Colombo Activities

There are plenty of things for children to do here, particularly with their parents. The national zoo is a short ride from the centre and boasts an interesting elephant show daily. Additionally, there are places to swim, parks to play in, a popular amusement park to visit and hot air balloon rides to enjoy.

Colombo National Zoo
The zoo is located approximately six miles south of Colombo centre, in the suburban town of Dehiwalla, accessible by local train service or car. Kids will enjoy the impressive aquarium, aviary and butterfly house here, as well as the variety of animal species in the zoo’s collection. Many consider this to be one of the best and most attractive zoos in Asia. Elephant shows are a highlight, staged daily.

Excel World Entertainment Park
This park is a hit with kids, but is also great fun for the whole family. Highlights here include the 4D Thriller ride and a number of laser games. The 4D ride is actually a four-dimensional movie that places you in the midst of the action with police and laser guns. There’s good food to be had at the KEG Restaurant, DJs playing great music and beer for adults. Phone: +94 115 555996.

Hot Air Balloon Rides
Suitable for the whole family, ride high above the national parks, ancient kingdoms and seacoast of this incredible island nation in a hot air balloon. If you choose to ride in the early morning, you’ll glide through the mist that rises up from the tropical forests, while in the evening you can see the sun set slowly above the Indian Ocean. Red Dot Tours is a popular operator, based in Colombo. Website:
www.reddottours.com/Activity/HotAirBalloning/index.php.

Mount Lavinia
Mount Lavinia is the place to go for seaside recreation close to Colombo. The beach tends to be crowded on Sundays and holidays, as families who live in the capital congregate here to enjoy the water activities and sports on offer. Mount Lavinia is popular with local children and visitors alike, who enjoy swimming, surfing and playing in the sand.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
This elephant rescue operation has been in operation since 1975, and has become one of Sri Lanka’s most popular attractions, particularly for kids. An easy daytrip from the capital, Pinnawela is located around 50 miles to the northeast and is home to the world’s largest herd of captive elephants. Among the residents are elephants that have lost a foot due to land mines and others that have lost their sight. Twice daily, the herd makes its way to the river to bathe, and this is when tourists get to watch them and take photos of the youngest playing in the water.

Viharamahadevi Park
In the city’s centre you will find Viharamahadevi Park, an extensive green space fronting the Town Hall. The well-known ‘Green Path’ runs through the park, a great place for kids to run and play. You’ll find a huge statue of the Buddha, a series of lovely fountains and a mini zoo and a large play area particularly suited to kids.

Sri Lanka's ethnic diversity has led to political problems in the modern age, but it has also made for a fascinating culture. The traditional art forms and religious architecture found here is largely Buddhist, although Hindu, Muslim and Christian elements are also clearly evident. Museums focusing on collections from the country’s colonial periods, the island nation’s natural history and on its more recent political history all provide different perspectives of this complex society.

Bandaranaike Museum
The museum features exhibits on the life and work of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike, who was assassinated in 1959. He was one of the most significant influences in the development of the country. You’ll see extensive collections of photographs from the time he served as prime minister and collections of his speeches, which you can listen to during your visit. Phone: +94 11 445531.

Dutch Period Museum
Located in the old Dutch House in Pettah, this museum chronicles the legacy of the Dutch who lived in the area in the 17^th century. At one time the house was the home of Count August Carl Van Ranzow. On display in the museum are furnishings and articles of his daily life, including collections of arms, ceramics and coins. Phone: +94 11 2448 466.

Museum of Natural History
Housed in the same colonial building as the National Museum, the Natural History collection focuses on Sri Lanka’s natural heritage. Displays include native birds, and plants, insects, mammals, and reptiles. You’ll also see extensive exhibits of gems and geological specimens from around the country. Phone: +94 11 269 1399.

National Museum
The country’s oldest and largest museum dates from 1877, and is housed in an important colonial building. It is best known for its collections of ancient royal paraphernalia, antique furniture, old manuscripts, porcelain and Sinhalese artwork. The manuscript collection comprises more than 4,000 palm leaf documents and the porcelain includes VOC plates from the Dutch period. Phone: +94 11 269 4767. Website: www.museum.gov.lk/general-info.php.

Performing Arts
In Colombo, visitors have several performing arts centres from which to choose. Traditional music and dance performances are popular and the most well-known venues include the Elphinstone, Lionel Wendt Theatre and the Tower Hall. All of these venues have a long and rich history. Current listings are available in the city’s newspapers.

Temple of Kelaniya
A short six mile drive by car or by bus to the northeast suburban area of Colombo will lead you to the sacred Buddhist site of Kelaniya. The temple is best known for its extensive wall paintings that are on the cover of many tourist brochures around the island.

