Activities in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Activities in Colombo, Sri Lanka
We take a look at the best activities in Colombo, the Torstadt zu Sri Lanka - the pearl of the Indian Ocean
Let's be honest: Colombo is not what you would call a "cosmopolitan city". Not many companies boast with offices in "London, New York, Colombo". The city has never been an international player and has no world -class attraction.
Nonetheless, Colombo enjoys a steady visitor frequency as a starting ramp for traveling to other countries in Sri Lanka in the course of the year. Bandaranaike, the country's most important international airport, passes almost every arrival in Sri Lanka. Incidentally, the visa for Sri Lanka is generally accessible and can be applied for online using the visa application form for Sri Lanka.
tourists mainly remain the convenience here, but do not do without the city. There are numerous interesting and bizarre activities in Colombo that are worth a stay.
Colombo National Museum
With its relatively small stature, Sri Lanka is literally and metaphorically under India. The country is less traveled and far less romanticized than its larger cousin in the north. His food, culture and literature are less well known, but his story is just as fascinating. Sri Lanka had his fair share of conflicts from colonization (first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, then the British, then the British) to a 25-year civil war.alt = “sights in Colombo: National Museum of Colombo”> Atlas & Boots The National Museum is one of the best sights in Colombo
The Colombo National Museum, founded in 1977, shows the history of the country with an exceptional range of exhibits from antique art, carvings and statues to war artifacts from the colonial era.
The main museum is connected to the fascinating National Museum for Natural History, which is housed in the same complex. This second museum is in a creeping state of expiry, but the dark corridors and peeling walls only contribute to the atmosphere. We stumbled across a massive skeleton of indefinite origin, on which it was worked in a particularly grubby corridor. Try to catch it when you visit it.
Viharamahadevi-Park
Colombo is not as hectic as other Asian capitals (Delhi, Bangkok, Phnom Penh), but it is also not a quiet city. Find a place of rest in the Viharamahadevi Park with its well-kept lawn, the green trees and the large Buddha statue.
alt = “thing to do in Colombo: vihamaharadevi Park”> Atlas & Boots
The park is the oldest and largest in Colombo and was previously known as Victoria Park, named after the British Queen Victoria. In the 1950s it was in honor of King Dutugemunu's mother, the Singhalese king of Sri Lanka, who of 161 BC. Chr. To 137 BC BC ruled, renamed. Today the park offers the perfect place to observe strolling locals, tired tourists and even one or two wedding companies. The Fort district is advertised as Colombos trendy quarter with a variety of modern tea lounges, restaurants and cafés. It's not exactly soho, but the area is definitely worth a walk. alt = "bell tower in the continuation of Colombo"> Atlas & Boots bell tower in the area of Colombo The heart of Fort is the Old Dutch Hospital from the early 17th century. Originally built as a hospital, the complex was later used as a police station and is now a well -known historical building. stroll through the arcade of chunky columns and take a break in the quiet courtyard, which is surrounded by cafes and restaurants. Try the T-Lounge in the Chatham Street around the corner for a refreshing tea. bile face green is a promenade that extends over half a kilometer along the coast of Colombo. The area was originally cleared by the Dutch to give their cannons a clear line of fire. Alt = “Quiet in the middle of the chaos in Colombo Sri Lanka evening walk”> Atlas & Boots A place to observe people on Galle Face Green Today is the grass that limits the beach, a little worn and the area could take a refreshment, but there is an insight into life in Colombo. Visit the area on a weekend and you will find that the area is full of local ones: families who enjoy a day trip, recruit couples on cozy walks, jogger who dodge the crowds, and meal sellers in droves. To get an insight into local trade, visit Pettah with his accumulation of local markets. However, be warned: it is loud and overcrowded and if you don't love it, you will probably hate it. alt = "A stop at Pettah-you will love it or hate it"> Dream time A stop at Pettah-you will love or hate Try to visit the Federation of Self Employees Market along the 5th Cross ST for household goods and food or the Manning Market for fruit and vegetables. If you are serious about shopping, get a little Tamil beforehand. Singhalic is enough, but you will be popular with Tamil because it is the mother tongue of many pettaH sellers. The Beira Lake is located in the center of Colombo. Although it is surrounded by buildings and shops, its sidewalks offer a band of calm. Walk in the shade of weighing trees, paddle out with a swan boat to the lake (kitsch, but funny) and cross the bridge to the island of lovers. Alt = "Activities in Colombo: Beira See"> Atlas & Boots The meditation center Seema Malakaya am Beira-See take the time to visit the Seema Malakaya meditation center on the east side of the lake. The center was designed in 1985 by the renowned Srilankic architect Geoffrey Bawa and consists of three picturesque platforms that are decorated with bronze Buddhas and Bodhi trees. The center is particularly striking when it is illuminated at night. This Buddhist temple feels quite fragments, since different sections and styles are interwoven with each other without much thoughts. Apart from that, its corners and angles offer a variety of interesting artifacts and insights. alt = “to do things in Colombo: temple”> Atlas & Boots gangaramaya feels a bit fragmentable, but offers interesting artifacts and exhibitions spend some time to explore the second level and you will come across an impressive exhibition of Buddha statues. Consider a visit to the dusk so that you can see the illuminated statues. It is worth noting that afterwards we have learned from a lonely elephant named Ganga who is permanently chained in the complex. We saw no trace of Ganga, but we could not confirm that it was freed. Please inquire before your visit to your hotel. Update February 2, 2017: We were informed by a local conservationist and former employee of Born Free that Ganga is still caught in the temple and hidden out of sight. We hope that you can make a well -considered decision based on this information. This column building in Pettah was the formal residence of the governor of Dutch Cylon, Thomas van Rheee Postamt during his term from 1692 to 1697 and today a museum that shows the history of Dutch colonial rule in Sri Lanka. alt = "activities in Colombo: Dutch Zeitmuseum"> Dream time The museum shows the history of Dutch colonial rule in Sri Lanka The artifacts include furniture, ceramics, coins and weapons, while a green courtyard offers a pretty place to rest before you go back to the fight of the capital. Was: Explore Colombo in Sri Lanka. Where: We stayed in the 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. alt = “> alt = “> alt = “> alt = “> alt = “> alt = “> alt = “> alt = “> alt = “> alt = "If possible, eat food from the region"> Atlas & Boots alt = “> alt = “> 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. old Dutch hospital and fort
bile face green
Pettah markets
Beira-See
gangaramaya temple (see update)
Dutch period museum
activities in Colombo: The essentials
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