Joanna James
Colombo is home to some great hangout places. Here are a few great places to enjoy a quiet evening, a picnic or an interesting people watching session.
This is one of the most famous hangout places on the entire island. Located on the seafront, the Galle Face Green is a great place to spend an evening, enjoy some indulgent snacks and to watch the sun go down. The Galle Face Green is ideally located within easy reach of some great shopping establishments, restaurants and accommodation options such as a favourite city hotel Colombo has to offer. If you are staying at Mandarina Colombo, you can easily pay a visit to Galle Face Green to spend an evening and grab a delicious dinner in the city afterwards.
The Colombo National Museum is home to a vast collection of historical artefacts. If you have a few hours to spare, pay a visit to the museum and explore its many halls with interesting items from Sri Lanka's past. The museum was established by Sir William Gregory, a British Governor in 1877. Today, it is a great place to visit with the whole family and to learn a lot about Sri Lankan history.
The famous Mt. Lavinia Beach is a great place to visit on just about any evening. The beach attracts many local and foreign travellers and provides plenty of opportunities to relax, enjoy a great meal and to catch some sun.
Independence Square is another top-notch relaxing spot in Colombo. The Independence Memorial Hall is located in the Square. This is a beautiful national monument that attracts many visitors and is located in a beautiful garden that is simply perfect for relaxation. You can spend a leisurely afternoon at Independence Square and watch the elaborately dressed wedding couples take their wedding photos, the fitness enthusiasts carrying out fitness classes and jogging while enjoying a delicious picnic or relaxing in the shade of a tree. Located close to Independence Square is a newly built shopping mall named 'Arcade' which features branded items, restaurants and a cinema.
The Viharamahadevi Park is one of the oldest parks in the city of Colombo. Located right in the middle of the city, the park attracts thousands of visitors throughout the year. The gardens are beautifully maintained and provide plenty of shade to read a book, have a picnic or to simply sit back and relax. Most people visit the park to enjoy a run on the paved pathways, spend some quality time with the kids or to enjoy a picnic. There is a kids' play area as well as an open-air amphitheatre in the park. The amphitheatre hosts exciting events on occasion and you may be able to catch one if the timing is right.
Located in Kelaniya, which is about 8 kilometres from Colombo, the Kelaniya Temple is one of the most famous temples in the city. It attracts many local devotees and fascinated local travellers. You can pay a visit to the temple in the evening to watch the devotees carry out their religious rites or to light some oil lamps and enjoy a peaceful meditation session.
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.