Those who enjoy Indian cuisine will find similarities in the food in Sri Lanka, but also unique combinations of herbs and spices that make local foods truly special. Many dishes are hot and spicy, and less flavourful fare isn’t always easy to come by. Traditional Sri Lankan cuisine includes curries based on various meats, fish or vegetables, which are served with rice or flat breads.

Along with many dishes that have their origins on the island, many others have been heavily influenced by the cuisines of the nations who have occupied Sri Lanka over the centuries. Some dishes originated in India, while others were influenced by Arabs, Malays, and the Dutch, English and Portuguese. Most recipes are seasoned with chilli, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, and often contain coconut.

Vegetarians will find many choices, as many Hindus here follow a vegetarian diet for religious reasons. Lovers of seafood will also find plenty of options with fresh ocean and river fish, crab, lobster and shrimp widely available.

Eateries of all sorts can be found throughout the city, and there’s never a problem finding a suitable place to dine, regardless of your budget. In the areas most frequented by tourists, such as Galle road and Fort, western choices are available.

Chinese, Japanese and Korean restaurants stand alongside German, Italian and Swiss eateries, and many upscale hotels offer international menus. Other areas that have popular restaurants include Bambalapitiya, Cinnamon Gardens, Kollupitiya and Mount Lavinia.

Street food is typically offered as a ‘lunch packet.’ Both convenient and economical, these packets contain rice and curry with vegetables and sambol, a spicy combination of chilli, coconut and spices. Also available from street vendors is a dish that has a Dutch origin, known as lamprais. This is rice boiled in meat stock, then wrapped in a banana leaf along with pieces of meat and vegetables, and baked.

Shopping options abound in Colombo. Many designer labels are made in Sri Lanka, and you can buy them in city shops here for a fraction of what they cost in the west or in other countries in Asia. Some popular places to try for clothing include Barefoot, Odel, Fashion House and Paradise Place, most of which are within walking distance of Fort, or a short taxi ride from centrally located hotels.

There are a number of excellent jewellers in the city also, where rubies and sapphires are said to be good buys. Other popular items with visiting shoppers include antique and reproduction furniture, batik work, finished garments, gems, handicrafts, hand-loomed fabrics, leather goods and tea. Products of the local handloom industry including shirts, saris and upholstery fabric are featured at several city shops. Popular furniture items include reproductions from the English and Dutch periods.

For gems, Ratnapura has been a source for many centuries. Many of the best gem dealers are also located in Ratnapura. Here and at other gem cutting centres, stones are set into precious metal for those purchasing the gems. Colombo’s Gem Exchange houses a large number of reputable gem dealers, and also a government valuation service on the premises.

Cricket and golf are the most popular outdoor sporting activities in the capital. You don’t have to travel far, however, to enjoy water sports such as canoeing, rafting, swimming and diving in the rivers flowing from the hills in the southern part of the country and in the warm sea waters on the southwest coast.

Canoeing and Rafting
There are hundreds of rivers in this island nation and also some small streams flowing down from lush hills, all of which provide for great canoeing and rafting opportunities. The Kelani River in Kitulgala, situated between Colombo and Kandy, is particularly popular for rafting. Popular sites for canoeing include the Kalu Ganga and Kelani Ganga.

Cricket
Cricket is much more than a game to Sri Lankans: it’s a fundamental part of life here. Enthusiasm for the sport extends to enthusiasm the players when they’re off the pitch as well, with players considered major heroes here. There’s never a shortage of supporters at a match, where you’ll see whole villages turn out in support.

Diving
Many divers come to Sri Lanka for wreck diving. There are a number of interesting shipwrecks offshore and well-regarded dive operators providing equipment hire and lessons. Snorkelling at the beach resorts not far from Colombo is also popular. Hotel staff and local tour operators will be able to provide information on where equipment hire and instruction is available.

Golf
Golf is popular on the island, and visitors have a number of courses to choose from. One of the best known is the Royal Colombo Golf Club, with its 18-hole course. The club dates to 1879, and is kept in an impressive state. It’s open to the public, with entry charged for day use. Equipment is available for hire, as are caddies. The top-notch facilities include a restaurant and bar. Website: www.rcgcsl.com/.

Hiking
World’s End is a cliff with a drop of 2,500ft, which plunges into misty forests and then the sea. A hike to this vantage point will reward you with one of the most spectacular views to be found on the island. Bordering the grassy lands of the plateau on which World’s End is found is jungle vegetation that’s teeming with wildlife.

Swimming
There are beaches along the coast near Colombo, with the closest and most popular being Mount Lavinia, around seven miles from Fort in central Colombo. Mount Lavinia is suitable for swimming, while most of the other beaches near Colombo are not. At times there are dangerous undertows present, making it a safer bet to swim at a hotel pool. If your hotel doesn’t feature a pool, day rates for swimming are offered by many of the more upmarket establishments.