Best 9 Amazing Things to Do in Colombo, Sri Lanka

#1 Gangarama Buddhist Temple

Gangarama Temple is the most important and iconic Buddhist Temple of worship in Colombo, being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence. The Temple located on the Beira Lake, it was completed in the late 19th century.

The Gangarama Temple is run by one of Sri Lanka more politically adept monks. It also gained a reputation as one of the more popular things to do in Colombo.

Gangarama temple is helding Navam Perahera, one of the popular festivals in Sri Lanka, on the February Poya day (full moon day) each year. Also, this is the main place for the extravagant Vesak celebrations in Colombo.

The Gangarama temple is not only a place of worship but also a school of Buddhist learning. You can see the museum that houses a vast collection of Buddhist relics from around the world.

Its Advice to Remove the shoes covered your knee before entering the Temple. Also, you have to pay around 300 rupees as an entrance fee.

#2 Beira Lake and Seemamalakaya

Beira Lake is situated in the heart of Colombo, close to the Gangarama temple. The lake and its canals were used in the colonial era for transporting goods within the city. The lake still has its Portuguese name Beira, which means Border in English.

Beira Lake is a beautiful and peaceful place to sit down and have a sightseeing break. You can ride one of the duck paddle boats. Also, you can see animals like pelicans, storks, monitor lizards, and various species of fish in the lake.

Seema Malaka temple is part of Ganagaramaya Temple but located a few hundred meters away from Beira Lake. The Temple originally constructed in the late 19th century.

The current structure was the redesign and built by Geoffrey Bawa in 1976. The Seemamalakaya temple was used by the monks for mediation rather than worship.

#3 Colombo National Museum

National Museum of Colombo This beautiful building was built in 1876 and founded by the British governor of Sri Lanka at the time. Colombo museum is the largest museum in Sri Lanka surrounding this amazing building is a lovely and peaceful green park.

The museum holds a collection of much importance to Sri Lanka. You can see such as Sri Lankan ancient arts and carvings, as well as weaponry and artifacts from the centuries of the colonial era.

The most valuable treasure of the museum is the crown jewels and the throne of the last King of Kandy Sri Lanka, which were returned to Sri Lanka by the British Government.

#4 Independent Memorial Hall

Independence Memorial Hall is one of the famous attractions in Colombo that you must visit. It was built in order to showcase Sri Lankan independence from British rule in 1948.

This beautiful stone building surrounded by a peaceful, green, and lush garden is a monument. You can see the statue in front of the memorial hall Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake, Also known as the Father of the Nation, first president of Sri Lanka.

The design of the Memorial Hall in Colombo is based on Royal Audience Hall in Kandy. Royal Audience Hall that the Kandyan Convention was signed on the 5th March 1815, ending the Kingdom of Kandy and making Sri Lanka by British.

Now, this memorial hall is used for religious events and the annual national day celebration. It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum. Also, the people come here for their morning and the evening jog or to chill on the steps of the monument.

The Arcade is housed in a group of beautifully renovated buildings, surrounded by green lawns and featuring a fountain and a glass-floor aquarium. One of the buildings used to serve as Jawatta Lunatic Asylum. The area was renovated, keeping intact many original architectural features.

#5 Old Dutch Hospital in Colombo

The Old Dutch Hospital is now considered one of the oldest buildings in the Colombo Fort area. The Dutch built this hospital for the staff and officers of Dutch East India Company in the 17th century.

Since then, the old Dutch building served as Colombo Fort Police Station, as well as housed the Colombo Apothecaries. Now the building was renovated and transformed into a shopping and dining complex. It is beautifully restored and houses some excellent restaurants and cafes, and cool shops.

#6 Ministry of Crab in Colombo

The Ministry of Crab, World famous seafood restaurant in Colombo, which you can see inside the Old Dutch Hospital. The seafood restaurant owned by former international Sri Lankan cricketers Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

The Ministry of Crab is a haven for Sri Lankan seafood. The seafood menu includes the wonderfully sweet and delicious crabs, specially prepared by Chef Dharshan Munidasa, blending his culinary expertise.

The most important ingredient it includes is crabs. The Crabs are the Stars of the Show at the Ministry of Crab with signature dishes such as Chilli Crab, Pepper Crab, and Baked Crab on the menu.

#7 Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil

The Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam Kovil Hindu temple in Colombo also called Captain’s Garden Kovil. The structure is supposedly the oldest Hindu Temple in Colombo.

The Temple with South-Indian inspired architecture, as well as the beautiful and bright paintings, and detailed artwork in the ceiling.

The main gods of this Hindu temple are Easwaran (Shiva) and Ganesh, but you can see in the Temple has a lot of statues of many different Hindu gods.

The Kailawasanathan Kovil is one of the most popular Hindu temples in the Colombo city, among both local people and tourists as well.

#8 Galle Face Green in Colombo

Galle Face Green in Colombo Is a large urban park that offers half of a kilometer of on foot along the water, more particularly along the coast of the Indian Ocean. It is taken into consideration to be the largest open area in Colombo.

The promenade changed into first of all specified in 1859 by way of Governor Sir Henry George Ward. However, the authentic Galle Face Green extended over a miles larger location than is visible these days. The Galle Face Green became, to begin with, used for horse racing and as a golfing.

Galle Face Green is a beautiful and peaceful place packed with couples and families taking a stroll in the afternoons, especially on Sundays. Also perfect for walking, running, playing football, kite flying, and cricket and watch the sunset.

#9 Red Mosque in Colombo

Colombo Red Mosque, also known as (Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque), is an elegant building and one of the oldest mosques in Colombo located very close to Pettah Market. And this is a popular tourist site in the city.

The Red Mosque likes no other mosque. The building is with red and white patterns that are just mesmerizing.