Colombo & West Coast

Colombo, on the west coast, is Sri Lanka's largest city and its economic hub. Visitors to the island almost always arrive here, and the city is worth one or two days for its colonial architecture, markets, temples, and a wide selection of restaurants and rooftop bars.The Portuguese reached the coast in 1505 and began building a fort in 1517; the Dutch took over in 1656, followed by the British in 1796. Since 1978, Parliament has met in neighbouring Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, and Colombo has since officially been regarded as the commercial capital. At the 2011 census, around 753,000 people lived in the urban area, with an estimated 5.6 million in the greater metropolitan area.The city districts are assigned postal codes: Colombo 1 is the Fort, the business district with colonial buildings; Colombo 11 is the bazaar district of Pettah. South of these are Kollupitiya (Colombo 3) with the Galle Face Green promenade, Bambalapitiya (Colombo 4), Wellawatte (Colombo 6), and the green villa quarter Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) with the National Museum and Viharamahadevi Park. The beach resort of Mount Lavinia lies just south of the city limits.

Fort and Pettah form the historic heart of Colombo at the northern end of Galle Road. Here you'll find Dutch and British colonial buildings, the Red Mosque, and narrow market alleys, which together make up the city's most concentrated walking tour.The Fort (Colombo 1) was built on the site where the Portuguese landed in the early 16th century. In 1656, the Dutch East India Company conquered the fortress and rebuilt it; the British largely demolished the walls between 1869 and 1871. Today, the Fort is a business district, home to the President's Palace, the Old Parliament, and the World Trade Centre.Pettah (Colombo 11) lies to its east; the name originates from the Tamil "Pettai" and the Sinhalese "pita-kotuwa," both meaning "outside the Fort." The alleys are sorted by goods and are among the country's most bustling commercial districts.

Galle Face and Kollupitiya lie south of the Fort and, together with Beira Lake and Cinnamon Gardens, form Colombo's green heart. Home to the promenade, Gangaramaya Temple, the city's largest park, and the National Museum.Galle Face Green stretches about 500 meters along the sea and is a popular evening gathering spot. Inland, Kollupitiya (Colombo 3, also Colpetty) is a business district with shopping centers, embassies, and the Prime Minister's residence. By Beira Lake stand the Gangaramaya Temple and the Geoffrey Bawa-designed Seema Malakaya; further east, Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7) begins, featuring Viharamahadevi Park and the National Museum.

Mount Lavinia is the coastal suburb south of Colombo, about 14 kilometers from Colombo Fort railway station. Its beach and the historic Mount Lavinia Hotel make it a popular destination for an afternoon by the sea or a sunset dinner.The town borders the urban area of Colombo beyond the Dehiwala Canal, and the coastal railway line towards Matara runs directly along the beach. A legend links its name to Governor Thomas Maitland and the dancer Lovina, though it is not historically proven.

Negombo, on the west coast, is about 38 kilometers north of Colombo and just 9 kilometers from Bandaranaike International Airport. This makes it the most practical spot for your first or last night, yet with its fish market, canals, and lagoon, it offers plenty for a full day.With its large Catholic population, almost two-thirds of residents, Negombo is known as Punchi Romaya, or Little Rome. Fishermen still venture out in outrigger canoes (Oruvas) and large catamarans, and the Dutch-built Hamilton Canal cuts right through town. Beach hotels and restaurants are mostly found north of the center along the coast, while the old center, with its fort and churches, sits at the lagoon's exit.