Colombo is the commercial capital and the largest city of the Sri Lanka and located in the west coast of the country. Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte considered as the Administrative Capital of Sri Lanka and located 15Km away from the Colombo city. By the size Colombo is around 38 Square kilometers and around 800,000 of population are living in the Colombo city limit. Colombo is consisting of modern high-rise buildings, Shopping & Hotel complexes, office & residential buildings as well as old colonial buildings. For the administration purpose Colombo city has been divided in to 15 zones. (From Colombo-01 to Colombo-15).
Colombo is one of the main tourist attractions of Sri Lanka. Multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious environment, walking in the busy streets, night life, street foods and shopping experience are attracting tourist to the Colombo city. Here in below mentioned some of the attractions in the Colombo and apart from that Colombo national museum, Viharamahadevi park, Christian reformed church (Wolfendhal church),Sri Ponnambalaneswaram Hindu temple (Sivan temple) and Pettah market most visited places by the tourist.
01. Gangaramaya Buddhist temple
Gangaramaya is the most important Buddhist temple in the Colombo city and it was built in the 19th century. There are two main parts of the temple.Seema Malakaya or the chapter house of the temple built in the Beira Lake situated nearby. The temple is consisting of the modern architect and the mixture of srilankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architect. The Seema Malakaya part was designed by the famous srilankan architect Jeffery Bawa.Buddha statues, Paintings and structures of the Gangaramaya temple attract many tourist. Since it is a Buddhist temple, it is must to cover your shoulders and the dress should be below the knees. Gangaramaya temple open for the public from 6.00 am to the 10.00 pm.
02. Lotus tower
Lotus tower is another main attraction in the Colombo and opened for the public in 2022.The tower is 350m height and it’s the tallest tower in the south Asia and 11th tallest tower in the Asia and 19th tallest tower in the World. Main purpose of the tower is to use in the telecommunication industry. Apart from that world class restaurant, shopping complex, Casino and food courts are available in the lotus tower. Ticket counters open for the public from 9.00 am and open till 9.00 pm and during the weekends open till 10.00 pm.
03. Independence square
Sri Lanka received the independence from the British rulers on the 04th February 1948.Indepandance square or the independence memorial hall is a national monument built to commemorate the independence. Statue of the D.S.Senanayake, the first prime minister of the Sri Lanka can be seen in from the building. Many of the Independence day celebrations were held in here.
04. Galle face green
Galle face green is an urban park along with the coastal area located in the heart of the Colombo. In 1859, the British governor Sir Henry Ward initiates the design works of the area. Present day, the place is popular among both the local and foreign visitors for the street food and as a recreational area. Major attractions such as Harbor of Colombo, Port city, One Galle face mall and many of the five star hotels such as, Galle face hotel, Shangri la, Kingsbury, Taj Samudra and Galadarai are located close proximity to the Galle face green.
05. Red mosque ( Jami Ul-alfar Mosque )
Jami Ul-Alfar mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the Sri Lanka and known as the Red mosque and located in the second cross street of the Pettah.The red mosque built in the 1908 and built by the Indian Muslim traders lived in the Colombo. This magnificent mosque was designed by unlettered architect Habibu Lebbe Saibu Lebbe.Top of the mosque was designed as a Pomegranate and Red & White colors used for the walls. Present day around 10,000 worshippers can accommodate inside the mosque. It is open for the non-Muslim visitors as well.