How to find peace in the middle of the chaos in Colombo, Sri Lanka

How to find peace in the middle of the chaos in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo is not as hectic as other Asian capitals, but it is still a busy work city. Here are five ways to find peace in chaos at all times of the day

COLOMBO is the home of almost six million people and the capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. There is no subway or tram system, so there is no escape from the rumbling buses, tuktuks and tinted cars that clog the wide boulevards.

as a starting ramp for excursions to the wider area of ​​Sri Lanka, Colombo enjoys a steady visitor flow all year round, partly due to the simple entry. The visa for Sri Lanka is generally accessible and can be applied for online using the visa application form for Sri Lanka.

In stark contrast to the gentle hills, calm tea plantations and picturesque beaches that define Sri Lanka, Colombo can feel like an invasive thorn in an otherwise quiet landscape.

However, the capital is no longer just a spacious city that you have to endure on your way to the southern beaches. There are a number of interesting and bizarre activities in Colombo that are worth a stay. Finding a quiet corner can be a little challenge, but it is possible. Here is how.

early on

Taru Villas-Lake Lodge belongs to a chain of Boutique Hotels in Sri Lanka and is the ideal place to start her odyssey in Sri Lanka. In contrast to many hotels in Colombo, it is only a few minutes' walk from the best activities in Colombo and still manages to offer a hint of calm in the busy surroundings of the city.

The Boutique Bed & Breakfast offers a selection of Srilankic dishes that you should not miss, including a unique breakfast that is an excellent start in your stay.

The food was so good that we almost all took our meals in the hotel. It is even more important that Kia, who grew up with a richly flavored Bangladeshish food, the Dahl explained to the best she had ever had.

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morning meditation

The Meditation Center Seema Malakaya is one of the most photographed sights from Colombo. Located on an island on the east side of the lake, it is easy to understand why. The small but enchanting meditation center was designed in 1985 by Geoffrey Bawa and is operated by the nearby Gangaramaya Temple.

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The temple is built on three over -water platforms that are connected by pontoon bars, but it is mainly used for meditation and calm and not for services. Like all Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, the Seema Malaka is open to people of all faiths and offers an ideal place to switch off from the surrounding streets of Colombos.

afternoon tea

The upscale tea stubborns in Colombo boom and T-lounge-a product of Sri Lanka's best tea producer Dilmah-is our favorite. In addition to the popular Old Dutch Hospital, the T-Lounge offers a fine selection of traditional and modern fine tea blends.

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The inner walls are lined with books on Sri Lanka and (no surprises) tea. The menu also includes a selection of delicious snacks, including crepes, cakes and sandwiches.

evening walk

bile face green is a long lawn with a promenade that extends along the coast of Colombo. The area was originally cleared by the Dutch to give their cannons a clear line of fire. Today it offers the perfect place to watch the sunset.

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On weekends, the grass on the beach is full of locals: families who enjoy a day trip, rejoice couples on cozy walks, joggers who dodge the crowds, and meal sellers in droves.

further breather

I am not exactly known for my love for spa treatments (I feel more on an is mat rather than on a yoga mat). However, Sri Lanka is the home of Ayurveda, an old system of medicine and therapies that was developed to heal and rejuvenate body and soul. It is practiced widely in Sri Lanka to treat a number of diseases and attract visitors from all over the world who often spend weeks in a clinic

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Spa Ceylon is one of the more luxurious and most popular Ayurveda spa chains with a series of clinics near selected accommodations in Colombo-an excellent last stop to reduce all tensions built in the city.

Colombo in Sri Lanka: The essentials

what: Find peace in the middle of the chaos in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Where: We stayed in Taru Villas-Lake Lodge, a boutique hotel with 12 stylish double rooms and a garden suite. The Lake Lodge is only a short tuk tuk trip from the city center and borders on a provisional cricket field and the Beira Lake.

We arrived in Dubai at 1 a.m. after an excruciatingly long stopover and received a warm welcome and a cool drink from Seelan and Raj. Seelan took care of us for the duration of our three -day stay and offered a rare personal service.

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Our room was clean and comfortable. However, the piece of resistance was the restaurant. Lake Lodge offered the best food we had in Sri Lanka. Do not miss the rice curry option that is served with plenty of pipe rice, an aubergine curry, bread fruit curry, beetroot curry, papadams, sambols, a fish dish and the best dahl we have ever eaten. There was so much food that they had to block the passage with an additional table for us! Highly recommended.

When: The best travel time for Colombo is January to March when the city is usually sunny. The monsoon time comes in April. June to September are the wetest months, but still sunny. In November the weather gets hot and humid, but it's still a good time for a visit, especially for Diwali celebrations.

How: We took a transfer from Bandaranaike International Airport to Lake Lodge (we mentioned that it was 1 a.m.?). Kangaroo Cabs is a renowned taxi company and has offers from 1750 LKR ($ 12) from the airport to Colombo.

You can take the public bus (number 187-E3) from the airport to the central bus station in Colombo. Note that we found the public bus driving in Sri Lanka to be quite stressful.

You can also take a train from Katunayaka train station to the train station in the Colombo center. You have to take the airport shuttle to the bus station and then a Tuk Tuk to Katunayaka. The trains drive about once an hour and need an hour to get away.

Most international flights end up at the Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). Book via Skyscanner at the best prices.

We flew with Sri Lanka Airlines and since we had a long trip to the airport and then a long flight to Myanmar, we used the serendib lounge in the departure gate and came to a few drinks and a snack.

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