Colombo Tourist Attractions

Tourists heading for a sun soaked holiday on the pristine beaches of Colombo are definitely open to the opportunity of viewing some of the greatest tourist attractions of Sri Lanka which have preserved the timeless charm of the rich historical past. The cosmopolitan Colombo is a booming sea port and a throbbing commercial capital. For travelers therefore it is a very natural choice to start from there. As a holiday destination, Colombo has it all. It is probably best for romantic strolls down the beaches, visit temples, churches and shopping arenas. To top it all there are innumerable number of other major tourist attractions of cultural, social and historical importance, sufficient enough in itself to lure you to Colombo and bewitch you so that you come back again and again.

Some of the notable Tourist Attractions in Colombo are:

The Fort- This Tourist attraction is the identity of Colombo as it marks the beginning of the Portuguese rule in Colombo. Built during their rule the fort continued to be a prime attraction even during the rule of the Dutch and in the present scenario is a commercial center housing office buildings, hotel chains, post office, eating joints and airline offices.

Pettah in Colombo- The main shopping district in Colombo is Pettah. Colombo is a shopper's paradise and Pettah fulfils all your needs. Whether you are looking for clothes, Jewelry, watches, electrical goods, books to household items, the maze of shops offer possibly everything to you.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara Temple, Kelaniya- This is a famous temple situated seven miles from Colombo and is known to be the ancient temple in which the Lord Buddha preached around 2000 years back. The temple is famous for the statue of the reclining Buddha and the religious ceremony that takes place at the temple in the month of January.

Dehiwala Zoo- One of its kind in the whole of Asia, this zoo in Colombo is the home to a large number of animals, birds, butterflies and reptiles. Definitely a grand tourist attraction for all ages alike.

Wolvendaal Church- This ancient church is well known as Colombo's oldest church of Dutch origin. The interiors as well as the church building itself are supreme examples of art.

Colombo National Museum- History comes alive at the National Museum in Colombo. The Museum has a large collection of antiques, manuscripts, statues, porcelains and furniture's.

Mount Lavinia- The place is famous for its long stretches of golden beaches. It is an important tourist picnic spot and features a great scene of the Colombo nightlife.

Vihara Mahadevi Park- Initially known as the Victoria Park, the park was renamed in the 1950's to Vihara Mahadevi Park. This Park in Colombo is reputed to be the largest urban Park in Colombo. The Vihara Mahadevi Park was renamed such as a mark of respect to the mother of the great king Dutugemunu. The beds of flowering plants in their full bloom are a beauty to see during the months of March to early May.