Joanna James
Colombo mesmerises tourists with its many ornamental bearings. With its cultural allure, the city has risen from being a mere urban city with little to offer to a known tourist destination.
This is one of the many things you could do while in Colombo. The city turns into a miasma of touristy attractions right before the sunset. You can go to Galle Face Green and enjoy the street food there or take to promenading alongside the sidewalk. Visit the art galleries to get an idea of Sri Lankan culture – sight buildings that bear witness to the colonial era. After walking around the city, you could go to a Colombo hotel – such as the likes of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts – to enjoy a tasty, traditional Sri Lankan meal.
Granted, it is not that touristy, but you will no doubt get a thorough idea of the Sri Lankan cooking practices. The staple meal of the country is rice – also, the locals love vegetables. At the lesson, you will be taught all things from how to cook the rice to how to cut the vegetables into certain shapes. With what you've learnt you can surprise your friends and family back home with a nice Sri Lankan meal.
This is the best way to get a clear view of day to day life in Sri Lanka. Pettah is a non-stop commotion of traffic and people. It could be a bit exhausting given the sweltering heat, but while there, you can visit Dutch Period Museum, Wolvendaal Church, the Old City Hall and Jami Ul Alfar Mosque.
Colombo is becoming tourist friendly by the minute. With the rise of the tourism industry, there have been rapid developments in terms of parks, gardens and promenades. For example, the sidewalk near the parliament is one such place where you can go for a cycling tour away from the bustle of the city.
This is something you must do but go unnoticed often. Thanks to the climate, the country is blessed with a great variety of fruits. So, while in Colombo, you can walk into a supermarket or any street market to buy tropical Sri Lankan fruits. You will be surprised to see that some of these fruits cannot be found anywhere else in the world!
Many tourists visit the country for this purpose alone. Often called the Birds' Paradise, the country is inhabited by many migratory and endemic birds. Although you'd probably have to go out of the city to have the best bird watching experience – in the suburbs, you have the chance to sight eagles, bee-eaters, waders and water monitors.
Initially a wetland, Diyatha Uyana park is a leisure park found near Diyawanna Oya Lake. Built on the river bank, the park is surrounded by abundant foliage thus attracting many migratory and endemic birds. The best time to visit is in the evening when the climate is soothing. At the park, you will see many locals and foreigners taken to walking by the river.
Come nightfall, the streets in Colombo get filled with street vendors offering various street foods. Galle Face Green, Pettah train station, Hotel de New Pilawoos and Mount Lavenia are a few places where you can enjoy spicy Sri Lankan street food.
One of the most sacred places in Sri Lanka, Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara boasts a rich history that goes back thousands of years. Said to be a site that Lord Buddha visited, the temple houses a number of paintings depicting Buddha's life.
The country is surrounded by the sea granting its visitors glorious sunsets. You can walk down to Mount Lavenia beach or Galle Face Green to watch the setting sun. Also, Colombo features many rooftop bars where you can enjoy the spectacle.
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