Close to the Gangaramaya Temple, in the heart of Colombo, is a huge lake – Beira Lake. The lake has crazy green colored water due to its pollution. In the middle of the lake is a small island containing the Simamalaka Shrine, which was built from donations made of a Muslim sponsor. The lake connects with other lakes through narrow canals and ends up in the Indian sea. In the colonial era, the lake and its canals were used for transporting goods within the city, and it still has its Portuguese name “Beira” which means border in English. Beira Lake Colombo Sri Lanka The Simamalaka Shrine on an island in Beira Lake The lake is a nice and peaceful place to sit down and have a sightseeing break. We were tempted to go with one of the duck paddle boats shaped as swans that were for rent, but we backed out. 🙂 You can see animals like storks, pelicans, monitor lizards, and there are various species of fish in the lake.
Set in Colombo and within a 7-minute walk of Khan Clock Tower, C 1 Colombo Fort has a garden, rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. C1 Colombo Fort is situated a short distance from attractions such as World Trade Center - Sri Lanka. C1 Colombo Fort is located 2.6 km from U.S. Embassy and 3.1 km from R Premadasa Stadium. Non-stop assistance is available at the reception. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Colombo Rowing Club, Colombo Dutch Museum and Colombo Harbour. The nearest airport is Bandaranaike International Airport, 27 km from the property. Fort is a great choice for travellers interested in seafood, relaxation and sightseeing.
Superb Staff Fantastic Cleanliness Read all reviews Property Description Hey Guys, we are back!! Yes, it was a struggle, but that was common to all of us, revamped and revitalized, we are here to make sure your stay in Colombo is a good one. We are most willing to help you plan your stay in Island, as well as to make your stay with us an enjoyable one. With the Beach, a walk away and our roof top area to mingle and enjoy, we are sure you would enjoy and extend your stay with us. Your always welcome to reach out to us with regard to your travel plans, even prior to booking. Do take care and Enjoy Sri Lanka, Ayubowan !! CBH Management Dec 2021
A good choice
The Buddhist temple Gangaramaya (Vihara) consists of several buildings and is a bustling temple complex filled with an enormous amount of things. Some of which are frankly pretty strange and a little scary. It includes, for instance, a library, a museum and a display hall of gifts received from devotees and well-wishers over the years. The temple apparently has the relics of Buddha’s hair. The temple also has a LOT of Buddhas, in stone, white plastic and gold. I don`t think I have ever seen that many Buddhas in one place! 🙂
The beautiful building that houses the National Museum, was built in 1876 and founded by the British governor of Sri Lanka at the time. It is the largest museum in Sri Lanka. Surrounding this amazing building is a lovely and peaceful green park. Colombo Sri Lanka The beautiful National Museum, dating back to 1876 Inside the museum are statues and exhibits telling the story of ancient Sri Lanka. The museum also displays items own by the former royal family of Sri Lanka, like the King’s golden throne and crown.
Also called Captain’s Garden Kovil, this is Colombo´s oldest Hindu Temple. The South-Indian inspired architecture of this temple, as well as the beautiful and bright paintings, and detailed artwork, especially in the ceiling, is impressive. They were building some new structures when we visited, so the temple is still expanding. Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil Colombo Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil Colombo The temple has a lot of statues of many different Hindu gods, but the main god of this temple is Easwaran (Shiva) and Ganesh.
All around downtown Colombo 1, in the Fort Area, there are stunning monumental buildings dating back to the Dutch and British era of Sri Lanka. Back then (Colombo was declared the capital of Ceylon in 1815 by the British) this area was a real fort as it was surrounded by the sea on two sides and had a moat on the landward sides. Today the Fort area of Colombo is packed with stunning old colonial-era architecture masterpieces that have been restored with a mix of modern structures. The Old Dutch Hospital is a good example of this (no. 6 in this guide) and well worth a visit. Also, this area houses the President´s House and various ministry and governmental buildings. Colombo Sri Lanka The old Parliament Building located in the Fort area housing the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka This is a rather compact and small area, perfect for a stroll. Start or end your walk at the beautiful Old Galle Buck Lighthouse and enjoy the nice view of the Colombo shore and harbor. Other highlights in the Fort area that you should not miss are: Old Galle Buck Lighthouse – The perfect place to start your Fort walk. Built in 1954, the lighthouse is surrounded by old cannons and has a beautiful view of the ocean and Colombo port. (located on Marine Drive) Sambodhi Chaitiya dagoba/ stupa – A bright white dagoba/ stupa just north of the Old Galle Buck Lighthouse. The dagoba is on 20 m tall legs so that sailors at the sea could see it. (located at Marine Drive) The Clock Tower – Originally a lighthouse built in 1857 (located in the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha Street) Central Point – Built in 1914, this used to be the old colonnaded Central Bank and is now the grandest renovated building in this area. The interior is marvelous, especially the impressive chandelier which is the tallest in the whole of Asia. The building also houses a museum of local money. (located at Chatham Street, Colombo 1, Free entrance) Lloyd´s Buildings – A stunning newly renovated building constructed in 1908, which is now owned by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. (located on Sir Baron Jayatilleke Mawatha, Colombo 1) St Peter´s Church – The oldest church in Colombo that is still in use, from 1821. (located on Church Street, just north of the Grand Oriental Hotel) Cargills Main Store – Dating back to 1906, this beautiful bright red building is a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the stunning building is quite empty, but there is a small Cargills convenience store inside where you can sit down and have something cool to drink.
