Cultural Sites to Be Seen Around Colombo – Entrancing Attractions for the Culture Lover

The impressive Independence Square in Colombo contains the well-known Independence Commemoration Hall which is a handsome structure that will strike the imagination of the culture lover. This hall is situated in the city's prestigious Cinnamon Gardens area and is considered to be an important monument in the city. You will see that it is constructed from concrete and features columns that are reminiscent of those found in the ancient architecture of Sri Lanka. Resembling an audience hall of the Kandyan tradition this monument features a number of outstanding paintings and stone carvings. The numerous stone lion figures that may be seen at this hall are another of its striking aspects.

No tour of the cultural sites of Colombo would be complete without visiting the engrossing National Museum. This fascinating establishment is housed within a magnificent colonial era mansion which features striking Italian style architecture. This institution is regarded as being the largest, oldest and most prestigious museum in Sri Lanka. The National Museum boasts a splendid collection of interesting antiques and numerous other artefacts obtained from different parts of the nation. There are more than 100,000 individual items on display at this museum. You will also find an extensive library at this institution.

The Colombo Fort inherits a rich history and today functions as the city's central business district. The harbour of Colombo has been frequented by merchants from many seafaring nations for centuries and the adjoining Fort was constructed by Portuguese colonialists as a fortification against possible invaders. The Portuguese were replaced by the Dutch who further developed the area; in turn, in later years the British took control of the district. Today many important institutions are located at Colombo Fort, including the World Trade Centre, the Colombo Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the Bank of Ceylon, in addition to other significant establishments.

Culture lovers should make it a point to view the well-known Colombo Lighthouse which is an important landmark in the city. This lighthouse was initially constructed as a clock tower in the year 1860. It was converted into a lighthouse with the addition of a lantern in 1865, whilst in 1913 the clock was replaced. Today this striking monument operates solely as a clock tower as the light is not functional. Interestingly this monument has the distinction of being the sole lighthouse on the globe which indicates the time in the centre of a busy city road. As you experience these things to do in Colombo, Sri Lanka an accommodation choice that you could consider would be the conveniently located Uga Residence.

The attractive Gangaramaya Temple is a Buddhist shrine that will capture the interest of the culture aficionado. Situated on the picturesque Beira Lake this temple which is located next to a sacred bo tree can only be reached by crossing a bridge. This bo tree is greatly revered as it is considered to be a descendant of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree. This place of worship is renowned for its splendid buildings which include an image house, chetiya, museum, relic chamber, various halls, a library and more. This temple is also renowned for its Nawam Perahera which is a grand procession featuring an array of performers and elephants.