Colombo

Discovered initially by traders two millennia ago, Colombo is Sri Lanka’s largest economic corridor and tourist destination. As the island nation’s capital city, Colombo is a cosmopolitan gateway to the wonders of Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial heritage, splendid tropical landscapes and delectable cuisines. The city is well connected to other places in Sri Lanka by rail and road.

It is in Colombo that you can find it all; from the Lotus Tower, South Asia’s tallest freestanding structure, world-class casinos like Bellagio and Ballys, and cinnamon plantation hiking trails. The city identifies with the classic form of urban tourism and offers a great experience of sightseeing, shopping and nightlife. Taking an open deck bus tour is the best way to sightsee around the city on a day of pleasant weather.  Against the ocean at Galle Face Green Promenade, Galle Fort and Lighthouse showcase astonishing Victorian relics in a snazzy neighbourhood with cafes. Pettah Market, acclaimed as a shopaholic’s abode by tourists and locals, features vibrant oriental themes and colourful shops.

Also, be sure to visit Mount Lavinia Beach and enjoy a beautiful day with the sunset at the end too. The Snow World Theme Park and Viharamahadevi Park are great places if you are travelling with kids. For the adventure enthusiast in you, indulge in some scuba diving in Chief Dragon and The Sierra. Colombo seamlessly blends adventure, luxury, culture, and history from regalia of 17th-century Kandyan Kings, colossal Buddha figures and Thambili-coconut drinks to amusement parks, malls and bustling bazaars.