Pettah, Colombo 11, is one of the oldest districts of Colombo and walking around in this area is a real adventure full of sound, smells, and people watching. Plunge into the madness of shops, stalls, and markets. In between, you also see some religious buildings like mosques and churches. It can eventually become a bit overwhelming, so my advice is to plan for breaks in between to get your head straight from all the chaos. Just go with the flow. Colombo streets Pettah Hustling and bustling in the streets of Pettah Some of the highlights of Pettah (Colombo 11) that you should see are: Pettah Markets – The Federation of Self Employees Market (off Olcott Mawatha Street, Colombo 11, opening hours: 07:00 – 16:00) along 5th Cross Street is packed with household stuff and food. You will find all kinds of colorful and delicious fruits and vegetables here. Manning Market (Olcott Mawatha, Colombo 11, opening hours: 07:00 – 15:00) is located just east of Fort Train Station and is Colombos wholesale market of fruits and vegetables. Central Market (Market Street, Colombo 11, opening hours: 07:00 – 15:00) is more modern than the other two. Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque – A beautiful red and white brick building dating back to 1909 that looks like candy. We were heartily welcomed and were given a lecture about Islam and the mosque by one of the imams. (cnr 2nd Cross and Bankshall Street, Colombo 11) Wolvendaal Church – Built in 1749 this church is the most important Dutch building in Sri Lanka. It got its name because the Dutch mistook the jackals roaming this area at the time for wolves. So they named this area Wolf´s Dale (Wolvendaal). The church has some elegant and beautiful furniture like ebony chairs, wooden pulpit, wooden baptismal font, and lectern. (Wolvendaal Lane, Colombo 11, opening hours: 09:00 – 16:00) Dutch Period Museum – This building started out as the residence of the Dutch governor when it was built in the 17th-century, but has since housed a Catholic seminary, a military hospital, a police station, as well as a post office. The museum has a nice garden courtyard and lots of Dutch colonial furniture and artefacts on display. It was here that the King of the Kingdom of Kandy in 1638 signed the papers that opened Ceylon to the Dutch. (95 Prince Street, Colombo 11, opening hours: 09:00 – 17:00, closed on Sundays and Mondays). Old City Hall – Built in 1865 and used to be the City Hall in the British era. (Main street, Colombo 11, opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00, closed on Sundays)
Located in the port city of Negombo, King Fish Guest Houses provides affordable accommodation including free parking. The guesthouse is only steps away from Negombo Beach. Free WiFi is available. Enjoying sea views from the rooftop, all the rooms are simply furnished and clean. Each is fitted with a fan, windows offering direct sunlight and an en suite bathroom equipped with free toiletries and shower facilities. King Fish Guest House offers a shared lounge area and a library. Free parking facilities are provided to guests who drive. You can also rent a bicycle to explore the area. The accommodation houses a bar where guests can enjoy light snacks and local beer. Meals can be freshly prepared and served in the room upon request. Gjester som reiser alene, anbefaler beliggenheten til alle som reiser i eget selskap. De har gitt beliggenheten 8,7 i score.
CityRest Fort ligger i Colombo sentrum, og tilbyr sovesaler, privatrom og gratis Wi-Fi overalt. Frokost med vestlige retter serveres hver morgen. På CityRest Fort kan du koble ut på takterrassen og i kaféen. Vandrerhjemmet tilbyr også klimaanlegg overalt og en gjestestue med sofaer, bibliotek og flatskjerm-TV. Jernbanestasjonen Secretariat ligger 400 meter unna, og Katunayake internasjonale lufthavn ligger en 30-minutters kjøretur fra CityRest Fort. Gjester som reiser alene, anbefaler beliggenheten til alle som reiser i eget selskap. De har gitt beliggenheten 9,3 i score.
