Colombo City Tour
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Colombo City Tour
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Colombo City Tour

4 h
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About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Galle Face Green, Galle Road, Colombo Sri Lanka

Galle Face Green originally extended over a much larger area than exists today. Records indicate that it was bounded to the north by Beira Lake, the ramparts of Colombo Fort and the city’s cemetery, to the west by the Indian Ocean, whilst to the south by the Galle Face Hotel (established in 1864, although the original building on the site was a Dutch villa) and to the east by St Peter's Church (consecrated in 1821). The Galle Face Green was initially laid out by the Dutch as a means to enable their cannons a strategic line of fire against the Portuguese. One version of how the name Galle Face is derived, is that it is from the original Dutch name for the fortifications, in that the gateway which gave access to the Colombo Fort was called the Gal Gate, as it faced southwards to Galle and faas means front, so it literally means in front of the fortification that faced toward Galle. Another version is it is a corruption of the original name for the area's rocky shoreline, Gal Bokka, Gal being the Sinhalese for rock and that Gal Gate actually meant rock gate.

In 1856 the then Governor of British Ceylon, Sir Henry George Ward (1797–1860) authorised the construction of a 1 mile (1.6 km) promenade along the oceanside of the Galle Face Green, for ladies and children to saunter and ‘take in the air’. The promenade was subsequently completed in 1859.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple, 61 Sri Jinaratana Road, Colombo Sri Lanka

Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century.

After the Venerable Sri Sumangala, his chief pupil Devundera Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera took on the administration of the temple. It was he who laid the foundation to convert the little temple to an institute of international reckoning.

The next chief incumbent was the Ven. Devundara Keerthi Sri Sumangala Jinaratana Vacissara Thera, the teacher of the Ven. Galboda Gnanissara, who worked to make the Gangaramaya what it is today: much more than a temple in the conventional term, but a place of worship, a seat of learning and a cultural centre.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Independence Square, Independence Avenue, Colombo 7 Sri Lanka

Independence Square remains one of the nicest places to relax in Colombo, especially in the evenings. In addition to the memorial hall itself, there's also the huge sprawling green lawn outside, the memorial museum, the Arcade next door, and even hoppers at Walkers' Cafe.

It's a favourite for joggers in the mornings and evenings. But it's easy to catch anybody taking a walk here at some point, from school kids to aunties to even President Sirisena himself. The memorial hall was built in 1948 to commemorate our independence from British rule. The unique style of the structure is supposed to be based on the Magul Maduwa or the Royal celebration hall of the last Kandyan kingdom.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Colombo National Museum, Albert Crescent, Colombo Sri Lanka

The Colombo Museum as it was called at the beginning was established on 1st January 1877. It founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time.

The Royal Asiatic Society (CB) was instrumental in bringing to the notice of Gregory on his appointment as Governor in 1872 the need for a public museum with much difficulty the approval of the legislative council was obtained within a year. The Architect of the Public Works Department, J.G. Smither was able to prepare the plans for new structure on Italian architectural style. The construction was completed in 1876 and the Museum commenced it functions in the following year.

The Authorities of the museum took various steps to display the cultural and natural heritage of the country for this purpose.

With the development of the museum to international level, it earned the status of a national museum during the period of Dr. P. E. P. Deraniyagala. He was able to open up branch museums in Jaffna, Kandy and Ratnapura and a full - fledged Department of National Museums was established in 1942 under the act No. 31. The extension of the number of branch museums has now increased to nine and in addition a school science programme and a mobile museum service are also in operation.

This process has further been improved by the arrangement of the galleries of the ground floor in a historical sequence and those of the upper galleries on a thematic basis.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Old Parliament Building, Fort, Colombo Sri Lanka

Built in the neo-baroque style of architecture, the Old Parliament Building is one of the major attractions of Colombo. The beautiful architecture and the history associated with the building is fascinating, to say the least. The building was opened on January 29, 1930 by Governor Sir Herbert Stanley. When the State Council of Ceylon was established a year later, the old building was used as the office space for the council.

The building was designated as the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1977. In 1983, the Sri Lankan parliament moved out to the new complex in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. Since then, the Old Parliament Building has functioned as the home to the Presidential Secretariat. You will find that the front garden of the building complex is host to several bronze statues of eminent statesmen including that of Rt Hon D. S. Senanayake, Hon Dudley Senanayake and General Sir John Kotalawela.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct, Hospital Street Galle Fort, Colombo 00001 Sri Lanka

The Old Colombo Dutch Hospital (known as The Dutch Hospital) is considered to be the oldest building in the Colombo Fort area dating back to the Dutch colonial era in Sri Lanka. It is now a heritage building and a shopping and dining precinct.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Peliyagoda, Sri Lanka

Kelaniya Temple built on the banks of the Kelaniya River is one of the most sacred sites of Sri Lanka. It is believed Buddha together with 500 Arahats (Supremely enlightened beings) visited Kelaniya on the Wesek day of the Buddhist Era 2531 and expounding of the Dhamma, the Buddhist doctrine to the inhabitants of the island.Buddha’s timely visit to the island resulted in quelling an imminent war between two kings named Chulodara and Mahodara over a jewel–encrusted throne. Buddha having preached the doctrine on the disputed throne offered to him ensued lasting peace between the two kings. The great stupa built upon the site enshrining the throne was since then called Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara.

Duration: 30 minutes

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Included
  • Bottled water
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Fuel surcharge
  • Parking Fees
  • Hotel Pickup and drop-off
  • Private transportation
Not included
  • Entrance Fee/Admission
  • Gratuities
  • Entry/Admission - Galle Face Green
  • Entry/Admission - Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple
  • Entry/Admission - Colombo National Museum
  • Entry/Admission - Old Parliament Building
  • Entry/Admission - Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct
Additional
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Dress Code -Smart Casual
  • Infant Seats could arrange and it will charge reasonably ,need to informed in advance
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Tourism
90%
Cultural
90%
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