• Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil - Constructed in the late 1700s, the Kovils at Captain’s Garden, Maradana are considered the oldest in Colombo. Originally, the area was an island encircled by the waters of Beira Lake. Devotees would travel by boat to reach the temples for worship and to make vows. During the Dutch era, Captain’s Garden was known as ‘Cilamagoda’ and was a hub of economic activity, with warehouses for cinnamon, pepper, coconut, oil, and coir located nearby.

Today, the Beira Lake no longer surrounds the Kovils, but the area is now bordered by busy railway tracks. Despite this, the surroundings of the Kovils remain tranquil, with only the sounds of poojas audible. The intricately decorated Gopurams depict the main deities of the respective abodes, Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesh. The interior is both beautiful and spiritual, featuring sculptures and motifs that represent Hinduism and culture. The two premises are linked by a central courtyard where visitors can worship both.

• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque - The Jami – Alfar Mosque on 2nd Cross Street is adorned with red and white stripes, reminiscent of a traditional candy-striped barber’s shop. Its color scheme makes it stand out among the other rather worn Pettah buildings. Over 100 years old, the mosque was built in 1908. Just inside the entrance, an inscription notes that the architect was H.L. Saib Lebbe. A friendly security guard may allow visitors inside (even women) to view the washing ponds and the rear view of the mosque’s clock tower. However, women are not permitted inside the prayer halls. The mosque is set to undergo expansion to become a four-storey complex accommodating between 7,000 – 8,000 worshippers at once. Nevertheless, the façade will maintain its current character. It is advisable to avoid visiting on Fridays when it is busiest.

• Pettah - Pettah is a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka, located east of the city center Fort. The Pettah neighborhood is renowned for the Pettah Market, a series of open-air bazaars and markets. It is one of Sri Lanka’s busiest commercial areas, home to numerous wholesale and retail shops, buildings, commercial institutions, and other organizations.

The main market segment is designed like a gigantic crossword puzzle, where one can traverse the entire market from dawn till dusk, yet not completely cover every part of it.

Pettah is derived from Tamil: Pettai, an Anglo-Indian word used to denote a suburb outside a fort. Today, the Sinhala phrase, pita-kotuwa (outside the fort) conveniently describes the same place.

• Old Town Hall - The building is situated amidst the small shops and street stalls of Pettah. It features arches, needlepoint columns, crumbly yellow walls, and creaky staircases, giving it the feel of a haunted mansion, making it a fun visit with friends later in the day. There is no entrance fee; visitors can simply walk inside and ask someone near the main staircase if they can explore the building. There is a small museum of interesting old items next to the building that visitors can also check out. Sugath is the current caretaker and will guide visitors up some creaky wooden steps to a musty floor upstairs. Next to the door to this ‘museum’ are some well-maintained rooms with many chairs and wooden tables that appear to be still in use today. Sugath mentions that these spaces are sometimes used for official meetings.

• Independence Memorial Hall - The foundation stone of the Independence Hall was laid by the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, D.S. Senanayake, on February 4, 1949, for the first anniversary of independence. It was designed by Tom Neville Wynne-Jones, the then architect of the Public Works Department. It is entirely made out of reinforced concrete, including the roof, which was an advanced technology and an unusual practice at that time. No wood was used in its construction.

The style is inspired by the ancient audience hall in Kandy.

Special ceremonies and important national events are held in this building, symbolizing the freedom, hopes, and pride of a nation.

• Viharamahadevi Park - Formerly known as Victoria Park, this expanse of greenery in the heart of the city once stretched uninterrupted from the Town Hall to Alfred Crescent. The Ceylon Agricultural Society held shows in the area to the rear of the museum (now Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha). Today, the park serves multiple functions. At the western end is the War Memorial, where the November 11th Armistice Day parade takes place.

Further south is the Colombo Public Library building (accessible from outside the park on Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha). Along the southern perimeter (across from the Art Gallery and former Garden Club building), one or two elephants can often be seen either bathing in a small pool or munching on branches and leaves. It is from here that the elephants featured in the Gangaramaya Perahera depart. Elephants are brought to Colombo from all over the island specifically for the Perahera (procession) held in February each year.

• Cargills Department Store - In 1844, British businessman William Milne founded ‘Milne & Company’, general warehousemen, importers of oilman stores, etc., with branches in Kandy and Galle. In 1850, Milne was joined by his friend, David Sime Cargill, and the firm became ‘Milne, Cargill & Co’. In 1860, Milne retired from business in Ceylon and returned to England to form a company in Glasgow to oversee the business of Cargill & Co. in the UK. Cargill became the sole partner until he was joined by David MacKenzie, and the name was changed to ‘Cargill & Co’. The company had a Colombo office at the intersection of Price and York Streets in Colombo Fort, a Kandy office at Upper Lake Road, and an office in Galle Fort at 22 Pedlar Street. The Galle office was closed down in 1863.

• Galle Face Green - Galle Face Green has always held a special place in the lives of Colombo residents, although it is the British who are credited with making it a place of social interaction, as it remains today.

