5 things to do in and around Colombo- A healthy bite of the city life!

The National Museum in Colombo 7 is an exquisite building. Built in the year 1876 by the British Governor, the museum is a testament to the beautiful story of this magnificent little island. It is also a real treat to witness the crown and golden throne belonging to the late kings and the precious artefacts of past royalty. Luckily, the incredible colonial architecture follows you around downtown Colombo with some pretty amazing buildings from the time of the Dutch and British. Another lovely ancient edifice is the Independence Memorial Hall which remembers the Sri Lankan independence of 1948. Just like the National Museum, the huge stone building is surrounded by a peaceful stretch of greenery. Take a picture next to the statue of the country's first president. It truly is a sweet escape from the noisy city streets.

The Gangarama Temple is made up of many different buildings and just as you might expect, it is packed with lots of activity. Visiting here for the first time, it's safe to say you will be in for a shock and possibly a few scares. The temple actually has a library, a museum and a beautiful hall full of gifts left by visitors and devotees of this holy site. A fantastic attraction is the incredible number of golden, plastic and stone Buddha statues that seem to grace almost all corners of this peaceful temple. The next place to visit is the much-loved and reminisced St Anne's Parish in Wattala. You can stop by for some lunch at restaurants in Wattala before continuing on to exploring these ancient grounds. This is one of the most prominent Archdiocese in the city built around 60 years ago by the late Reverend Father Nicholas Perera.

Pettah is a sure favourite if strolling around is what you want to do all day. The crazy sounds, smell and atmosphere of watchful eyes is really something to experience on your jaunts within the depths of the city. The energy is high and the sights are all so exhilarating, you might want to keep up the pace if you want to see it all. There's plenty of shops, markets and stalls selling all sorts of goodies and cool gifts. Old Quarter Pettah is a well-known spot within the city circuit. If you're shopping here, you had best take in the sites one at a time to avoid any unwanted dizziness.

Just when you thought of jumping into an air-conditioned cab or walking it the rest of the way, you find out that there's a more fun way to travel! Beat the Colombo heat with a shady trishaw that comes with a bonus of cool breeze, not to mention an amazing look-out as you travel through the busy city cutting through traffic with clever shortcuts through some rather narrow spaces. It's all part of your great Colombo adventure. One more thing to appreciate is the utmost determination of tuk drivers to find out if you really want a lift or not.

If you're hard put for anywhere to go and have some extra time on your hands, Galle Face Green is an excellent choice because it provides a beautiful view of the sea promenade and consists of a wide expanse of greenery which edges around the beach. It is usually really packed on Sundays when families and couples come out for a bit of relaxation. There's a lot you can do here from taking a peaceful stroll while enjoying the gentle spray of the waves, to enjoying late night snacks like "prawn vade", flying kites and even having a fun game of cricket. One way to enjoy Galle Face is to stay at a hotel in close proximity and luckily some great accommodation like_ Pegasus Reef Hotel_ is less than half an hour away.