Top 10 Nature Parks not to miss during your stay in Colombo

The Galle Face Green is instantly recognizable as the 500m stretch of grassy promenade between the Galle Road and The Indian Ocean. At any time of the day, it is chock full of local vendors, selling everything from kites, balloons, toys, to fresh fruit and street food. With the Galle Face Beach in front of you, there’s no reasons not to enjoy a walk along this iconic beach strip, if only just to dip your toes and catch the sunset.
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Situated in front of the colonial-era Town Hall of Colombo, Viharamahadevi Park is one of the largest urban public parks in Colombo, if not Sri Lanka. With features such as a mini zoo, a children’s play area and an artificial lake featuring a healthy gaggle of ducks year-round, the park serves as quite the welcome retreat for many a visitor.
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Independence Square is one of the nicest places to catch some well-earned rest and relaxation after a busy day in the City. A well-kept and manicured garden sprawls all around the Square, frequently attracting joggers, nappers and everyone in between. If the mid-day heat gets too much, the Independence Memorial Hall offers a cool respite and Arcade complex is a conveniently happening location to scout out some last-minute shopping deals.
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Bellanwila Park, also known as Weras Ganga Park, is an outdoor food-court sitting right on the corner of Weras Lake. The highlight of the park is the lake itself, around which a walking/cycling trail wraps around neatly for anyone looking for a quick jog, brisk walk or languid stroll around the environs. The food court itself offers a considerable variety of inexpensive food, from South and North Indian food to traditional Sri Lankan along with common street-food snacks and fresh juices.

Built near the banks of the Diyawanna Oya, Diyatha Uyana features large swaths of soft green marsh land, the calm waters of the river nearby as well as range of public attractions. The walking paths, a common feature in many Colombo parks, are just as well planned out here as anywhere else and offer a relaxing pathway to step out of the busy day. A water fountain with coloured lights illuminates the central area at night and there is quite the selection of food outlets for you to nibble on some tasty snacks as you unwind here.
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Gangaramaya Park is a tranquil oasis situated right in the middle of Beira Lake in one of Colombo’s busiest locales. For the world-weary traveller looking for a respite, all you need to do is cross the walkway that extends over the lake for the a unique green space. A small Buddhist temple is also situated on the islet. The small green islet offers a wonderfully quaint atmosphere, as surrounded as it is by the Colombo skyline. For a chance at feeling like you just found your own secret garden, be sure to check this one out.
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The larger Beira lake has a veritable park of its own, with a walking/jogging path wrapping through the space. Talk a leisurely stroll through the park and you may end up at the entrance to the Seema Malakaya, an extension of the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. The structure of the Seema Malakaya is quite innovative, being built on raised wooden stilts out on the lake and is only accessible via a long wooden boardwalk. Or if you’d much prefer to be out on the water, hire out a swan-shaped paddle boat.

For a truly mind-boggling retreat, you may want to give the Beddegana Wetland Park a try. True to its name, this is a wetland park with many a wild fowl roaming the area due to the marshy surroundings. Now declared a Wildlife Sanctuary right in the heart of the teeming city, this park is home to quite a few nature trails and is an unmissable draw for many an avid bird watcher.
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Like the other parks scattered throughout Colombo today, the Wetland Park at Nawala also boasts its own share of small walking trails, seating areas and even, due to its close proximity to a small urban canal and waterway, regular flocks of ducks waddling about the area. Snap a silent pic of these feathered friends and put your feet up on one of the many benches and loungers at this park for a truly tranquil time.

Hamilton Canal, as a British-made waterway connecting Colombo and Negombo has a history of its own but it is the park that draws visitors and local day trippers alike today. A small bridge spans across the canal a short distance inwards from where it bursts forth from the Kelani River. While the park is quite a ways from what you’d call central Colombo, if you find yourself in the area by happenstance, this is as great a park as any to take in the surroundings, make a moment of peace for yourself and relish in the respite from the concrete jungle.
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