Overview to Colombo: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
- Colombo Information
- Eating & drinking in Colombo
- Things to do in Colombo
- Where to stay in Colombo
- Colombo street map
Travelers arriving in Colombo expecting an oasis of calm will be in for a surprise! It's a place where frantic traffic and general chaos rule the streets. However, once you’re over the initial culture shock, there’s a huge amount to explore in this fascinating city.
Colombo’s architecture and customs still carry more than a trace of colonial rule. Following 150 years of British occupation, along with interference from the previous regimes of Spain and Portugal, a visit to Colombo can seem like a living history lesson.
And, in this sense, the National Museum is high on the list of possible classrooms. It’s home to a considerable collection of books, manuscripts and artifacts and is perhaps the best way for the traveler to get under the skin of the country.
Further testament to the city’s cultural diversity can be found in the various fascinating sites of worship. The main Buddhist temple is Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara where Buddha himself once preached, whilst Jami Ul Alfar is the one of the biggest and most lavish mosques in town.
To the south of the center, the pleasant seafront area known as Galle Face Green stretches out. It’s the perfect place to join locals spending their spare time relaxing away from the endless activity of the city.
East of the main business district (the Fort), you'll come across the Pettah Bazaar. It’s home to a huge number of food stalls amongst the gems and trinkets, and the amazing smells hit you long before you even catch sight of the place.
Visitors are warned to be vigilant of scams and touts during their stay in the city, however, and it’s also a good idea to dress conservatively. But as long as you keep your wits about you, Colombo is an enormously rewarding travel destination.