Colombo City Tour from Negombo

Colombo City Tour from Negombo

A unique experience for travellers staying for a short time in Negombo. A great way to explore Colombo at it's best. A splendid way to do a quick round of last minute shopping that you missed out on and see the bustling city of Colombo.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Colombo Sri Lanka

The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, seven miles from Colombo.
The temple has often been associated with the rise and fall of Ceylon / Sri Lanka, with the popular saying that as the Kelaniya temple rose, Sri Lanka rose and as it fell, the country and its administration fell. It has thus had a deep association with the political powers of the country.
Buddhists believe the temple to have been hallowed during the third and final visit of the Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka, eight years after gaining enlightenment. Its history would thus go back to before 500 BCE. The Mahawansa records that the original Stupa at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached. The temple flourished during the Kotte era but much of its land was confiscated during the Portuguese empire. Under the Dutch empire, however, there were new gifts of land and under the patronage of King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha the temple was rebuilt. It was refurbished in the first half of the 20th century with the help of Helena Wijewardana.
The temple is also famous for its image of the reclining Gautama Buddha and paintings by the native artist Solias Mendis which depict important events in the life of the Buddha, in the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, also incidents from the Jataka tales. It is the venue for the Duruthu Maha Perehera procession each January. An 18-foot stone statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara has been erected at the temple.


Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Old Parliament Building, Fort, Colombo Sri Lanka

The Old Parliament Building, is the building that houses the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. Situated in the Colombo fort area facing the sea, it is in close proximity to the President's House, Colombo and adjacent to the General Treasury Building. The building housed the island's legislature for 53 years until the new parliamentary complex was opened at Sri Jayawardenepura in 1983.

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

Galle Face is a 5 ha (12 acres) ocean-side urban park, which stretches for 500 m (1,600 ft) along the coast, in the heart of Colombo, the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka. The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward, although the original Galle Face Green extended over a much larger area than is seen today. The Galle Face Green was initially used for horse racing and as a golf course, but was also used for cricket, polo, football, tennis and rugby.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha Near China Embassy, Colombo 00700 Sri Lanka

The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, is a convention center located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Built between 1970 and 1973, the convention centre was a gift from the People's Republic of China in memory of Solomon Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, Prime Minister.

Duration: 30 minutes

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

Independence Memorial Hall (also Independence Commemoration Hall) is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule with the restoration of full governing responsibility to a Ceylonese-elected legislature on February 4, 1948. It is located in Independence Square (formerly Torrington Square) in the Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo. It also houses the Independence Memorial Museum.
The monument was built at the location where the formal ceremony marking the start of self-rule, with the opening of the first parliament by the HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester occurred at a special podium February 4, 1948.
Located at the head of the monument is the statue of the first prime minister of the country Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake "The Father of the Nation". Most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations have been held here. Apart from a monument it served as the ceremonial assembly hall for the Senate of Ceylon and the House of Representatives of Ceylon until the parliament was moved to the new parliament complex. Currently it is the venue for religious events and annual national day celebrations.

Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo Sri Lanka

Colombo Racecourse was a harness racing course in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. During the Second World War, it was used as a temporary airfield

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

National Museum of Colombo, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum is one of two museums in Colombo. It is the largest museum in Sri Lanka. It is maintained by the Department of National Museum of the central government. The museum holds contains a collections of much importance to Sri Lanka such as the regalia of the country, including the throne and crown of the Kandyan monarchs as well as many other exhibits telling the story of ancient Sri Lanka.

Duration: 2 hours

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

Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka, being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Colombo City Centre, 137 Sir James Pieris Mawatha, Colombo 00200 Sri Lanka

Opened in 2018, the grandiose Colombo City Centre is Sri Lanka’s first international mall catering to the shopping enthusiast looking for that much needed retail therapy. Boasting a variety of retail spaces; from designer fashion brands to those everyday essentials, from high end electronics to jewellery, the international shopping mall serves many a shopping enthuse. Coupled with a Multiplex Cinema and a food court specialising in international cuisine, along with its central location, the Colombo City Centre certainly has got all your requirements under one roof.

Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Nelum Pokuna Mawatha, Colombo 00700 Sri Lanka

The Nelum Pokuna Theatre is a newly built theatre in the shape of a lotus flower which is used for performing arts productions.

Stop At: Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo Sri Lanka

Viharamahadevi Park (formerly Victoria Park) is a public park located in Colombo, next to the National Museum in Sri Lanka. It is the oldest and largest park of the Port of Colombo. Situated in front of the colonial-era Town Hall building, the park is named after Queen Viharamahadevi, the mother of King Dutugamunu. The park was built on land donated to the Colombo city by Charles Henry de Soysa during the British rule of Sri Lanka, and used to be named "Victoria Park" after Queen Victoria. During World War II it was occupied by the British Army with Australian 17th Brigade based at Victoria Park. After the war the park was restored and open to the public in 1951.
There used to be a cricket ground in the park, which was 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.
The park features include a huge Buddha statue and a series of water fountains. It also includes a mini zoo, a children's play area and a BAC Jet Provost.There are Muscovy ducks in the park. They swim in the lake and walk on the grass beside it.
Viharamahadevi Park is the only large-scale public park in Colombo, and is maintained by the Colombo Municipal Council. Located at its western end is the Cenotaph War Memorial, Colombo and the Colombo Public Library. The Vihara Maha Devi Park Open Air Stadium is a venue for concerts and public events.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Colombo Lotus Tower, Colombo 01000, Sri Lanka

Lotus Tower, also referred to as Colombo Lotus Tower, is a tower of 356 m, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It also reflects the symbolic landmark of Sri Lanka. As of 16 September 2019, the tower is currently the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pettah, Colombo Sri Lanka

Pettah is a neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the City centre Fort. The Pettah neighborhood is famous for the Pettah Market, a series of open air bazaars and markets.

Duration: 40 minutes