Joanna James
Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka. If you visit Colombo you will have the opportunity to engage in a number of interesting things to see and do, including those described below.
The engrossing Fort area of Colombo will be a great locality at which to commence your sightseeing tour of the city. Here you will find an array of striking buildings that date to the Dutch as well as British colonial eras. Interestingly at the time of the colonial period, this location was an actual protective fort. The colonial buildings of Fort even today will impress the visitor with their grand proportions and imposing appearance. You will find that Fort is a fairly compact area making it a pleasant locality for a leisurely stroll.
The distinctive Independence Memorial Hall will undoubtedly capture the imagination of the discerning sightseer. As its name indicates this monument commemorates the gaining of Sri Lanka's independence from the colonial ruler, Great Britain. You will see that this building is a massive stone structure that is bordered by a lush tranquil garden. Visitors will notice that this building features distinctive architecture that has been derived from the design motifs of Kandy's well-known Royal Audience Hall. The Independence Memorial Hall is used for staging important national and religious occasions. You are likely to find that this hall will also be a pleasant respite from the hustle and bustle of the streets of Colombo.
Your tour of Colombo's attractions would not be complete without experiencing the splendid National Museum. You will see that this museum is housed within a magnificent building that dates to the year 1876. The National Museum is considered to be Sri Lanka's largest and most important museum. As you might expect, you will find a remarkable collection of artefacts at this establishment, including many fascinating relics from the island nation's royal era. You will also encounter many other engrossing historically significant artefacts such as carvings, artworks, statues, swords, masks, guns and so on that provide an authentic glimpse into Sri Lanka's rich historical legacy.
If you enjoy visiting interesting religious attractions, you should undoubtedly take the opportunity to visit the attractive Gangaramaya Temple. This place of worship which may be considered to be one of Colombo's important Buddhist temples offers a host of interesting sights and experiences for the visitor. Gangaramaya Temple is believed to house hair relics of Gautama Buddha and accordingly is greatly venerated by the local Buddhists. At this temple, you will also find a myriad of Buddha statues made of different materials, like gold, stone and white plastic. A choice of accommodation to consider from which this temple would be within easy reach would be Colombo Court Hotel & Spa, which is amongst the centrally located Colombo city hotel options.
For a truly genuine local experience, take the opportunity to experience the attractions of Pettah. You will see that this vibrant commercial district is a mesmerizing environment for the visitor, filled with distinctive sights, sounds, smells and tastes. In Pettah you will encounter a mind-boggling selection of shops, markets, stalls, hawkers and so on that are sure to amaze and possibly delight the visitor. As you might expect you will have the chance to avail yourself of some attractive bargains that may be found amongst the merchandise of Pettah.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
