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Colombo

Colombo

Colombo Continued to grow under the Dutch and British and today shows the marked influence of all those cultures from the Islamic mosques and the catholic Dutch colonial Style of architecture is very much in evidence.

Colombo comes alive at night through to the wee hours with its many pool parlors, karaoke bars, casinos, pubs, and clubs. Other than that the cinemas at Colombo boasts an active theatre scenes with performances of symphony orchestras, musicals as well as experimental theatre, rock events and jazz afternoons are also popular during the week ends. 

Places to visit in Colombo

·       Colombo Fort

While the fort gets its name from the farmer military garrison, which was under the Dutch and British rule is still the location of president’s house. On its fringe is the beautiful sandstone building which houses the presidential secretariat and the government secretariat, formally the parliament, almost a replica of Whitehall in England. 

·       Pettah

The Pettah, which was earlier on the outer fringe of the fort, is still the busiest shopping bazaar in the city which specializes in various trades from textiles and Sarees, spices and condiments, goldsmiths and jewelers, wholesale dealers in rice, sugar, lentils and chilies.

·       Clock tower light house

It is very rare sight indeed-a lighthouse in the middle of the city Centre. A land mark in the Colombo fort is the light house with clock tower, a legacy of the British Colonizers for nearly 100 years. It performed the dual task of being a beacon to ships in the Indian Ocean whilst keeping time designed by Lady Ward, wife of Governor Sir Henry Ward. It was built in 1857 but installed it in 1950.

·       Galle Face

Galle face green, the mile long promenade which borders the fort on the south, is the largest open air stretch in the city affording a beautiful view of the sunset around it are the main city hotels.

·       National museum

Build in 1877, is a treasure trove of articles depicting Sri Lanka’s historical and cultural past and present including regalia of the last king. 

·       Town hall- Built with architecture similar to many state capital buildings in America.

·       Independence memorial hall – built in the style of Medieval Kandyan Audience Hall.

·       BMICH – (Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall – 1971) octagonal shaped conference hall with modern facilities. Main hall could accommodate 1500 people.

·       Viharamahadevi Park – park with lush green and large flowering trees

 

·       Gangarama Temple Complex – The Gangarama temple complex and Bikkhu Training Centre is spread around the Beira Lake and also across the main road. Its imposing buildings with Buddhist artifacts from all over the world is a “must see” site in the tourist itinerary.

There are many Buddhist temples in the city and the Buddhist Cultural Centre (Sri Lanka’s largest Buddhist books and information Centre), Vajiraramaya at Bambalapitiya and Rajamaha Viharaya at Bellanvila, Dehivela are famous as centers of Buddhist learning.  Gotami viharaya, Borella, Dipaduttaramaya, Colombo13. (Oldest Buddhist temple in the city, build in 1806) and Paramananda purana viharaya, Asokaramaya and Issipatanaramaya at Thimbirigasyaya (with beautiful mural paintings), Buddhist cultural Centre at Nedimala, Dehiwala famous for the rare collection of books published on Buddhism nationally and internationally. Karagampitiya Temple at Dehiwala (with Buddha Statues with sapphires for eyes and Frescoes) are few of the many Buddhist institutions in the city.

 

  • Bauddhaloka Buddha Image.

Facing the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall stands a beautifully executed statue of the Budhdha in the standing posture. The statue is 36 feet tall and is the largest Buddha statue in the city of Colombo. It is a replica of the Avukana statue on the banks of Kalawewa Anuradhapura.

In addition to the above other places to visit in a typical tour of Colombo would include all, or some of these locations the Wolvendhal church(Build by Dutch in 1757) St. Anthony’s church and St. Lucia’s cathedral, new Kathireson Kovil (Largest hindhu Kovil in the city).

 

  • An open air-art gallery

In the heart of Colombo, at green path with the green foliage of the Vihara Mahadevi Park as a back- drop you may view an array of exhibits of local artists of exceptional talent. Most of the artists are from the University of Aesthetic Studies to show their excellence in portraiture, figure drawing and sense drawn from life to arrest the attention of the visitors. The display is on only on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

  • Kelaniya Temple

In the immediate suburbs of the city are two very important visitors’ attractions one is the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya a very important Buddhist temple in the North east of the city and has very fascinating wall and ceiling paintings by famous artist Solius Mendis.  Kelaniya is also one of three places in Sri Lanka where Lord Buddha visited.

  • Zoological Gardens

South of the city, at Dehiwala is the National Zoological Gardens where it is one of the largest Zoological Gardens in south East Asia, which has a very large collection of animals, birds and reptile species from world over. Every evening the elephants at the zoo give a very entertaining performance of light-footed dancing and many other endearing tricks.

 

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