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Sights and Sounds of Colombo: Walking Tour

Colombo
Book online or call: +44 0800 015 4961
Duration: 3h
Activity Level: Easy
Experience: Adventure, Historical
Language: English
Permis photo inclus
Visite en transports en commun
Excursion en bateau sur le canal incluse
Billets de train inclus
Convient aux petits enfants
Visite accessible en fauteuil roulant
Billet musée inclus
Collation légère incluse
Déjeuner inclus
Transport inclus
Visite à pied

Overview

Unforgettable 3-hour walking tour will show you all he best of Colombo. The main advantage is that you can not only see the city but also experience its local life due to the visit to the local market which is constantly full of life. Your friendly tour guide will help you to experience sights and sounds of the vibrant Colombo city and you will discover how it turned to be a modern and beautiful city.

What's included

  • English-speaking guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Prawn cake tasting
  • Pick-up and drop-off
  • Transportation
  • Food and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses
  • Meeting point is Independence Square

Highlights

Colombo
Colombo boasts a rich colonial heritage, featuring a melting pot of races, religions and cultures. A city of contrasts, it is both an eclectic mix of shiny hotels and swanky office blocks, neighbouring beautiful red-tiled colonial-era buildings. Sprawling bustling street markets brim with fragrant spices, colourful silks, cottons and fresh fruit and vegetables. The home of the famed Ceylon tea, delve into the vast array of fragrant flavoured teas, including banana and brandy. Featuring a fascinating heritage and enticing culture, Sri Lanka‘s capital is one of Asia’s favourite travel destinations.
Colombo Independence Square
Independence Square is in the prestigious Cinnamon Gardens district of Colombo where spacious tree-lined boulevards remain from colonial days and takes its name from the Independence Memorial Hall built there to commemorate the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule in 1948. Independence Square is a popular stopping place on a city tour so visitors can walk around the structure or relax in the shade of the avenue of mango trees. Close to the Square is the Arcade, a modern shopping mall housed in former colonial government buildings brightened with a fountain, covered ponds, and more statues of lions.
Gangaramaya Temple
Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century. After the Venerable Sri Sumangala, his chief pupil Devundera Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera took on the administration of the temple. It was he who laid the foundation to convert the little temple to an institute of international reckoning. The next chief incumbent was the Ven. Devundara Keerthi Sri Sumangala Jinaratana Vacissara Thera, the teacher of the Ven. Galboda Gnanissara, who worked to make the Gangaramaya what it is today: much more than a temple in the conventional term, but a place of worship, a seat of learning and a cultural centre.
Independence Commemoration Hall
On the 4th of February 1948, in Torrington Square, Sri Lanka’s first elected parliament – that was independent of British rule – was officially opened in a formal ceremony, restoring the country’s full autonomy to its people. The Independence Memorial Hall (also known as the Independence Commemoration Hall) was subsequently built as a national monument that would commemorate the country gaining its freedom from the British, in the very location where the historic event occurred. The area around the Hall was renamed Independence Square, and today is a popular attraction for locals.
Jami Ul Alfar Mosque
The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, also known as the Red Mosque (not to be confused with the Red Mosque of New Delhi), is one of Colombo’s oldest mosques. The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque was built in 1908 in Pettah to cater to the growing need for a large place for religious repose. The design and construction was done by Habibu Labbe Saibu Labbe an unknown architect of the time. He used Indo-Saracenic structural images, given to him by the South Indian traders who commissioned him, as his base; but also mixed in elements of his own. One of the most notable architectural changes is that the dome shaped spires on top of the mosque is not of the typical onion shape. Instead its shape follows that of a pomegranate; while its walls are painted the same shade of red as the innards of that fruit, along with pale yellow horizontal stripes. This red tone is why the mosque gained its name.
Kapikaawatha Shivan Temple
Sri Kailasanathar Swami Devasthanam, or Kapikaawatha Shivan Temple as it is also called by its devotees, is the oldest Hindu Temple in Colombo. Dedicated to the gods Ganesha and Shiva, the temple has been around for over two centuries. It’s also one of the most beautiful temples in Colombo. The temple was built in Maradana, Colombo by a group of Indian Chetti traders known as ‘Thiruvilanga Nakarathar’ who moved to Sri Lanka for business two hundred years ago. The temple has been created by skilled temple architects and sculptors straight from India; and maintains the classic Hindu temple look that is rarely seen on Sri Lanka. The colorful main tower with its detailed sculptures, intricate lotus-carved main door, solid stone statue masterpieces and other such aspects make the temple a beautiful sight for visitors' eyes. In addition to the main shrine dedicated to God Shiva; a number of shrines to other Hindu Gods and Goddesses encircle the main sanctum.
Light House Tower
At the corner of Chatham Street in the North West of Colombo fort, located an elegant Victoria clock tower. This tower used to be a lighthouse as the lamp still exists on the top to this day, but it is no longer in operation, since the light became blocked by tall buildings around it. However, the tower remains and functions as a clock tower.
Pettah market
The Pettah Market or Manning Market is an open market in the suburb of Pettah in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Being one of Colombo's busiest places, the area may seem a little chaotic at first glance but if you know what to get on which street then you are going to walk out with some cool stuff at surprisingly low prices. One can find a wide range of goods right from electronics to fashion accessories and market vendors selling anything from fresh vegetables, fruits to meat and seafood. Pettah Market is a popular shopping area of both locals and foreign travellers as they take back a wide range of cheap stuff. Many new shops keep popping up every other day. Apart from these, at the end of Pettah, there lies Sea Street, which is Sri Lanka's gold market and attracts buyers of gold jewellery from all around Sri Lanka. It is a long street of jewellery shops with hundreds of shops next to one another.
Viharamahadevi Park
Colombo’s biggest park was originally called Victoria Park, but was renamed in the 1950s after the mother of King Dutugemunu. It’s notable for its superb flowering trees, which bloom in March, April and early May. Elephants used for ceremonies sometimes spend the night in the park, chomping on palm branches. It has been given a major sprucing up and now boasts comfy benches (often occupied with caressing couples), walkways, landscaping and playgrounds. You'll even still see the odd snake charmer.

Itinerary

09:00 10:00 11:00

Independence Square is a great place to meet your tour guide and to start your adventure. You will see one of the oldest colonial buildings and will get to know how the city was established. Next you will be provided an opportunity to see authentic architecture of the Memorial Hall. Right after that it will be time to try some hoppers and enjoy views in the park of Colombo.

Continue your exploration and get to see the Buddhist temples with a great collection of Buddha statues. And then it’s time to get used to the local life. Visit the local market to feel the spirit!

Then go to see an impressive Jami Ul Alfar Mosque, beautiful Hindu temple and one of the most interesting hidden gems in Colombo that is the jail cell of the last King of Sri Lanka.

You will have some time to try prawn cake and have a relaxing walk at Galle Face Green.

Your tour will conclude at the center of the city.

 

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