In colonial times, the British embraced Galle Face Green as a leisure ground, especially in the evening when elite ladies were said to promenade the length of the green. Active pursuits such as cricket, football, polo, and the famed horse races also took place on Galle Face Green. Horse racing became popular in the 1840s, and the Ceylon Turf Club was founded here sometime between then and 1860, although official records were not kept until 1866. The formal structure of the walk along the seaside was built during the period of Governor Ward in 1859. A plaque recognizes his achievement in providing a place where Colombo residents could gather and socialize.

• Colombo Port Old Lighthouse - The current 29-meter-high (95 ft) lighthouse was built in 1952 after the Old Colombo Lighthouse was deactivated when its light became obscured by nearby buildings as part of the Colombo Harbor Expansion project. It was opened by Rt Hon D.S. Senanayake, the first Prime Minister of Ceylon. Built on a concrete base that is 12 m (39 ft) high, it features four statues of lions at its base.

Due to the panoramic view of the Indian Ocean it offered, it became a city landmark. With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War, public access to the site was restricted. This was due to its placement in a high-security zone as it is across the street from the Naval Headquarters and in close proximity to the Port of Colombo.

• Colombo Fort Old Lighthouse & Clock Tower - The tower was constructed as a clock tower in 1856-57 and completed on February 25, 1857. The tower was designed by Emily Elizabeth Ward, the wife of Governor Sir Henry George Ward (1797 – 1860). The construction was undertaken by the Public Works Department, under the supervision of Mr. John Flemming Churchill (Director General of Public Works). The 29-meter-high (95 ft) tower was the tallest structure in Colombo at that time. The original clock was commissioned for £1,200 in 1814 by the then Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg (1759 – 1833) but was kept in a warehouse, due to economic reasons, until 1857 when it was finally installed.

The lighthouse was deactivated after its light became obscured by nearby buildings and was decommissioned on July 12, 1952. The modern Galle Buck Lighthouse was erected on Marine Drive as its replacement.

• President’s House - President’s House is the official residence and workplace of the President of Sri Lanka, located at Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Since 1804, it has been the residence of British governors and governors-general and Sri Lankan presidents, having been known as the “King’s House” or the “Queen’s House” until Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972.

There have been 29 governors who resided here, and also six presidents who resided or used it in an official capacity. Currently, it is used by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, for state functions. The Presidential Secretariat functions as the office of the president, with much of the presidential staff based there.

• Manning Market - Just east of Fort train station, Manning Market is abundant with everything grown in Sri Lanka. It’s the city’s wholesale fruit and vegetable center and is a monkey’s dream of bananas.

• Kayman’s Gate Belltower - Kayman’s Gate was an entrance to the former Colombo Fort located at the foot of the Wolvendaal Hill in the Pettah district of Colombo, Sri Lanka. A historic free-standing bell tower still stands at the site, now at the intersection of Main and 4th Cross Streets.

• Colombo Fort - The skyline of Colombo’s Fort has evolved over the centuries, but remnants of Colonial and local rule are still visible. Some of the largest, oldest, and newest buildings are located here. The Clock Tower was a lighthouse over 150 years ago. The sprawling President’s House carries the boulder engraved with the Portuguese Court of Arms in 1505. Most of the buildings, though refurbished by the British, have retained the aesthetic and architectural features inherited from the Dutch and Portuguese.

• Colombo Lotus Tower - Lotus Tower (Sinhala: නෙළුම් කුළුණ; Tamil: தாமரைக் கோபுரம்), also known as Colombo Lotus Tower, is a 350 m (1,150 ft) tall tower, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has been called a symbolic landmark of Sri Lanka. As of 2019, the tower is the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia; the second tallest structure in South Asia after the guy-wire-supported INS Kattabomman in India; the 11th tallest tower in Asia and the 19th tallest tower in the world. It was initially proposed to be built in the suburb of Peliyagoda, but later the Government of Sri Lanka decided to change the location. The lotus-shaped tower is used for communication, observation, and other leisure facilities. Construction is estimated to have cost USD 113 million.

• Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple - Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most significant temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka, blending modern architecture with cultural essence. Located on the Beira Lake, it was completed in the late 19th century.

• Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka - Wolvendaal Church is situated in Pettah, a neighborhood of Colombo. It is one of the most important Dutch Colonial era buildings in Sri Lanka and is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use in the country.

• Colombo Fort Railway Station - Fort railway station is a major rail hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways, with many inter-city and commuter trains arriving each day. Fort Station is the main rail gateway to central Colombo; it is the terminus of most intercity trains in the country.

• Colombo Port Maritime Museum - The Sri Lanka Ports Authority Maritime Museum, commonly known as the Colombo Maritime Museum, is located at 19 Chaithya Road, Colombo, adjacent to the Colombo Port. The museum is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

• Bottled water included
• Lunch provided
• Dinner included
• All fees and taxes covered

• Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple chargers only

We offer several city tours of Colombo daily. Traveling via a tuk tuk by experienced and expert tour guides/drivers gives you the opportunity to sit back, soak in the culture of this exciting bustling city. Our company offers some of the cheapest rates! We want our customers to get the best experience for a reasonable cost. Book today and make beautiful memories you will never forget.

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