Half-day City Tour by Tuk Tuk

Your tour kicks off with a brief walk through the heart of the city's CBD and its old colonial buildings. After a quick history lesson from your local guide, it'll be time to hop in a tuk tuk and hit the road. Your first stop will be the Colombo harbour, and en route you will swing past the President's House, the Fort Clock Tower, and the Colombo Lighthouse. From there, you will pass through Chatham Street, which keeps adding new restaurants, pubs, and bars to its scene. You will stop briefly in front of the former passenger terminal gate in the Colombo harbour before moving on to the heart of the trading district in Colombo — the busy streets of Pettah. Hop off the tuk tuk and spend 20–30 minutes exploring the busy streets of Pettah, from the Red Mosque to the market stalls. Meander around, sampling local food and drinks, or shopping in the colourful shops of the market.

Next stop, Wolvendaal Church, which, at more than 360 years old is the oldest Dutch reformed church in Sri Lanka. You will have the chance to walk through the church, which is filled with old tombstones of Dutch governors, and may be able to talk to the keeper of the church to better understand its history and current issues. From there, your tuk tuk tour continues along to the Captain's Garden Hindu Temple, aka the Sri Kaileshwarm Kovil, and the main place of worship for the many Hindus of Colombo. Walk around the temple, marvelling at the colourful paintings and murals, talk to devotees, and witness a special blessing. Back in the tuk tuks, you will set off for Independence Square, where Sri Lanka claimed independence from the British in 1948. Your last stop of the day will be the famous Gangaramaya Temple. One of the main Buddhist temples in Colombo, the cool, calming Gangaramaya is known for its architecture, paintings, and collection of artefacts from various historical eras. The temple sits across the road from the man-made, heavily polluted Bera Lake, which you will visit and discuss the everyday reality and impact of pollution in Colombo. If time permits, you will take the bridge that leads to the temple on the lake, Seema Malaka. From there, your Colombo tuk tuk tour will come to an end as you head back to the World Trade Center.