Best Things To Do in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Tourist Attractions in Colombo

Here is the list of things to do in Colombo and tourist attractions in city.

1. Independence Square

   

   Walking Area, Statue, Leisure, Square

   Walking down Independence Avenue, you'll see a statue looming up before you. It is Hon. D. S. Senanayaka, father of the Nation, the first Prime Minister of Independent Ceylon, welcoming you to the square where Sri Lanka's freedom from British rule was celebrated in 1948. Right behind the statue is the Independence Memorial Hall. Around the square is a manicured grassy garden, popular with jogge...Read more

2. Galle Face Green

   

   Park, Walking Area, Picnic Spot

   This lovely park, facing the Indian Ocean,  was once a marshland. The British Governor, Sir Henry Ward had it landscaped into a luxury promenade for the wealthy in 1856. Moreover, the clearing gave the cannons at the Fort a clear firing sight at any assaulting force from the sea. Today, it is THE place to be at sunset, when the grand colonial-era buildings surrounding the fort are bathed i...Read more

3. Seema Malaka

   4.6 (3195 Votes)
   

   Religious Site, Temple

   Most religious temples in Sri Lanka tend to be Christian or Hindu. Which serves for a double dose of irony when you find out the most popular tourist interest temple is this Buddhist one, and that it a place for meditation and rest, rather than worship. Technically the Seema Malaka is a part of the Gangaramaya temple, but since it is a few hundred metres away from the main complex, it can be th...Read more

4. Independence Memorial Hall

   4.4 (3374 Votes)
   

   Memorial, Hall

   Rising in the heart of the Independence Square, this memorial hall serves as an open pavilion of sorts. Built to commemorate the  independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule, the hall where religious events and annual national holidays are marked. The architect of the elegant building was Tom Neville Wynne-Jones, who took inspiration from the the Magul Maduwa, the royal audience hall o...Read more

5. St Anthony's Church Kochikade

   4.8 (3007 Votes)
   

   Church, Religious Site

   This is one of the most curious churches you'll ever visit. From the outside, it is by every appearance a regular Catholic Church. But the second you step in, it's as if you've stepped into a pagan temple. There are a dozen statues of Christian saints, and you will find lines of church-goers making offerings to each saint in a manner that is definitely non-traditional. The statue of St. Anthony...Read more

6. Old Parliament Building

   

   Architecture , Heritage Building

   It could be ironic, that this, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city, is not open to the public. But considering that people are well satisfied with merely taking photographs of its great architecture, it is not so surprising. Built in the 1930s in Neo-baroque style to house the Parliament, the building's function changed in 1983, when the parliament moved to Sri Jayawardenapu...Read more

7. Jami Ul-alfar Mosque

   

   Mosque, Religious Site

   Imagine a building with the color scheme of a red-velvet pastry cake. Try to take it seriously. Then take a look at this mosque and the eye-catching white and red striped pattern on its towering, imposing body of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Surprising isn't it? It took one year to build this mosque, completed in 1909. Before the view was obscured, it is said that sailors used the mosque's dist...Read more

8. Sri Kaileswaram

   4.6 (2316 Votes)
   

   Religious Site, Temple, Architecture

   This is the oldest (125 years old) and largest Hindu temple in the city. Like most major hindu temples, the architecture is incredibly ornate. Hundreds of sculptures and carvings of hindu deities adorn the high, sloping blue roof, the top of which is 80 feet above the ground. The inside is relatively plain, but the walls have some religious paintings and murals. There may be some classical devo...Read more

9. Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple

   4.5 (3040 Votes)
   

   Religious Site, Temple

   The tourist who comes upon this temple, and unmoved by ut's unimpressive exterior , and decides to not go in will miss out on something mindblowing. If you Google pictures of this temple, the results will always return images of its interior. The interior is magical. It's possible there is not a single space of its wall and ceiling that has not been heavily decorated with evocative statues, col...Read more

10. Arcade Independence Square

    4.4 (3470 Votes)
    

    Walking Area, Square, Picnic Spot

    This complex is an interesting juxtaposition of facts. It looks like a mansion. It looks new, but was built in 1889 as an lunatic asylum. It is now located adjacent to where Sri Lanka was declared free. And it is now the most popular shopping, leisure and entertainment complex in the city. Fashion apparel, sports apparel, watches, electronics, restaurants and even a wax museum, of all things, a...Read more

11. Shri Ponnambalawaneswaram Kovil

    4.7 (2479 Votes)
    

    Religious Site, Temple

    Usually Hindu temples explore with color. Not this one. It's a little surprising to see. The whole temple is made from grey granite from South India. The only splash of color on the outside are the bright palm trees lining the avenue to the entrance. As you enter, you'll see the color scheme on the inside is identical. But instead of palm trees, it's the vivid orange of garlands strung across d...Read more

12. Colombo Lighthouse

    

    Light House, View Point

    It's a shame one cannot climb up to the top anymore; access was restricted during the Sri Lankan Civil War. Still, the construct makes for some nice selfie opportunities and inventive photography. It was built in 1952, and has a height of 29 metres. At the base of the lighthouse is a naval gun battery, traditionally fired at least once a year on National Day, on the fourth of February. Also at ...Read more

13. The Central Point - Economic History Museum

    4.4 (2781 Votes)
    

    History Museum

    When it was first built, the Central Point building was the tallest in the city. Restored after the damage it suffered in the 1996 bombing, the building is one of the best examples of Greco-Roman architecture in Colombo, especially the lovely atrium with its winding stairs. Also, the chandelier is supposed to be one of the tallest in Asia. There's a little museum on currency inside, but it's no...Read more

14. Geoffrey Bawa Number 11

    4.4 (2831 Votes)
    

    Architecture

    Deshamanya Geoffrey Manning Bawa was a renowned Sri Lankan architect who nearly single handedly formed the style known as tropical modernism. The unassuming looking house is where he stayed for 40 years. It incorporates many of his influences. His bedrooms and office have been kept as he used them. You'll see his vintage cars, a collection of art and sculpture, documents, drawings and other art...Read more

15. St. Thomas Chapel

    5 (749 Votes)
    

    Church, Religious Site

    Situated on a hillock, surrounded by grass and trees, the chapel is part of St. Thomas Anglican Church and the school of the same name. From the outside, it's an old and dignified looking building. Its true treasure lies inside - an incredible mural painting on the east wall, behind the altar, by renowned artist David Paynter. The work was completed in 1968. Its famous for the eyes of the figur...Read more

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