• Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple - This temple showcases a unique blend of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architectural styles.

Located near the serene Beira Lake, the temple stands on land that was once a small hermitage in a marshy area. It features the main elements of a Vihara (temple), including the Cetiya (Pagoda), the Bodhi tree, the Vihara Mandiraya, the Seema Malaka (assembly hall for monks), and the Relic Chamber. Additionally, the premises include a museum, a library, a residential hall, a three-story Pirivena, educational halls, and an alms hall.

Tourists are particularly drawn to the architecture of the Simamalaka Shrine, which was designed by Geoffrey Bawa and funded by a Muslim patron.

• Old Parliament Building - The Old Parliament Building houses the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. Located in the Colombo Fort area with a view of the sea, it is near the President’s House and next to the General Treasury Building. This building served as the island’s legislature for 53 years until the new parliamentary complex opened at Sri Jayawardenepura in 1983.
• Khan Clock Tower - Constructed by the Khan Family of Bombay, the Khan Clock Tower is a well-known landmark in Colombo, Sri Lanka, marking the entrance to Pettah Market. Built in the early 20th century by the family of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan, this Parsi family from Bombay, India, also owned the renowned Colombo Oil Mills and other businesses in Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was formerly known.

The clock tower originally included a functioning water fountain, which is no longer operational. An inscription on the tower reads: “This clock tower and fountain was erected to the memory of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan by his sons Bhikhajee and Munchershaw Framjee Khan as a token of affectionate gratitude and dedicated through the Municipal Council to the citizens of Colombo on the fourth day of January 1923, the 45th anniversary of his death.”

Standing approximately four stories high, the tower is located on a landscaped roundabout marking the entrance to the famous market.

• Colombo National Museum - The National Museum of Colombo, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum, is one of two museums in Colombo and the largest in Sri Lanka. Managed by the Department of National Museum of the central government, it houses significant collections, including the regalia of the country, such as the throne and crown of the Kandyan monarchs, along with many other exhibits that narrate the history of ancient Sri Lanka.
• Arcade Independence Square - Arcade Independence Square is a shopping complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka, situated in a group of renovated buildings, including the former Jawatta Lunatic Asylum (later known as the Auditor General’s building) and the former Western Provincial Council Building. It was developed as part of the Independence Square Redevelopment program initiated by the Sri Lankan Government.
• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque - The construction of the Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque began in 1908 and was completed in 1909. Commissioned by the local Indian Muslim community in Pettah, it serves the community’s need for five-times-daily prayers and Jummah on Fridays. Designed and built by Habibu Labbe Saibu Labbe, an unqualified architect, the mosque’s design was based on Indo-Saracenic structures provided by South Indian traders. It features a hybrid architectural style, combining elements of native Indo-Islamic and Indian architecture with Gothic revival and Neo-classical styles. Initially, it could accommodate 1,500 worshippers, although only about 500 attended prayers at the time.
• Galle Face Green - Galle Face is a 5-hectare (12-acre) ocean-side urban park stretching 500 meters (1,600 feet) along the coast in the heart of Colombo, the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka. Originally laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward, the Galle Face Green once covered a much larger area than it does today. Initially used for horse racing and as a golf course, it also hosted cricket, polo, football, tennis, and rugby.
• Viharamahadevi Park - Viharamahadevi Park, formerly known as Victoria Park, is a public park in Colombo, adjacent to the National Museum in Sri Lanka. It is the oldest and largest park in the Port of Colombo. Located in front of the colonial-era Town Hall building, the park is named after Queen Viharamahadevi, the mother of King Dutugamunu. The land was donated to the city of Colombo by Charles Henry de Soysa during British rule, and the park was originally named “Victoria Park” after Queen Victoria. During World War II, it was occupied by the British Army, with the Australian 17th Brigade based there. After the war, the park was restored and reopened to the public in 1951.

The park once featured a cricket ground used for first-class cricket between 1927 and 1995. Ceylon played against a touring English team there in 1927 and against an Australian team in 1935.

• Colombo Fort - Known as Kolonthota, this area gained prominence as the site of the first Portuguese landings in the early 16th century and became one of their trading posts on the island. The Portuguese developed their trading post into a fortified base and harbor to extend their control over the island’s interior. The fort was besieged several times during the Sinhalese–Portuguese War, most notably in 1587, but remained under Portuguese control. It was captured by the Dutch East India Company in 1656 after they intervened in the war. As Colombo became the center for Dutch administration on the island, the fort was expanded to protect against both sea and inland threats. The Dutch demolished the Portuguese-built fortifications and reconstructed them to capitalize on the natural strength of the location between a lake and the sea. The current layout of Fort and Pettah is the result of the Dutch remodeling of Colombo. During Dutch times, Pettah was known as the ‘Oude Stade’ and served as the residential area of Colombo, while the Fort was where they built their fortifications, known as ‘the Casteel’ in Dutch.
• Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct - The Old Colombo Dutch Hospital, known as The Dutch Hospital, is considered 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.
• Temple of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil - Created by skilled temple architects and sculptors from India, this temple maintains the classic Hindu temple appearance, which is rarely seen in Sri Lanka. The colorful main tower, with its detailed sculptures, intricate lotus-carved main door, solid stone statue masterpieces, and other features, make the temple a stunning sight. In addition to the main shrine dedicated to God Shiva, numerous shrines to other Hindu Gods and Goddesses surround the main sanctum.

These satellite shrines include those dedicated to Ganesh, Skanda, Dhurka, Vairavar, Ambaal, the nine planetary bodies, Kali, Brahma, Sandeswarar, and many others. Visitors must remove their footwear and wash their feet before entering. Photography inside the temple is prohibited unless prior approval is obtained.

Today, Kailasanathar Swami Devasthanum is one of the most popular temples in Colombo, attracting tens of thousands of devotees.

• Private transportation
• Bottled Drinking Water
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Transport by Air-conditioned private vehicle, English speaking chauffeur
• English Speaking Chauffeur

• Lunch
• Expressway Tickets
• Parking fees
• Site Entry Tickets

Colombo serves as the commercial hub of Sri Lanka, and is a city that has witnessed rapid transformation. Despite most antique structures being replaced by new residential complexes and workplaces, certain sections of the city still maintain their historical charm. It doubles as the economic heart of the island and a beloved tourist attraction, situated on the island’s western seaboard. Ancient traders such as the Indians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Arabs, and Chinese were familiar with Colombo over two millennia ago, owing to its natural harbor. Present-day Colombo is an urbanized metropolis replete with shopping centers, sleek complexes, cinemas, dining establishments, cafes, residential apartments, and more.

Tour Highlights

• Visit the Gangaramaya Temple
• Explore the Old Parliament in Colombo
• See the Old Clock Tower in Colombo
• Learn at the National Museum
• Explore nature at the Zoological Garden
• Go Shopping in Colombo
• Visit the Independence Square
• Explore the Red Mosque
• Relax at Galle Face Green (Beach side)

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.