• Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple - Visit Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple, located at 61 Sri Jinaratana Road, Colombo 00200, Sri Lanka.

Gangaramaya Temple is a significant religious site in Colombo, Sri Lanka, showcasing a blend of contemporary architecture and cultural heritage. Situated on the Beira Lake, it was completed in the late 19th century.

• Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil - Sri Kailasanathar Swami Devashthanam is a temple nestled in a lush area behind the Fort Railway Station. Constructed during the Portuguese era, it served as a family temple and is considered the oldest Hindu temple in Colombo. Although known as Sri Kailasanathar Swami Devashthanam, many refer to it as the temple at the Captain’s Garden. Initially thought to be obscure, it is actually well-known even among non-Hindus, as evidenced by the numerous Sinhala notices displayed. The area was once an island surrounded by the waters of Beira Lake, with devotees traveling by boat to worship. During the Dutch period, Captain’s Garden was called ‘Cilamagoda’ and was a hub of economic activity, housing warehouses for cinnamon, pepper, coconut, oil, and coir.

• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque - Known as Sri Lanka’s Red Mosque, Jami Ul-Alfar Masjid is an architectural marvel located in the bustling Pettah district, one of Colombo’s oldest areas. Its towering minarets are visible from almost every street, standing out amidst the busy neighborhood.

The Red Mosque has been a landmark for sailors approaching Colombo’s port since its construction in 1908. Its unique red-and-white pattern, whether swirling, spiraling, or alternating, is captivating. The domes are shaped like pomegranates, differing from the traditional onion shape.

• Pettah - Locally, ‘Pettah’ refers to the Pettah Market, a vast array of shops stretching from Olcott Mawatha to Main Street and beyond. The name ‘Pettah’ comes from the Tamil word ‘pettai’, meaning a suburb outside a fort. The Sinhalese term ‘pita-kotuwa’, meaning ‘outside the fort’, aligns with this.

Pettah, or Pita-Kotuwa, is the area outside the fort built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Dutch besieged the fort in 1656, partially demolishing and rebuilding it to leverage the location’s natural strength. After the British took control in 1815, they established dominance in Colombo and demolished the fort’s walls in 1870. Despite the absence of ramparts, the area is still known as Colombo Fort.

• Old Town Hall - The original building of Colombo’s first municipality (Old Town Hall) is somewhat hidden among Pettah’s shopping streets. It showcases the magnificent architecture from the English rule period. Dated 1865, the first local government council meeting was held here in January 1866, and it also served as the judiciary.

Old Town Hall was operational until 1928, when the New Town Hall, still functioning today in the North-Eastern part of Viharamahadevi Park, was constructed.

The building is nestled among the small shops and street stalls of Pettah. It features arches, needlepoint columns, crumbling yellow walls, and creaky staircases. The floorboards are mahogany, and the windows have a unique design.

• Independence Memorial Hall - The foundation stone for the Independence Hall was laid by Sri Lanka’s first Prime Minister, D.S. Senanayake, on February 4, 1949, marking the first anniversary of independence. Designed by Tom Neville Wynne-Jones, the then architect of the public works department, it is entirely constructed from reinforced concrete, including the roof, which was an advanced technology at the time. No wood was used in its construction.

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

Special ceremonies and significant national events are held in this building, symbolizing the nation’s freedom, hopes, and pride.

• Viharamahadevi Park - Formerly known as Victoria Park, this green space in the city’s heart once stretched uninterrupted from the town hall to Alfred Crescent. The Ceylon Agricultural Society held shows in the area behind the museum (now Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha). Today, the park serves multiple purposes. 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), elephants can often be seen bathing in a small pool or munching on branches and leaves. Elephants are brought to Colombo from across 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 and importers of oilman stores, 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 manage Cargill & Co.’s UK operations. Cargill became the sole partner until David MacKenzie joined, and the name 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 closed in 1863.

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

During colonial times, the British embraced Galle Face Green as a leisure ground, especially in the evenings when elite ladies promenaded its length. Activities like cricket, football, polo, and horse racing were popular here. Horse racing gained popularity in the 1840s, and the Ceylon Turf Club was founded here between 1840 and 1860, although official records began in 1866. The formal seaside walk was constructed during Governor Ward’s tenure in 1859. A plaque commemorates his achievement in providing a gathering place for Colombo residents.

• Colombo Lighthouse - The current 29-meter-high (95 ft) lighthouse was built in 1952 after the Old Colombo Lighthouse was deactivated due to its light being obscured by nearby buildings as part of the Colombo Harbor Expansion project. It was inaugurated by Rt Hon D.S. Senanayake, Ceylon’s first prime minister. Built on a 12 m (39 ft) high concrete base, it features four lion statues at its base.

Offering a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean, it became a city landmark. However, public access was restricted during the Sri Lankan Civil War due to its location in a high-security zone, being across from the Naval Headquarters and near the Port of Colombo.

• Colombo Fort Clock Tower - Constructed as a clock tower in 1856-57 and completed on February 25, 1857, the tower was designed by Emily Elizabeth Ward, wife of Governor Sir Henry George Ward (1797 – 1860). The Public Works Department, under Mr. John Flemming Churchill’s supervision (Director General of Public Works), undertook the construction. The 29-meter-high (95 ft) tower was Colombo’s tallest structure at the time. The original clock, commissioned for £1,200 in 1814 by Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg (1759 – 1833), was stored in a warehouse for economic reasons until its installation in 1857.

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

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

• 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 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is considered a symbolic landmark of Sri Lanka. As of 2019, it 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. Initially proposed for construction in Peliyagoda, the Sri Lankan Government later decided to change the location. The lotus-shaped tower is used for communication, observation, and leisure facilities. Construction costs are estimated at USD 113 million.

• Christian Reformed Church of Sri Lanka - Wolvendaal Church is located in Pettah, a neighborhood in Colombo. It is one of the most significant Dutch Colonial era buildings in Sri Lanka and 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. Operated by Sri Lanka Railways, it accommodates numerous inter-city and commuter trains daily. Fort Station is the main rail gateway to central Colombo and the terminus for most intercity trains in the country.

• Sambodhi Chaithya - A prominent tourist attraction in Colombo, Sambodhi Chaithya is a stunning Buddhist stupa designed in the shape of a space rocket!

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.

• Colombo Port City - Port City Colombo is a new city development designed as an International ‘Service Oriented’ Special Economic Zone, with an initial investment of US$1.4bn and an anticipated US$20bn overall investment upon completion. Covering 269 ha, it is a sea reclamation project adjacent to the existing Colombo Business District (CBD).

The Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021, was approved by the Sri Lankan Government in May 2021, providing a modern legal framework and attractive regulations focused on business facilitation.

• Private transportation
• Entry/Admission - Kayman’s Gate Belltower
• Entry/Admission - Colombo
• Touch Your Taste buds With Tastiest Tea/ Coffee
• Entry/Admission - Wolfendhal Curch
• Entry/Admission - Colombo Fort Railway Station
• Bottled water
• Sri Lankan Tastiest Lunch Or Dinner
• Surcharges on fuel
• Entry/Admission - Temple Of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil
• Private Tuk Tuk with English Speaking Guide
• Entry/Admission - Old Town Hall
• Entry/Admission - Pettah

• Gangaramaya Temple Entry/Admission
• Lotus tower

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.