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Colombo Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Colombo
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Colombo Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Colombo - A pretty metropolis sounds like a contradiction
in terms, but it is a description that fits Colombo, Sri Lanka's
largest city, a beehive of commotion with more than a million
inhabitants.
Frenetic traffic fills the main
Galle Road that runs through the city from the district of Fort,
parallel with the coast, connecting all the suburban enclaves down
to the town of Galle in the south. Fort is the historic centre of
the city that has become the main business district, filled with
shops, office blocks and government buildings. It is here that most
of the gracious old buildings from the Dutch, Portuguese and
British colonial eras are to be seen. East of Fort is the exciting
Pettah bazaar district, where the streets are crammed with shops
and stalls selling all manner of goods from vegetables to
gemstones. Further south the city's seafront is known as Galle Face
Green, where locals enjoy games of cricket, fly kites or take
evening strolls watching the sunset. Beyond this lies Colombo's
smart neighbourhood, Cinammon Gardens, boasting elegant mansions,
tree-lined streets and the lovely Viharamaha Devi Park. The closest
beach resort to the city is Mount Lavinia, about six miles (10km)
from the city. Main tourist attractions include
museums, historic buildings and churches, and beautiful parks. What
is especially enjoyable is the variety of cuisine that can be
sampled at any one of the city's plentiful bars, restaurants,
sidewalk cafes and kiosks.
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Colombo
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. National Museum
Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha
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What is it? Sri Lanka's oldest museum was established in
1877 and today boasts a massive collection of antiques and objects
d'art, encompassing the cultural heritage of the island. Exhibits
include artefacts from archaeological sites all over Sri Lanka, and
more than 4,000 ancient palm leaf manuscripts. Among the exhibits
is displayed the regalia of the Kandyan Kings dating back to the
17th century. Alongside the archaeological museum in Ananda
Coomaraswamy Mawatha is the Natural History Museum, which features
the island's fauna and flora in dioramas. The dual museums are a
good introduction for visitors interested in discovering the
culture and 2,500-year history of the
island.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 5pm. Closed Fridays
Phone:(0)1 2697467-8 |
2. Pettah
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What is it? Colombo's bazaar district, the Pettah,
presents a real treat for shopaholics who can wander through the
hustle and bustle of whole streets dedicated to selling a
particular type of merchandise, from local handcrafts to brand name
clothing. The area was once an exclusive residential area filled
with stately homes and large gardens in gas-lit streets. A relic of
the colonial era, the Dutch House Museum, is open to the public on
Prince Street. The mansion house dates from the 17th century and
was the residence of Count August Carl Van Ranzow. It has now been
restored and stands among the traders and boutiques as a museum
displaying the life and times of the Dutch occupation, its exhibits
including furniture, ceramics, coins and all the trappings of daily
life at the time.
Hours of Operation: Dutch House Museum open daily 9am to 5pm; closed
Fridays
Phone: |
3. Zoological Gardens
In Dehiwala, south of the city
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What is it? Colombo's zoo has a fine collection of
animals, birds, reptiles and fish from all over the world, but in
particular showcases the fauna of the island. The complex includes
an aquarium, which is the only one of its kind in Asia displaying
more than 500 varieties of aquatic life. There is also a
walk-through aviary, reptile enclosure and butterfly park. One of
the most popular attractions at the zoo are the daily elephant
shows, which take place at 5.15pm.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8am to 6pm
Phone: |
Colombo
holidays - Top Events
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