Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka and its largest city and main port is one of the popular tourists destination in the South East Asia with a number of tourists spots and friendly people. The place has its own history and its own beautiful places and, it is, of course, the seat of government and the home of most businesses and so, in many ways is the commercial and political heart of Sri Lanka





When to Go
Colombo’s climate is fairly temperate throughout the year, without extreme variations, so it is an all season tourist destination. However monsoons during the period between May to August and October to January are quite heavy and can be avoided to visit the place.

How to reach
Sri Lanka’s only international airport Kattunayake, is the gateway to Sri Lanka. From the airport, regular buses go to Colombo city and take around 45 minutes to reach the city Private cabs are also available from the airport at a negotiated rate. Colombo has a reasonably good network of public transport, in the form of buses and trains that link the city to the suburbs. Other than buses and trains, taxis and three-wheelers also can be hired at an agreed price

Where do I Stay
Colombo has any number of places to stay whether hostels, inns or hotels catering to every budget and taste. Leading hotel chains have large, sparkling properties offering the ultimate in luxurious surroundings and beach view. The local hostels and inns cater to more modest budgets. Some, like the Youth Hostel, the YMCA and the YWCA offer bunks/beds in dormitories or rooms at reasonably low rates.





Places of Attractions
Colombo has a number of tourist sights and other places of interest, which span quite a few centuries and three sets of foreign rulers- the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. Wolvendaal Church, Colombo's oldest Dutch church, the Sapumal Foundation, the Dutch Period Museum, the National Museum , the Viharamahadevi Park, the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, an important Buddhist temple, Dehiwala Zoo are important tourists destinations and attractions. Apart from these, a number of parks and long coastline with pristine clean water are frequented by tourists and visitors and make your stay relaxing and peaceful

Gourmet and Nightlife
Colombo is a paradise for food lovers with cuisine of all varieties such as western food (including German and Italian), Chinese food, and of course, the popular curry-and-rice Sri Lankan food at a very reasonable rate. The city has a fairly wide range of places to eat, encompassing all eating options from roadside stalls to sleek upmarket specialty restaurants. Colombo's night life centres around the discos, casinos and nightclubs in hotels and other establishments. Some of the larger hotels have regular cultural shows featuring traditional artistes, and sometimes there are events such as concerts by well-known groups or other entertainers

Shopping
Colombo has a wide range of handicrafts and other items on sale. You can buy handicrafts (such as batik, lacquerware, handloom cloth, painted wooden masks, etc) in various emporiums and shops. The government-run 'Laksala' emporium is expensive but houses authentic wares. Items of everyday use including excellent spices, famed Sri Lankan tea and fruit flavoured teas are available at Liberty Plaza, Colombo's main shopping district.

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