Sri Lanka is a land of legends. Believed to be the home of Ravana from the Indian epic, Ramayana, the sandbanks of Adam’s Bridge reputedly once linked this island nation to India. Sri Lanka’s largest city, Colombo, reflects this legacy, offering a great mix of the past and the present.
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Colombo
Local areas in Colombo
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Art and History
Colombo Tour Packages by Taj Holidays
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Go Exploring
Go Exploring
Experience a delightful afternoon wandering the streets of Pettah. A tour conducted by Colombo City Walks lasts up to four hours, and will take you through bustling bazaars and past Colonial mansions, accompanied by beautiful stories based on Sri Lanka’s past.
Fort
Fort
An actual fort during the European era, today, this precinct is a curious mix of modern structures and venerable red-brick institutions from the Colonial era. Don’t miss the clock tower at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha, which was originally a lighthouse.
find-a-slice-of-paradise
find-a-slice-of-paradise
Paradise Road is renowned designer Shanth Fernando’s high-end boutique, and showcases a lovely selection of Colonial and Sri Lankan collectables, in addition to original homeware and designer products. The Paradise Road Gallery Café shop, too, is worth visiting for its small, artistic displays.
Have a Quiet Afternoon
Have a Quiet Afternoon
Stroll along the meandering walkways of Viharamahadevi Park, home to brilliant flowering trees that bloom from March through early May. Recently spruced up, Colombo’s largest park features a beautiful, large statue of Gautam Buddha, detailed landscaping and playgrounds for kids. Elephants used for ceremonies sometimes spend the night here.
Offer prayers at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Offer prayers at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Buddha is believed to have visited the site of this temple on his third visit to Sri Lanka. The original temple was destroyed by Indian invaders, restored and destroyed again by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century. It was finally restored again by the Dutch in the eighteenth century.
National Museum
National Museum
A large ninth-century stone Buddha greets you as you enter this stately museum. From art, carvings and statuaries from Sri Lanka’s ancient past, as well as articles from the colonial period there is a world to discover. The grounds are dotted with magnificent banyan trees, where you can unwind after discovering the museum’s gems.
Pick up designer products at Paradise Road
Pick up designer products at Paradise Road
Popular designer Shanth Fernando’s high-end boutique features a great selection of colonial and Sri Lankan collectables, as well as original homewares and designer products. The Paradise Road Gallery Café shop, too, is worth visiting for its small, artistic displays.
Shop Your Heart Out
Shop Your Heart Out
The glitzy Odel is a maze as much as a department store. You will find everything, from fashion to cosmetics and souvenirs here, from international as well as top local brands. Odel is always buzzing with both visitors and the local elite.
Take In a Beautiful Sunset
Take In a Beautiful Sunset
Join the locals as they watch the sun set from Galle Face Green, a long stretch of manicured lawns facing the sea immediately south of Fort. It was originally cleared by the Dutch to give the cannons in Fort a clear line of fire, and is now a great place at which soak in some local energy.
National Museum
National Museum
Sri Lanka’s premier cultural institution houses art, carvings and sculptures that tell the stories of the country’s ancient past, as well as from the Colonial era. Look for the magnificent royal throne made for King Wimaladharma in 1693, and the 9th century bronze Bodhisattva Sandals.
Discover a Sri Lankan Treasure
Discover a Sri Lankan Treasure
Located in a charming old villa, designer Barbara Sansoni’s Barefoot is popular for its bright hand-loomed textiles inspired by Sri Lanka, fashioned into bedspreads, cushions, notebooks, lampshades and other household items. The books department within houses a carefully curated range of books
Buy textiles at Barefoot
Buy textiles at Barefoot
Designer Barbara Sansoni’s shop, located in a pretty old villa, stocks bright hand-loomed textiles. Pick from bedspreads, notebooks, lampshades and more, or buy fabrics by the metre. The book section also has a carefully selected range of books.
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara
This temple has a dramatic past; Gautam Buddha is said to have visited the site of this temple on his last visit to Sri Lanka. King Maniakkhika invited Gautam Buddha to broker peace between two rulers who were at war over a precious throne. This throne was later enshrined within the original stupa.
Walk the streets of Colombo
Walk the streets of Colombo
Experience and marvel at the hidden colonial treasures of Pettah on a guided tour. The walk, which lasts up to four hours, will take you away from the typical tourist spots and allow you to truly experience the history of the old town that has evolved into Colombo.
Discover Fort
Discover Fort
This historical precinct today is an interesting mix of modern structures, such as the World Trade Center, and venerable red-brick institutions from the Colonial-era, such as Cargills and Millers. The clock tower at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha is a well known landmark.
Spend time at Galle Face Green
Spend time at Galle Face Green
Immediately south of Fort is Galle Face Green, a long stretch of lawn facing the sea. The verdant lawns are the perfect rendezvous spot. On weekdays, it is dotted with joggers, kite flyers and walkers, and on weekends, food vendors gather here with interesting eats.
