Explore Colombo – the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. This city tour takes you through many landmarks as well as to a few hidden gems. Fun-fact: Administrative Capital or the real capital of the island is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, which borders with Colombo. The entire trip takes about 04-06 hours.
Start & End Locations :
Hotel in Colombo or Colombo Harbor
Starting Time :
Any convenient time between 07:00 am to 03:00 pm.
Wheelchair Accessibility :
Accessible for the major part, except for the upper floor at the Colombo Museum.
Remarks :
A surcharge will apply for solo traveler or for picking up and dropping off outside the mentioned locations.
Highlights:
Colombo National Museum
National Museum of Natural History
Gangarama Buddhist Temple
Hindu shrine in Slave Island
Multitude of drive-by sites
Includes:
Private transport
English-speaking chauffeur-guide
Entrance tickets to mentioned sites
Itinerary
Sights : Colombo City Tour - National Museum & National Museum of Natural History
Visit the Colombo National Museum, the largest in Sri Lanka. It houses many fascinating artefacts including the throne and the crown of the last monarch of the island, the bloodstained blouse in which one of the queens was clad in when the monarch family was taken into custody by the British, backed up by a few local chieftains. And don’t miss out the man-eater of Punani displayed at the National Museum of Natural History.
Sights : Drive-by
Weave through the bustling Pettah market area. View the Colombo Municipal Council heavily influenced by the Capitol Building of Washington DC in design, Viharamaha Devi Park, the old Parliament Building which presently houses the Presidential Secretariat, the oceanfront Galleface Green Promenade which is known to be the largest open area in Colombo, the prison cell where the last monarch was kept captive by the British before his exile to India and the Independence Square. We drive-by the Borella Cemetery too – the most notable dignitary buried here is the British-born sci-fi author Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
Sights : Gangarama Buddhist Temple & Slave Island Hindu Shrine
Later on tour the vividly colorful Gangarama Temple cluttered with artefacts, as well as the Seema Malaka shrine that stands picturesquely on the neighboring Beira Lake. A little farther is the Hindu kovil of Slave Island, with a colorful traditional tower ‘gopuram’ erected at the gateway.
Sights : Souvenir shopping
Wind up the city tour with some souvenir shopping at the famous handicraft store ‘Laksala’ or browse for trendy clothes at ‘ODEL’ or ‘Cotton Collection’. Or simply opt to be dropped off at the hotel.
~ END OF PROGRAM ~
Related Excursions
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