Many would skip Colombo saying there’s nothing much to see. But we were too intrigued not to stop at the Capital. The beauty of Colombo lies in colonial architecture, the colorful tuk-tuks, the trains by the beach, and the beach itself.
It was our last stop at Sri Lanka, so were already a bit sad-we were experiencing that traveler’s sadness that happens to most in the last leg of the journey. It comes with a realization actually – that says the trip is about to end.
What was best about Colombo – Many would swear by Colonial style buildings and colorful Tuk Tuks in Sri Lanka.
Being from India, Colombo, gave us the vibe of few cities in South India. Tuk Tuks for us was no big deal, as we find plenty in India too. But the splash of colors made these tuk-tuk taxis really interesting.
What could have been better: Frankly Colombo didn’t really charm us. The airport was just ordinary. The local tuk-tuk guy overcharged us. If you aren’t careful, you are bound to be duped here.
Things to do in Colombo
National Museum: National Museum is a major landmark in Colombo. The white building built in 1876 was founded by the British Governor of Sri Lanka. The green manicured lawns surround National Museum and the museum displays King’s Golden throne and crown.
Gangaramaya Temple: This is perhaps the prettiest Buddhist temple I have seen after the ones in Bhutan. The temple includes a library, a museum and a display hall of gifts. So many Buddha statues in one place look gorgeous.
One must be careful about what they wear to the temples. Shorts and short skirts aren’t allowed inside the temple.
I was wearing a short dress so I was given a white cloth to tie around my waist.
Beira Lake: Beira Lake is in the center of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has become a quintessential Colombo essential picture that makes it a must for a traveler to Colombo. The lake was used by the Portuguese to transport their goods within the city and it still retains its Portuguese name.
The lake still is one of the hottest tourist places in Colombo.
It is known for its rich flora and fauna and is home to a varied species of pelicans, fishes, storks, monitor lizards, the water snake, migratory birds, and many more things.
Beira lake merges into the Indian Ocean at Galle Face.
Seema Malaka Temple: It is the assembly hall of monks in the Gangaramaya temple and is one of the most famous temples in Sri Lanka. Located near the Beira Lake, the temple is ordained with many Buddhist statues. Also, the architecture of the place is inspired by the Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architecture.
Seema Malaka Temple was established by Venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumanagala Nayaka Thera about 120 years ago. The temple entrance is flanked by two Golden Buddha statues.
Pettah Floating Market: Pettah Floating Market was once a stinky canal. But given the beautiful locations, it is tough to believe that. Though Pettah is a crowded market place, but not the floating market (at least it wasn’t when we visited it) The place has many local stalls on the sides. We weren’t hungry so just sipped on some juice.
National Zoological Gardens: After sightseeing, we still had a good 8 to 9 hours in hand. So we decided to head to the zoo. The Sri Lankan Zoo is quite huge and so is the entry fee for foreigners. But being a SAARC country we were given some discounts.
As soon as we entered the zoo, we realized we hadn’t committed a mistake. We saw so many species of birds and animals.
Indian Lunch: We were relieved to find a few Indian restaurants in Colombo and we had a tummy full of good South Indian lunch.
It was our last meal in the city as we had a flight to catch in the evening.
Concluding Words: Sri Lanka happened by mistake for us. We had actually planned to go somewhere else. Nevertheless, we were glad it happened. Though for us, it is not really a place we would like to come back to, but yes it is a must in the traveler’s bucket list.
