Colombo is the largest city on the island of Sri Lanka. In fact, it remains the financial and cultural capital of the state even after the transfer of the official capital in 1982 to Sri Jayawardenepura.
Colombo is a vibrant and distinctive city. The local architecture, religion, food and customs clearly show the influence of different peoples who participated in the formation and development of the city. At different times, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese, British ruled here. Colombo is a city of amazing contrasts. High-rise buildings here perfectly coexist with houses of the 18th century, and modern office buildings coexist with Buddhist and Christian temples.
Colombo is very comfortable for independent tourism, English is almost universally used here. So if you have 2-3 days off, then you just need to open the map with attractions and choose what to see in Colombo first.
Top 10 attractions in Colombo
Fort
Fort District
It is best to start your acquaintance with the city with a leisurely walk in the area with the historical name of the Fort. During the Portuguese rule in the 16th century, here, on the cape, a powerful defensive structure was actually built, a real fortress with thick walls.
Now the Fort is one of the most beautiful areas of the city, a business and historical center, giving a clear idea of how modern skyscrapers and old colonial mansions are perfectly combined in Colombo. Today these magnificent buildings house offices of wealthy companies and banks, representative offices of foreign firms, respectable shops and luxury hotels. The houses are kept in excellent condition, the streets in the Fort are well maintained and a walk here is a real pleasure.
Old lighthouse with clock
Old lighthouse with clock
The old lighthouse, or the Clock Tower, is a unique structure with an interesting history. Nowhere else will you find a lighthouse with a clock.
The square tower of the lighthouse with a height of almost 30 meters was built in 1856, but for some reason not on the very shore, as is customary, but in the depths of the Fort. Almost immediately, a clock appeared on the lighthouse - from the same manufacturer as the Big Ben clock in London. They held out on the tower until 1914, and then were replaced by more modern ones.
A decade after its construction, the navigation lights came on at the lighthouse, but their light was not bright enough, so that the lighthouse was not fully used for its intended purpose. Over time, the area was built up, a new lighthouse was built on the embankment, and the old one was no longer needed. Today, this historic building serves as a landmark for tourists and a backdrop for beautiful photographs. You can go inside, but the ascent to the top is not provided. In addition, there are many government buildings around, so travel around the Clock Tower is unfortunately limited.
Galle Face embankment
Galle Face embankment
Galle Face outshines all other beautiful streets of Colombo with its appeal. In 1859, the British converted the coastal strip, which the Dutch ruling before them on the island used to defend against a possible enemy attack, into a cozy and spacious embankment.
Now this promenade is considered one of the city's attractions. And although there are no specially equipped recreation areas and attractions, the embankment is always crowded. People come here to play cricket, fly kites, play sports or just enjoy the sea air. Vendors of food, souvenirs and toys add liveliness. Holidays and city entertainment events are often held here.
Walking along the embankment, one cannot but pay attention to the luxurious "Galle Face Hotel", built in the 19th century and called "the emerald of Asia". All world celebrities and members of royal houses stay here.
Presidential palace
Presidential palace
For the magnificent palace, which today houses the residence of the President of Sri Lanka, we must thank the last Dutch governor of the island of Ceylon, who built the building in the 18th century. The British who replaced the Dutch named the palace Queen’s House, in honor of Queen Victoria, who was ruling at that time. This name can still be heard from local residents in an informal conversation.
The palace was built in the classical traditions of European architecture of that time. And in front of the building there is a monument to Governor Edward Barnes, under whom high-quality roads were actively built throughout the island. This sculpture serves as a reference point for all distances in the country.
Independence Hall
Independence Hall
The main monument of Sri Lanka is the miniature, but of great historical importance, the Independence Hall, located on Independence Square. It was built in 1948 and is considered the symbol of the island that was liberated from British colonial rule. The creators tried to emphasize the importance of the monument with numerous columns with skillful carvings, statues of lions, as it were, guarding the pavilion, as well as picturesque images of the glorious past. A park is laid out around the Independence Hall, and next to it there is a monument to the first prime minister of the country, the "father of the nation" Senanayaka Don Stephen. In the basement of the Hall there is a museum, which provides information about the liberation movement and national heroes of the country.
