Rediscover Colombo

Rediscover Colombo

Rediscover-Colombo is a personalized city experience through the old city of Colombo, an unforgettable experience with your host as you drive & walk through the picturesque streets of Colombo and the mayhem of Pettah. It has been over 9 years now, since Chan, the boy behind Rediscover-Colombo, started to share his experience and knowledge enabling guests to spend a day or an evening in beautiful colonial Colombo. Continuous research goes into the areas you will visit and we truly believe that we learn something new every day.

When contacting us via phone or email, you will either speak with Chan or his partner Nish as we are a company that feel personalization is key, hence we have just three others Lakshan, Ishan & Ruvini who work with us.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Sambodhi Chaithya, Colombo 01, Colombo Sri Lanka

The elevated bell-shaped rather than dome-shaped stupa, with a circumference of 158 feet (48m), provides an extraordinary sight. Kulasinghe’s four pale yellow arches – one straddles the road – consist of sloped slabs of concrete to create the necessary curvature for them to intersect at a height of 107 feet (33m) underneath the square platform on which a stupa is based.

This platform is in fact a one-storey affair as can be determined by its height and many recessed windows. It is divided into four rooms, all representing bhavana (spiritual cultivation) kuti (a single-roomed abode), which are traditionally situated in forest solitude, but here transformed in a port-city setting for those who wish to still the mind.

The dazzling white stupa is 154 feet (47m) tall, and the whole structure reaches 261 feet (80m) into the sky. Note the structure on top of the dome, 37 feet (11m) tall. At the bottom is the cube-shaped hatharas kotuwa, then the conical spire known as koth kerella, and finally a pinnacle made of metal, the kotha, on top of which is a chudamanikya, a precious crystal or gemstone.

What makes the stupa even more extraordinary is that alongside is an 11-storey tower-like stair structure at the top of which is a steel bridge that leads to the stupa. Unless you suffer from fear of heights or are dressed in an inappropriate manner, boldly remove your shoes as is the custom and start the ascent. There are 258 steps in total, but they are shallow and mercifully smooth. As you ascend, breathtaking views of the port and Colombo city are revealed.

Eventually cross the bridge, enter the stupa through the impressive wooden doors, and marvel at the domed wonders inside. What catches the eye first is an imposing round shrine for worshippers in the centre of the circular floor, in which are four recessed seated Buddha statues. Then look around and you will observe that murals envelop the dome. In November 1986, Ven. Mapalagama Vipulasara Maha Thera, a locally and internationally acclaimed artist and sculptor of Buddha statues, was chosen to head a team of artists to create a series of 31 murals.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Independence Memorial Hall, Independence Square, Colombo 00700 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka gained independence from the British on the fourth of February 1948. The Independence Memorial Hall in Colombo was built to commemorate this turning point in Sri Lankan history. Along with the Independence Memorial Museum, the monument is also home to a statue of the nation’s first Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake. Today, the revered hall stands as the venue for the most annual Independence Day celebrations & many religious events.

Duration: 15 minutes

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

Founded in 1877, the National Museum of Colombo, the country’s largest museum, has a veritable gold mine of exhibitions that showcase the island’s rich history & natural heritage. The museum is divided into two sections – the science division, which features collections of unique botanical specimens, mammal skins, a dry-mounted display of butterflies & other insects; and the cultural division, which displays ancient artefacts, antiques & paintings, as well as, the crown & throne of Kandyan kings.

Duration: 30 minutes

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

Extending over a distance of half a kilometre along the coast of the Indian Ocean, The Galle Face Green is a beloved promenade located in the heart of Colombo. It was first laid out by Sir Henry Ward in 1859 & used for horse racing & as a golf course. Today, the promenade is alive with the happy activity of kite-flyers, street food vendors, & families enjoying the delights of open spaces & refreshing ocean breeze.

Duration: 30 minutes

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

One of the most important temples in Colombo and amongst the most revered in the island nation, The Gangaramaya Temple is highly recommended for travellers who wish to learn about Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The beautiful temple is made up of numerous buildings, including a relic chamber, pagoda, museum, education hall & library and also contains large collections of precious stone carvings, olden pieces of art and brass work.

Duration: 20 minutes

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

Centrepiece of the vibrant Fort, this colonial-era complex dates back to the early 1600s. Lavishly restored, it is home to shops, cafes and restaurants run by some of Colombo’s best operators. Enjoy a pause for a cold drink amid the incredibly thick columns of its arcades. There's an annex in a 19th-century British building on the backside that faces Chatham St.

