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Sri Lanka Travel Tail:

 


The City of Beaches, Tea and Temples:

Marvel at history and culture on a Sri Lankan holiday, the island that birthed the soul of Buddhism and flourishes nature in abundance. From the rolling hills in the heart of the island, to the white sands of the east coast, Sri Lanka's landscapes are enticing and inspiring. Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka and it is the most popular city as well. The name of the city (Colombo) was first given by the Portuguese in 1505. The name was derived from the standard Sinhalese name 'Kolon thota' or 'Kola-amba-thota,' which means port on the river Kelani or harbor with leafy mango trees respectively. The city is located on the west coast of the island and it is close to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, which happens to be the legislative capital of Sri Lanka.

Colombo is a busy city with a cosmopolitan culture. It is the rendezvous point for beaches in the southern region of Sri Lanka. The city boasts a long line of history as a port city that serve the east-west trade routes and at that time the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British Empire ruled the entire area. In addition to this, the city of Colombo is regarded as the financial center of the island and every year, millions of tourists come to this city for spending a vacation. All in all, Colombo is a vibrant city that offers a blend of cultural heritage (colonial buildings with ancient bits and pieces) with modern life surroundings.

Pristine golden beaches, magnificent temples, and colonial era architecture adorn the vibrant city of Colombo. It is one of the most important cultural centers of Sri Lanka. Being situated strategically on the western coast, this port city has been a location of interest for many empires, colonizers, and traders. Every empire that ruled this land left their legacy behind, making the city a blend of culture with a rich heritage. Being the former capital of Sri Lanka, the biggest city and financial center as well as a port city with a natural harbor, Colombo has a myriad of functions: administrative, trade, financial, cultural and tourism. Colombo is a bustling metropolis with a mixed population, each group adding to the vibrancy of the city. It is a mix of the old and the new, with its colonial-era buildings contrasting the modern skyscrapers. Colombo is a great city to visit. The list of things to do in the city is endless. Discover the colonial past with a visit to the museum, explore the many historical era temples and churches, go shopping at the Odel or just stroll around the beach and soak in the sun.

Language of Sri Lanka:

Sinhala and Tamil are the two official languages of Sri Lanka. Sinhala is more widely spoken. English is also spoken by a sizeable number of people, especially the expatriate communities and the tourists. Many local people also speak English language.

History of Colombo:

History of Colombo The history of Colombo can be divided into Pre-colonial, Colonial and Post-colonial eras. During the Pre-colonial era, for over 2000 years, because of its strategic location, Colombo has been the point of interest for many traders: the Arabs, the ancestors of the modern Indians, the Chinese, the Persians, the Romans, and the Greeks. Many came here to establish trade as it lies in the path of the East to West Trade route. The descendants of these traders can be seen in the population of Colombo today. Then came, the Colonial era from 1505-1948, which consists of the Portuguese era [1505-1638], the Dutch Era [1638-1796] and the British Era [1796-1948]. The British made Colombo their administrative capital, and it continued to serve as the capital even after the country gained independence from British rule. However, in 1980 Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte became the new capital of the country. Even though Colombo lost the title of a capital city, it is still the largest city and the commercial hub of Sri Lanka.

Colombo Weather:

Under the Koppen climate classification, Colombo has a tropical monsoon climate. The city has a pleasant temperate climate throughout the year. Monsoon season is predominant throughout the year. May to August and October to January are the monsoon seasons. On an average, the temperature is always high, remaining between 22 degrees C and 30 degrees C. January is the driest and hottest month, May is the wettest and September is the coolest month. The city gets an average rainfall of about 2400 millimeters a year.

Bandaranaike International Airport:

Bandaranaike International Airport, colloquially known as the Katunayake Airport and Colombo International Airport, (IATA: CMB, ICAO: VCBI) is the main international airport serving Sri Lanka. It is named after former Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike and is located in a suburb of Negombo, 20 miles (32.5 km) north of the capital Colombo. It is administered by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd and serves as the hub of SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, and Cinnamon Air, the domestic carrier. The other airport serving the city of Colombo is the Ratmalana Airport, primarily serving domestic destinations.

Things to see in Colombo:


National Museum of Colombo:

A few decades back, Sri Lanka has been modernized, but the entire civilization of this country has lasted here for millennia. Among these ancient civilizations, the most prominent is the National Museum of Colombo. This museum illustrates a diversified collection of ancient civilization, as you will observe the ancient ruins of Sri Lankan history, artworks, and the remnants from the Anuradhapura Kingdom (dating back to the fourth century B.C.).

Beira Lake:

A few decades back, Sri Lanka has been modernized, but the entire civilization of this country has lasted here for millennia. Among these ancient civilizations, the most prominent is the National Museum of Colombo. This museum illustrates a diversified collection of ancient civilization, as you will observe the ancient ruins of Sri Lankan history, artworks, and the remnants from the Anuradhapura Kingdom (dating back to the fourth century B.C.).

Dambulla Cave Temple:

Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 kilometres (92 mi) east of Colombo and 72 kilometres (45 mi) north of Kandy.
Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains there are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses.

Spot the magnificent whales:

Sri Lanka is renowned for many beautiful spectacles and whales are one such spectacle that compels the tourists to say – Wow! When you are on a boat in the Sri Lankan waters, you can easily spot the magnificent sperm and blue whales. These whales will glide past your boat gracefully and watching these whales is a thing of beauty and unravels to any attraction. You can spot them in Dondra Point, which is close to Galle, Hikkaduwa and Mirissa.

beaches:

Colombo is home to various beaches, which can rival the exotic beaches of Europe and the Caribbean's. All of these beaches are encircled by coconut palm fringed shorelines with turquoise waters and white dusty sands. Getting lost in these beaches would offer a fitting end to your trip in Colombo.

Reaching by Air:

Being a tourism hub, Colombo city is connected with many international destinations by air. Colombo's international airport, Bandaranaike International Airport, serves the city. The airport has flights connecting various cities with Colombo like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kathmandu, Kuwait, Amsterdam, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Paris, London, Tokyo etc. The major airlines operating these routes are SriLankan Airlines, Himalaya Airlines, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Emirates, Air India Express etc.
Nearest Airport: The nearest airport to Colombo is the Bandaranaike International Airport, 35 Km from Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo.
Safety Suggestion: There is no weather-related safety issues affecting the flights landing at Bandaranaike International Airport.

By Train:

Being the most important city of the country, Colombo is well connected to other towns and cities. A well-planned railway network connects the city with other places like Matara, Badulla, Kankesanturai and Talaimannar. Trains are the most cost effective means to travel in the country, hence they are very crowded. The train journey from Colombo to Kandy deserves a special mention as the route passes through some of the most beautiful locale of the country. Being a port city, Colombo can also be reached by ship. If you have the time and finances to do so, opt for a cruise to Colombo from port cities like Cochin. There is also an international ferry service between Colombo and Tuticorin in India.

By Bus:

Colombo has an extensive and well-connected network of public buses that link the city to other parts of the country. Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) manages the government-run buses. There is a fleet of buses run by private agencies as well. The bus terminal at Bastian Mawatha in Pettah is where all the long distance buses arrive and depart.
Journey Suggestion: Road traffic congestion is severe in Colombo. Travellers will not encounter traffic snarl while on the highway, but as one approaches the city, one can get caught in traffic jams.

 

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