worshipers. This lovely Muslim building with complementary colours stands out in the market of Pettah and is well worth the visit.
The Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall is a historic structure located within Pettah, one of Colombo’s main marketplaces. This gothic-styled Old Town Hall was originally built by the British in 1873 as a courthouse and the Municipal Council chambers. Tourists go to the site now to marvel at the antique architecture, which stretches from the cast-iron tracery to the wedge-shaped bricks. Visiting this site will also provide you with insight into Sri Lanka’s administrative history.
In 1984, the Old Town Hall was refurbished, and the adjacent structure was turned into a museum. In its immediate neighbourhood, street hawkers thrive and shopping areas packed with a profusion of wholesale and retail establishments fill the streets.
Colombo Fort Clock Tower
With a height of 29 metres, the Colombo Fort Clock Tower was the highest structure of its period. Emily Elizabeth Ward, the wife of the governor at the time, Sir Henry George Ward, designed it. This Clock Tower also served as a lighthouse at one point. Today, it is surrounded by a shifting cluster of buildings, yet despite the fact that a city has grown around it, the clock tower still stands tall, capturing travellers with its timeless beauty.
The fact that the renowned makers of London’s Big Ben devised the design of this tower’s clock is remarkable. This antique clock boasts a 6-foot dial with an opal glass overlay that promises to keep time as the world around it changes.
Radio Ceylon
There is no better site in Colombo to resurrect radio’s legacy than Radio Ceylon’s grounds. The first radio station in Asia, Radio Ceylon is a broadcasting station with its headquarters in Sri Lanka. Colombo radio is also the second-oldest radio station in the world when it started broadcasting barely three years after the BBC. Three years after the introduction of broadcasting in Europe, the colonial Telegraph Department began broadcasting on an experimental basis in 1923. The beginning of Radio Ceylon may be traced back to 1925, when Colombo Radio, its first predecessor, was established using a mediumwave radio transmitter with one-kilowatt output power from Welikada, Colombo.
In the early 1950s, Hindi service was introduced on Radio Ceylon. The station used some of the most well-known Indian announcers, including the Ganjwar sisters, Vimla and Kamini, Vijay Kishore Dubey, Gopal Sharma, Hasan Razvi, Manohar Mahajan, Sunil Dutt, Ameen Sayani, and Hamid Sayani, who were instrumental in making Radio Ceylon the “King of the airwaves in South Asia.” When the country became the Republic of Sri Lanka on May 22, 1972, the organisation received its current name, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
Bally’s Casino
The largest and most opulent casino in Sri Lanka is Bally’s Casino, which is situated in Colombo, the country’s commercial centre. Bally’s Casino, owned by business mogul Dhammika Perera is located in Colombo Fort and is a favourite among wealthy foreigners and Sri Lankans. This is the best place for you if gaming thrills you and you’d want to try your luck at winning some handsome amount of money. One of Colombo’s top casinos, Bally’s, has expanded its offerings online to take advantage of the roughly US$ 50 billion worldwide internet gaming market.
Colombo is a fast-paced tourist destination, yet it keeps its historic culture and traditions close to its heart. I love this city because it is a contrast of colours, fragrances, street art, open-air marketplaces, street food, and multiple places of worship. Exploring Colombo’s blend of the historic dock and modern-day harbour not only provides insight into the country but also reveals its particular personality. This is a city you won’t want to leave anytime soon.
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