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When in Colombo
Those arriving in Colombo from the relative calm of Europe are in for a real experience. Colombo is a madcap place, with frenetic traffic and people. To an untrained eye, there appears to be complete chaos ensuing on the streets of the city.
While many people visit Sri Lanka each year for its wonderful scenery and miles of fantastic coastline, the country's biggest city is often given a miss. After getting over the culture shock, visitors will find a huge amount to enjoy here.
There are still many signs of the 150 years of British occupation in the country's architecture and customs and to a lesser extent the previous regimes of Spain and Portugal, making a visit here a valuable history lesson.
The National Museum should be on the itinerary of any self-respecting tourist with an interest for the country's culture and history. It is home to a considerable collection of books, manuscripts and artifacts and also houses a children's museum for a bit of light relief.
Meanwhile the city's large art gallery nearby houses a huge number of works by celebrated local artists and some of international note.
There are a huge number of mosques as well as Buddhist and Hindu temples to visit, proof that Colombo is at the cross roads of religion in Asia. The top Buddhist temple around is Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara. The Buddha is thought to have preached here 2000 years ago and it is the home of a major religious procession in January.
To the south of the city centre visitors will find the pleasant seafront area known as Galle Face Green, where many leisured locals like to spend their spare time and it offers the perfect respite from the bust city centre.
To the east of the city's main business district, the Fort, you will come across the Pettah bazaar part of town. It is home to a huge number of stalls selling meat and vegetables as well as gems and trinkets. The smells emanating from the bazaar hit you long before you catch sight of the place.
The city's international airport offers a good number of international flights. There is a regular bus service in to town that takes around 45 minutes. There are no domestic flights in the country meaning the bus and train network is the only way of getting further afield. Buses are the quicker option, with many services each day to all parts of the country. However, the services are often overcrowded due to the cheap tickets. Trains are a slower but far more relaxing option and the line south from Colombo to Matara passes many fine beaches.
Sri Lanka's climate is fairly unchangeable, meaning it is hot all year around. Those turning up between May and August or October and January will find themselves in the middle of monsoon season.
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Introduction
