Maggie Tulliver
Colombo the largest city in Sri Lanka boasts a marvellous convergence of east and west. The very cosmopolitan city offers the best in modern luxuries while staunchly hanging onto vintage attractions.
Initially set up as a clock tower in 1860 the Colombo Lighthouse was born in 1865 when a lantern was added. What's interesting is that the original clock was done by the same manufacturers of the Big Ben – this was later replaced in 1913. The tower is located in the Fort district next to Janadhipathi Mawatha and Chatham Street. This by the way is the only lighthouse in the world that functions as a clock tower as well. The tower does not function as a lighthouse anymore but is a protected city monument.
Housed within a colonial style mansion showcasing Italian architectural styles – the Colombo National Museum is quite an interesting browse. A huge collection of historical artefacts are housed here as well as the throne of the last King of Sri Lanka. Today there are over a 100,000 objects that tell a story of grandeur and bravery within the country. Visiting the museum is quite an educational tour for all ages.
A respite on Galle Face Green is part of a traditional Colombo tour. The green is a huge expanse of land bordering the Indian Ocean and Galle Road. This very popular promenade sees throngs of crowds at any time of the day enjoying the expansive views of the ocean and invigorating sea breeze. Relish a spot of kite flying, dining on local cuisine and just relaxing on the grass.
The beautiful Victorian style park is found in Cinnamon Gardens, it is the oldest and largest park in the country. The park was recently upgraded to include biking tracks, jogging lanes and loads of open space. Enjoy a picnic; take the kids to the play zone or simply chill out under a large shady tree. The Viharamahadevi Park promises a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
This iconic monument was built – at a later stage - in commemoration of Sri Lanka gaining independence from British rule way back in 1948. The beautiful monument is located on Independence Square which is a lush sanctuary within the city.
If you are visiting Colombo there are plenty of public transport options, however the buses and trains tend to be quite over crowded which is why rent a car Sri Lanka is quite a popular option. Self-driven or chauffeur driven vehicles are readily available as well as fleets of well-maintained vehicles. You will find that the most reputable car rental firms in Colombo offer larger vehicles as well as the very economical budget cars. For the best in convenience and quality you may want to check online where hiring a vehicle in Sri Lanka is an easy option; such as Online Rent Car.