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo Sri Lanka

Colombo’s biggest park was originally called Victoria Park, but was renamed in the 1950s after the mother of King Dutugemunu. It’s notable for its superb flowering trees, which bloom in March, April and early May. Elephants used for ceremonies sometimes spend the night in the park, chomping on palm branches. It has been given a major sprucing up and now boasts comfy benches (often occupied with caressing couples), walkways, landscaping and playgrounds. You'll even still see the odd snake charmer.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Diyawanna Boat Service, Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Rd, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka

The Diyawanna Ferry Service (actually a boat service) run by the Sri Lanka Navy is an excellent new addition to the diversions available to Colombars and visitors. It is the best way to see Sri Lanka’s Parliament from all angles, since the boat does a full circle of the iconic Bawa building. The other attractions are birds (pelicans nesting on trees in the middle of the lake), kingfishers, cormorants and other water birds. Unlike on Bolgoda, there aren’t that many glamorous houses to spot.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Pettah Floating Market, Bastian Mawatha, Colombo Sri Lanka

The Pettah Floating Markets are located on Bastian Mawatha in Pettah, a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and consist of 92 trade stalls, with a number of the stalls established on boats on Beira Lake. The floating market serves as a tourist attraction selling local produce and local handicraft.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Number 11, No. 11 33rd Lane, Bagatelle Road Colombo 3, Colombo 00300 Sri Lanka

Number 11 - Geoffery Bawa’s Home
The house in 33rd Lane is an essay in architectural bricollage. In 1958 Bawa bought the third in a row of four small houses which lay along a short cul-de-sac at the end of a narrow suburban lane and converted it into a pied-à-terre with living room, bedroom, tiny kitchen and room for a servant. When the fourth bungalow became vacant this was colonised to serve as dining room and second living room. Ten years later the remaining bungalows were acquired and added into the composition and the first in the row was demolished to be replaced by a four-storey tower

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Diyatha Uyana, B240, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka

Diyatha Uyana is a located at Polduwa junction, Battaramulla near the Waters Edge Hotel. The park has been constructed on a marshy land on the banks of the Diyawanna Oya. It sits between the Parliament Complex and the Diyawanna Oya at the Polduwa junction

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Second Cross Street, Colombo 01100 Sri Lanka

Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque known colloquially as the Samman Kottu Palli, Rathu Palliya, Red Masjid or the Red Mosque) is a historic mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is located on Second Cross Street in Pettah. The mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Colombo and a popular tourist site in the city.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Paradise Road, 213, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7, Colombo Sri Lanka

Spacious retailer stocking stylish home goods & decor items, including dishware, handicrafts & art.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: St Anthony's Shrine, St Anthony's Mawatha Kochchikade, Colombo Sri Lanka

St. Anthony's Shrine is a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The church is located at Kochchikade, Kotahena, Colombo 13, and is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. The church is designated a national shrine and minor basilica.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Ballys Casino, 34 D R Wijayawardena Mawatha, Colombo 01000 Sri Lanka

Located close to Colombo's top hotels and the back entrance to Colombo Fort railway station, Bally's is a long established casino with a reputation for respectability and warm hospitality. Poker, table games & slots offered in an upscale environment with live dance & music shows.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Barefoot, 704 Galle Road, Colombo Sri Lanka

Popular shop offering colorful clothing, unique crafts, fabric & books, plus a cafe with a patio.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Royal Colombo Golf Club, 22 Model Farm Road, Colombo Sri Lanka

The Royal Colombo Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Sri Lanka. Established in 1880, it is located in the capital city of Colombo at The Ridgeway Links also known as the Anderson Golf Course.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: The Lighthouse, Colombo Fort, Colombo Sri Lanka

Old Colombo Lighthouse or Colombo Fort Clock Tower is a clock tower and was a lighthouse in Colombo. The lighthouse is no longer operational, but the tower remains and functions as a clock tower. It is located at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha in Colombo fort.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil, Kotahena, Colombo Sri Lanka

Historic stone Hindu temple with intricate carvings, sculptures & colorful shrines.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Khan Clock Tower, Colombo Fort, Colombo Sri Lanka

The Khan Clock Tower was built in Colombo, Sri Lanka by the Khan Family of Bombay. The Clock Tower is a popular landmark and marks the entrance to Pettah Market. The Clock Tower was built in the early 20th century by the family of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Ceylon Tea Supermarket, 326/A,Deans Road, Colombo 01000 Sri Lanka

A wide range of handpicked loose-leaf Sri Lankan teas is the specialty at this family-owned shop.

Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Ape Gama, Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Rd Battaramulla, Colombo Sri Lanka

Living heritage museum & events venue with rustic village houses & handicrafts on sale.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Odel, No 5, Alexandra Place, Colombo Sri Lanka

‘Odel’ is a household name in the apparel and accessories market, attracting unprecedented footfalls, both local and foreign customers on weekdays and weekends. ODEL possesses the largest international branded apparel and fashion accessory portfolio in Sri Lanka. These branded items complement Odel’s product range giving the shopper a unique experience.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Colombo Fort Railway Station, Olcott Mawatha Road, Colombo Sri Lanka

Experience one of the Sri Lankan trains from Fort to Wellawatte. It is related that all the land bordering Galle Road and the Railway tracks along the beach from The Savoy Cinema at the top of Charlemont Road to the Wellawatte Railway Station was once owned by a Burgher gentleman named Gauder. His children were named Charlemont (son), Alexandra (daughter) and Frances (daughter) after whom the successive streets have been named and stand that way to date. Not much information is available about the Gauder family.

Duration: 20 minutes