Sum up

Colombo is in an exciting phase in its history. There is a sense of renewed ambition now that peace has been restored to Sri Lanka, but it remains a compact, manageable coastal city offering excellent value and an atmosphere all of its own. Ancestral mansions stand side-by-side with modern hotels springing up into the skyline. Street bazaars buzz right next to a few modest shopping malls. While some roads are clogged with vehicles, there remain many sleepy tree-lined boulevards. Colombo might be mildly chaotic at times but it has at its heart a relaxed and genial air.

Weather

Sri Lanka is affected by two separate monsoons which generally means that there is usually good weather somewhere on the island. Global warming has made weather patterns less reliable, but essentially the main south-west (“yala”) monsoon brings rain to the west (including Colombo) and south-west coasts and hill country largely between May and July. The less severe north-east (“maha”) monsoon hits the east coast – including the cultural triangle – predominantly from November to January. There is also an inter-monsoonal period of unsettled weather preceding the Maha monsoon in October during which heavy rainfall can occur anywhere across the island, Colombo very much included.

Highlights

• Take a city walk into Fort and Pettah
  
• Sip sunset cocktails at Galle Face hotel
• Sample Sunday jazz at the Barefoot café
• Explore the city’s temples and kovils
• Visit the National Museum
• Shop at Paradise Road, Barefoot and ODEL

Getting There

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, is its only true city. It lies one hour’s drive south of the Bandaranaike International Airport and stretches about 12 km along the coast from the Fort area in the north to its southern beach suburb of Mount Lavinia. It is a convenient hub for the start or end of any visit to Sri Lanka.

Art Galleries

Permanent collections & temporary art exhibits of Sri Lankan artists are held regularlyat the National Art Gallery, Sapumal Foundation, the Lionel Wendt, Barefoot Art Gallery and ParadiseRoad Gallery Café.

Bawa Architecture

The late Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most influential architect, was responsible for linking the ancient architecture of this island with that of the modern world. Sri Lanka’s Parliament was created in the centre of a vast man-made lake, a theme he repeated with the ‘floating’ temple on Beira Lake. We also recommend a visit to the Paradise Road Gallery Café, formerly Bawa’s studio.

Bellanwilla Temple

The sanctity of Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya is due to its sacred Bo Tree, which according to ancient texts is one of the 32 saplings that sprang from the sacred Bo tree at Anuradhapura, planted in the 3rd century BC. This ancient Buddhist temple houses elaborate statues of Buddha and frescoes depicting his life

Colombo area wetlands

The Diyawanna Oya and Talangama wetlands in the Kotte suburbs offer opportunities for bird watching. These areas are a combination of tanks, canals and paddy fields which have recently been declared as protected natural areas. Further south, in the suburbs of Piliyandala, is Bolgoda Lake, Sri Lankan largest natural fresh water basin. Many birds, butterflies, monitor lizards and monkeys can be spotted.

Dutch Period Museum in Pettah

The Dutch Period Museum is housed in the old Dutch House, built by Count August Carl Van Ranzow in the latter part of the 17C. Artefacts include furniture, ceramics, coins and photographs.

Hindu Kovils

The city of Colombo has several Hindu Kovils with colourful and ornate statues and shrines dedicated to different gods and deities.

National Museum

Colombo’s National Museum, established in 1877, is housed in an impressive colonial building in the heart of the city surrounded by extensive gardens.

Peraharas

Colombo’s streets come alive in January for the annual `Duruthu Perahara’ and again in February for the `Navam Perehara’. These colourful processions display folklore, music, dancing, drumming and elephants. Vel, a Hindu festival, takes place in July or August where an ornately decorated Vel chariot, drawn by a pair of snow-white bulls carrying the statue of Lord Murukan, parades the streets of Colombo.

Royal Colombo Golf Club

built in 1879, is in Borella, a short distance from central Colombo, and has a clubhouse of colonial charm. A city-centre course with numerous water hazards and the occasional commuter train running along the 6th fairway

History

Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and lies alongside the present administrative capital, Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte. Colombo’s port was influential as early as the 5 th century when ships from Rome, Arabia, and China traded with Sinhalese kings for food supplies, spices and jewels. Many nations fought for the island’s treasures including Arab settlers in the 8C, followed by the Portuguese, the Dutch and, finally, the British who captured Colombo in 1796. This era of western domination ended peacefully with independence in 1948, followed by a separatist war fought by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) that lasted 25 years. Terrorism was eradicated in 2009, bringing hopes of a lasting peace. Throughout it all, the city of Colombo remained relatively stable and, as well as the majority Sinhalese, Moors, Tamils, Burghers, Chinese, and Malay populations contribute towards its colourful fabric.

Food in Colombo

Food is a highlight of Colombo. The city boasts a wide range of fantastic cafés and restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, whilst smaller eateries serve local hawker-style favourites like string hoppers, lamprais and biryani, as well as spicy pastries including Chinese rolls, seeni-sambol buns and fish patties which are collectively known as short-eats. Some of the best street food is foundon the seafront at Galle Face Green, including delicious koththu roti and isso wade (prawn dumplings).

For a more in-depth experience of local fare, go on our Colombo Street Food Walk.

For a selection of our favourite cafés, bars and restaurants in Colombo, see our Colombo Restaurants Guide. Further recommendations can be found in our comprehensive Booking Information.