Colombo: For the culture vultures

Colombo- the largest city of Sri Lanka is famous as the commercial and Industrial hub. This capital city is rich in cultural heritage, so for those who love experiencing the culture of the place, when they visit, Colombo might be the place for you.

The biggest festival celebrated here is Buddha’s birth, which takes place around May. It gets very crowded at this time, so you need to make sure you plan ahead of time as well as keep in check the dates. It is usually celebrated on the first full moon date in May. The festival is the vibrant sort, with tonnes of entertainment and events taking place all over. There are areas where they decorate the streets with lights, but when you view it from a distance, they actually show the story of his life. There won’t be a minute you would sit down- the festivities will keep you preoccupied. From live music to lantern competitions, there’s always something in your itinerary.

Buddha’s birthday Celebrations (Vesak Day) (Photo courtesy: http://www.templenews.org)

July and August are considered the festival season- Esala. Head to the nearby city of Kandy, where they celebrate this festival with great pomp and procession. The carnival brings out all kinds of talents- dancers, musicians, even animal trainers. It is a 10 day long festival starting around the end of July. On the last day of the festival there is a procession, led by a statue of Buddha being carried down the street, followed by a 100 elephants, dancers and musicians.

Esala Perahera Festival (Photo courtesy: http://www.mghglobal.com)

Both these festivals attract thousands of visitors each year and while they are extremely enjoyable, it does get very crowded and can be quite tiring. Luckily, Colombo is a place where you can still have a quiet holiday, resting under the sun and sight-seeing a number of the historical sites the place has to offer. For those who want to spend their time lazing around, head down to Mount Lavinia. It is known for its “Golden Miles” of beaches, with plenty of sun and sea to calm you down. To add on to the charm of this beautiful seascape, is a rich history to the place, with various myths and legends attached to its name. 

Mount Lavinia, Colombo (Photo courtesy: www.panoramio.com)

The place has a number of hotels right in front of the beach in which you can book your rooms and head down to the beach to sunbathe in the afternoon.

But if you look for something closer to nature, Talangama Wetlands are just an hour away. Here, you will find a landscape of green, stretching out for miles and miles. For nature photographers as well as wildlife enthusiast, this place is golden. The birdlife here is something that one must experience; not only are there over a hundred species of local birds, but around winter, a number of migratory birds also flock here. Experience the beauty of Mother Nature here with Sri Lanka’s flora and fauna.

Flamingos found at Wetlands, Colombo (Photo courtesy: http://www.sundayobserver.lk)

There are two places worth mentioning when it comes to history buffs- The National Museum and the Old Town Hall. The National Museum is the largest museum in Sri Lanka, and contains some of the most historically significant artefacts in Sri Lankan history, including the crown of the Kandyan monarchs. The Old Town Hall is meant for those who have a passion for all things old. The Hall itself is something of an architectural beauty and the relics inside give you the feel of times gone by. Colombo flights connect Colombo to all major destinations.

The National Museum (Photo courtesy: www.enidhi.net)

Old Town Hall (Photo courtesy: http://www.colombojumbo.com)

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Colombo Highlights

The Sinhalese city of Colombo is the capital of the island country, Sri Lanka. It is the largest city of the country and is an industrial, cultural and commercial center. It lies adjacent to the Jayawardenapura Kotte suburb, the parliamentary capital of Sri Lanka. The culture and cuisine of Colombo spread far beyond its borders. Its multi faceted interests make it an attractive tourist destination, conveniently accessible by air. 

Beira  Lake in Colombo (Photo Courtesy:ceylonroots.com)

Beira  Lake in Colombo (Photo Courtesy:flickr)

In the heart of the city lies the Beira Lake, which was pivotal to the country’s defense in the colonial period. It still remains one of the most popular tourists spots in the city as one can see and visit the Seema Malakaya Temple and the Gallery Island from here. The most beautiful festival of the city is known as Vesak and celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. The city is covered with lanterns and a dancing array of lights and activities. The celebration brings together the different groups of people within the city, who represent larger cultural domains. 

The city of Colombo, much like the rest of Sri Lanka, contains a mixture of ethnicities and traditions. Around 41% of the population is Sinhalese and the remaining are made up of Sri Lankan Tamils, Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamils, Malays, Chettys and a number of other communities. Sinhala and Tamil remain the official languages. The city’s culture is deeply influenced by languages from India, Maldives, Malaysia and Portugal making making it a contemporary hub of people and cultures.  

Vesak Festival, Colombo (Photo Courtesy: shellcoastresort.com/maj/)

Buddhist Monks during Vesak Festivals  (Photo Courtesy: onthegotours)

The diverse population gives rise to an equally diverse range of delicacies. Sri Lankan cuisine is sought after by thousands of people all over the world. The staple diet of the people is considered to be rice with tangy curries. Some other popular dishes are string hoppers, kiribath, lamprais and koththu roti. Every Sri Lankan household cooks food that has striking resemblance to the diet of Kerala, probably because of the geographical or agricultural proximity. The food is infused with a variety of spices and the food itself tantalizes the taste buds. Sea food consisting of prawns, crabs, lobsters etc. is a primary component of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. Pickles, chutneys and ‘sambols’ are the aromatic side dishes served with lunch and dinner.

The city has abundant restaurants that cater to authentic Sri Lankan taste as well as multi cuisines. Heritance Kandalama is an award winning restaurant that serves mouth watering dishes cooked by expert chefs. The Tisawewa Grand Rest House makes some of the spiciest coconut sambols savoured by the people of the city. The Ceylon Hotels Corporation Rest Houses are renowned for the traditional rice and curry dishes. Agra, Navratna and Mango Tree are brilliant restaurants that serve exclusive Indian delights as well as local food. After food drinks such as thambli are served to cleanse the bowels and act as a substitute to buttermilk. Ceylon Tea is one of the specialities of Sri Lanka and is widely available in Colombo. 

Heritance Kandalama, Award Wining Hotel in Colombo (Photo Courtesy: travel.aol)

Ceylon Hotels Corporation Rest Houses, Colombo (Photo Courtesy:ceylonhotelscorporation)

Colombo has a tropical monsoon climate and receives heavy rainfall from May to August. October to February has much lesser precipitation. The rest of the year is relatively warm and sunny.

Colombo flights are frequent and are the primary mode of transport from Chennai, Bangalore, Tiruchirapalli and other Indian cities. International flights from Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore etc. also find their destination in Colombo.

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