Colombo
Travel Guide > Asia > Sri Lanka > Colombo
Introduction
Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is a busy and vibrant city with a city population of nearly 1 million people.
Neighbourhoods
Colombo is divided into 14 zones and these zones have a designated postal code 1 - 14.
Colombo 1/ Fort Area: This is the commercial area and is heavily congested. Fort railway station is the main railway station in Colombo, from which major inter-city trains depart. The main bus terminals are also located in Fort, as are the head offices of several banks and some ministries. While parts of Colombo 1 are more upscale, especially those closer to the Galle Face beach where the Galadhari, Intercontinental and Hilton as well as the World Trade Center are located, other parts are more grimier, the ones closer to the Pettah market.
Colombo 2/ Slave Island: This area is also a commercial area, with head-offices of many private sector enterprises located there, and has a major private hospital, Nawaloka in its zone. The Beira Lake forms the center of this zone. The town hall is also located in this area.
Colombo 3/ Kollupitiya: This is both a commercial and residential zone, where many offices as well as trendy apartments and colonial day houses are located. Liberty Plaza is a major shopping complex that falls within this zone, as well as the Liberty theater. There are many restaurants and hotels in this area as well. The University of Colombo's many faculties are located in this area.
Colombo 4/ Bambalapitiya: This is a more residential area, though the main roads are lined with shops. Majestic City and Unity Plaza are the major shopping complexes in this area and are right on Galle Road. There are smaller ones on R.A.De Mel Mawathe or the former Duplication road, like the Singer show room.
Colombo 5/ Narahenpitiya: This is also a more residential area, though there are many offices and shops in the zone. Apollo Hospital and Asiri hospitals are major hospitals located in this zone.
Colombo 6/ Wellawatte: This is mainly a residential area with shops heavily lining the Galle Road. The market is known for its fresh vegetables and fruits. Many apartment complexes have sprung up in this area and they are generally cheaper than the ones in Kollupitiya.
Colombo 7/ Cinnamon Garden: This used to be the area where the richest used to live. While that trend might continue, most of the houses in this locale are quite old and Kollupitiya is currently considered the more trendy place with newer and modern apartments, that have every facility from swimming pools to gyms within the apartment complex. However, it manages to retain its atmosphere and there are nice tree lined avenues within this zone. The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Center is located in this zone, as is the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (national TV service).
Colombo 8/ Borella: A mixture of residential and commercial sections in this zone. An interesting private theatre that stages plays and other performances is located here and is called the Punchi Theatre. The cemetery is also located here and the British School located right next to it.
Colombo 9/ Dematagoda: This is considered more of the suburb than central Colombo and the Baseline road goes through it. It has comparatively cheaper housing.
Colombo 10/ Maradana: This zone has the second main railway station in Colombo.
Colombo 11/ Pettah: It is famous for its cheap, open market and the streets that have cheap but wider varieties of sarees. Very crowded.
Colombo 12/ Kochchikade: Close to Pettah. Two famous landmarks in this area are the Ponnambalavaaneeswara temple and the St. Antony's church, both opposite each other.
Colombo 13/ Kotahena: More known for its jewellery shops and saree shops, this area is a very congested area.
Colombo 14/ Maligawatte: More famous for its vehicle spare parts shop that lines its road.
Other main areas of Colombo:
While the following are not considered Colombo proper, they are the suburbs to the south of Colombo and are located pretty close to the center and have to be mentioned. They are listed here in the order that they come when moving from Colombo towards the south, along the Galle road.
Dehiwela: Relatively cheaper area for housing. Kalubowila hospital, a govt. hospital, is located in this zone. The only zoo of Sri Lanka is also located in this area.
Mount Lavinia: The lovely Mount Lavinia hotel is located in its zone. It is famous for its stretch of beach.
Ratmalana: The zone which follows Mount Lavina and has the domestic airport located in its zone.
Moratuwa: The University of Moratuwa, which is primarily for engineering studies, is located in this region. Arthur C. Clarke was the Vice Chancellor of this university and he founded the Arthur C. Clarke Center of Excellence in this area.
Sights and Activities
Colombo is generally more known for its shopping, rather than for its sights. However, it has some nice sites that are worth visiting.
Temples and churches:
The Gangaramaya temple is an old buddhist temple that is worth visiting. So are the Ponnambalavaneeswara temple and St. Antony's church. In Colombo 2, there is an old mosque that is also worth visiting.
Other hindu temples are the Vajira pillaiyar koyil, Manicka pillaiyar koyil and the Kathiresan temple in Bambalapitiya.
National museum
The museum is housed in a colonial building and is worth the visit, if you have lots of time to spend in the city.
Dehiwela zoo
Independence square
A pleasant square that is popular amongst joggers and evening strollers.
Activities
Shopping
Colombo is the major shopping capital of the country. The following are the major ones:
Odel located in Colombo 2 is good for clothes, both cheap, user-friendly T-shirts and casuals and the more expensive yet cheaper than western prices designer wear direct from factory outlet clothes. There is a lovely Japanese restaurant in the complex, as well as Deli-france and Il Gelato branches. Recently, they have opened a food court at the entrance and have many major restaurants having stalls there, including Bay Leaf, supposedly the best Italian restaurant in the city.
Majestic City in Bambalapitiya: While Odel caters more to tourists, foreigners resident in the country and Colombo residents, Majestic City is a shopping complex catering to more locals. There are five levels of shopping areas and the top floor houses the cinema, a popular hangout for teenagers. The basement area has a food court where numerous affordable restaurants have set up stalls and there is a variety of food and fresh juices available. The food court is always crowded and it is quite difficult to find a free table. The remaining floors all have shops that sell everything from clothes, toys, CDs, tea, souvenirs and gifts, leather products, sports goods and accessories etc. There is also a branch of the Cargills Supermarket chain located on the first floor close to the KFC outlet.
Unity Plaza in Bambalapitiya: Though this is a smaller shopping complex adjacent to Majestic City, it does not face competition from its larger neighbour. This is mainly because Unity Plaza focuses on specialized shopping. This is the place people generally go to for buying software and computers and its parts, as well as repairing computers. There is also a bookshop located on the first floor, the Vijitha Yapa bookshop.
Liberty Plaza in Kollupitiya: Similar to Majestic City but with some electronic shops like Photo Technica, Siedles etc. also included. The shopping complex is less ordered than Majestic City and it is difficult to navigate.
Crescat Boulevard: The newer upmarket shopping complex located closer to the Galle Face Beach.
Besides these major shopping complexes, there are the numerous individual specialized shops. The following are some of the most popular amongst tourists:
Barefoot in Galle Road, Bambalapitiya is very popular for its handwoven products ranging from clothing to toys and souvenirs.
Lakpahana in Reid Avenue, Kollupitya is great for souvenirs from Sri Lanka. Very affordable and is preferred by both Sri Lankans and foreigners.
Sri Lanka Tea Board in Kollupitiya: Great for buying tea. Another tea place is the Mlesna outlet at the Majestic City, which is located opposite the Cargills supermarket.
Stone and String in R.A.De Mel Mawathe, Kollupitiya is good for buying jewellery at affordable prices. Great as gifts.
Events and Festivals
Weather
Getting Around
By Car
By Public Transport
It is easier to use public transport to get around Colombo, rather than driving your own car. Public transport range from buses, trains to the more individual form of public transport, the taxi and the three wheeler.
By Foot
By Bike
Eat
Drink
Work
Learn
This is version 8. Last edited at 16:24 on Jul 13, 08 by Ahila (+2930). 5 articles link to this page.
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