Every year, on Independence Day, very colorful and spectacular festive events are held on the square in front of the Independence Hall.
Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple
Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple
The Gangaramaya temple complex, built at the end of the 19th century, is the largest and richest in Sri Lanka. It is a delightful fusion of Thai, Indian and Chinese architectural styles. Thousands of tourists come here to enjoy the beauty and luxury of the temple: its bright interiors, exquisite wall paintings, numerous statues and graceful sculptures of the Buddha.
The religious complex Gangaramaya includes, in addition to the temple itself:
- a museum with an expensive collection of exotic artifacts such as an elephant tusk chair, precious Buddha statues, ancient ceramics and jewelry;
- an old library with the rarest books, valuable manuscripts and scrolls;
- classrooms where lectures, exhibitions and free cultural studies are held;
- pavilions for meditation.
In Gangaramaya, you can see a real elephant - a temple sacred animal.
Colombo National Museum
Colombo National Museum
It is the largest and most informative museum on the island. It has existed since 1877 and occupies an old Italian-style mansion. 17 halls of the museum give a complete picture of the historical and cultural development of the country, from the Stone Age to the present day.
Among the most interesting exhibits of the museum: artifacts found during archaeological excavations, rare manuscripts written on palm leaves, household items and decorations characterizing the culture of the indigenous population of Sri Lanka, a collection of ritual masks, handicrafts, musical instruments, as well as luxury goods from the national and colonial past. There is even a throne and crown from the 17th century that belonged to the last king of Ceylon. Of particular interest are the originals of all laws ever published in Sri Lanka, collected in the museum.
St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church is one of the oldest buildings in Colombo. It is believed to have been built in 1700. The building was rebuilt many times and changed its purpose. At first it was a small chapel. Then the Dutch mayor lived here, and in the premises of today's church in the 18th century balls and ceremonial receptions were held. At the beginning of the 19th century, the British transferred the building to a Christian church. All these changes were reflected both in the architecture and in the interior decoration of the building. Today, donations from King George III are kept here. The utensils presented to them (tray, wine goblet, bread bin, etc.) characterize the way of life of the past era.
Other Christian churches in Colombo that deserve the attention of tourists are the Church of St. Anthony and the Church of St. Lucia.
District Pettah
District Pettah
To the east of the Fort is Pettah, a large shopping area in Colombo. It is always noisy and crowded here, the main shops, markets and outlets of the city are concentrated here, and you can buy what you want at low prices. Tourists are attracted here not only by the flavor of the Asian bazaar, but also by the numerous cultural monuments concentrated in Pettah:
- Temples of Katiresan. Two Hindu temples, located nearby, were built in strict accordance with ancient canons and with their colorful, colorful decoration literally fascinate Europeans;
- Jamul-Alfar Mosque. The relatively young (1909) building of the country's main mosque is designed in red and white colors and looks fabulously elegant: graceful minarets, bright columns and steps, luxurious facing. The mosque is active, this must be taken into account when visiting;
- Dutch Museum. The exposition of the museum (coins, weapons, utensils, historical documents) tells about the time of the Dutch reign on the island in the 17th-18th centuries;
- Old Town Hall. Built in 1865, this building is easily recognizable by the magnificent architecture of the British reign. Today it is a modest museum with some interesting exhibits.
Chekhov Museum
Tourists from Russia in their travels traditionally pay great attention to the places associated with our famous compatriots. Therefore, among the sights of Colombo it is worth noting the Grand Oriental Hotel, where the famous Russian writer A. P. Chekhov stayed in November 1890. Here he lived in room No. 304, here he finished his story "Gusev". The hotel staff kept the furnishings of that time in the room, and hung photographs of the writer and illustrations for his works on the walls. In 2010, in honor of the 150th anniversary of Chekhov, a bust of Chekhov and a memorial plaque were installed in the hotel.
If you wish, you can book your stay at the hotel. You can even choose the room where Chekhov lived.
