Colombo, Sri Lanka: reviews of tourists and attractions. Beaches, shopping, hotels Colombo

The formal capital is Sri-Jayavardanapura, and the commercial center of the country is Colombo. Sri Lanka is an island-type country founded by Arab merchants, and then fortified by the Portuguese, then conquered by the Dutch. It has a very interesting and rich history. And first of all, the amazing city of Colombo, built by the British, is interesting. Sri Lanka, whose population is about thirty million people, consists of nine provinces. Once upon a time the island was inhabited by the ancestors of the Vedas. Today, the main inhabitants are Sinhalese and Tamils.

Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka?

Although Sri Jayavardenepura Kotte is the main city on the maps, where the Supreme Court and Parliament are located, however, the President's residence stands in the center of the Western District of the country - the city of Colombo. Sri Lanka, whose local residents have long considered it its actual capital, is known for its interesting traditions. Built in equal measure in the old colonial and modern styles, it is a real business center. On the one hand, this city is a legacy of the Portuguese with the Dutch and the English, making themselves felt in monuments and temples, in names and clothes, as well as in food and knowledge of languages. Modern buildings of large commercial and commercial centers, five-star hotels, nightclubs are the other side of Colombo. Sri Lanka, attracting tourists from all over the world, is proud of the unique appearance of its main city, in which skyscrapers adjoin old colonial-style mansions , as well as with many eastern ancient temples.

City `s history

The name of this city from Sinhala is translated as "mango harbor". Chinese and Arab, as well as Roman merchants about two millennia ago very often visited the pier of Colombo. Sri Lanka in the eighth century became a place where the Arabs had long been grounded. They controlled almost the entire sea trade of undeveloped then Sinhalese kingdoms. In the sixteenth century, the Portuguese arrived here. They changed the name of the city, calling it after Christopher Columbus. But in the next century it was captured by the Dutch. Since 1802, Colombo was the capital of a British colony called Ceylon. In 1972, the capital of Sri Lanka, but since 1983 it was officially transferred to Sri Jayavardenepura.

Local climate

The climate of Colombo, located at sea level, is subequatorial. The air temperature is stable around the year around 25-27 degrees. Precipitation in it is not uncommon, especially in May and November, which are the rainiest months of the year. Tourist high and low seasons in this city are formed under the influence of rains, as well as periods of major holidays. Two rainy periods are distinguished here: April-June, and also September-November, considered not the most convenient time for visiting and resting. The most dry season and peak season are December-March. During the summer months - in July and August - there is also little precipitation.

Attractions Colombo

Historically, the development of this city was made by the Greeks and Persians with the Romans, the Arabs with the Portuguese, the British and the Dutch. Almost all these cultures are now reflected in its appearance. In the city there are many mosques, temples and cathedrals. The most famous of them - Kelaniya Raja - is an excellent example of Sinhalese art and architecture.

Kelaniya Raja

This monument of ancient architecture was completed at the beginning of the last century, but the first mention of it dates back to the third century BC. The frescos that adorn his walls tell of the numerous lives of the Buddha, his visit to Kelaniya, as well as legends and myths. The ancient temple is only nine kilometers from Colombo. It attracts many tourists. Beginning in 1927, here in January, the Perakhater Festival is organized, dedicated to the Buddha's visit to this place after the eighth year of insight. The grandiose procession of elephants and drummers, as well as acrobats and fire swallowers, organizers make the holiday one of the most colorful. In its way this is a large procession - a procession in which many residents of the country participate.

What to see in Colombo

In the list of places designated for compulsory visits to tourists, a Hindu temple called Katiseran is also mentioned, located in the Pettah district. It is dedicated to Skanda - the god of war. The Sri Ponambal temple-Vanesswaram, built from the amazing South Indian granite along with Sri-Bala-Selva-Murti - other attractions of Colombo. Sri Lanka is generally known as a place where many sacred objects are dedicated to Shiva and Ganesha. They are called "Kovils". Other interesting monuments of architecture are the Cathedral of Saint Lucia and the Temple of Petra and Antonia, as well as the Sri Lanka mosque, called Jamul Alfar. In the suburbs of Colombo is the zoo, which is considered the best in Asia. It has a huge aquarium, in which there are more than five hundred marine animals, a park of butterflies and an arboretum. However, the most interesting is the daily evening show of trained elephants. No less attention should be paid to the Colombo National Museum, which was founded in the nineteenth century. It is considered to be the oldest in the country. There are more than four thousand manuscripts written on palm leaves, as well as sculptures and paintings, a collection of weapons and bronzes. The Colombo Art Gallery exhibits the best works of many local artists.

"Fort"

Considered as the main district of the city, this commercial center in the colonial period was the main military fortification. He is very handsome and populous during the daytime, and at night is quite deserted. Once upon a time in this cape, at the time when the capital Ceylon was located, there really was a fort with a real fortress, guns, a moat and powerful walls. Now all that's left is just one name and a spacious beautiful promenade - Galle Face Green, which is a favorite place for walking and the best patch for tasting street food. The main attraction here is the clock tower. It was built a hundred and fifty years ago as a beacon. "Fort" is completely built up by banks and shops, representative offices of very many airlines, hotels and office buildings. There are many beautiful buildings of the colonial period.

Shopping in Colombo

Located near the "Fort" and being its direct opposite, the Pettah district is considered the main bazaar of the city. On its narrow and cobbled streets, consisting of small shops, you can find an incredible variety of the most interesting goods. Petah is the most noisy, colorful and populous district in Colombo. Each lane here has its own specialization. For example, things for the house can be purchased on the street Keyzer, the alley Prince is known for mirrors and glass products. At Gabo ayurveda, which comes here a lot, buy medicinal plants. On the Sea Street very often jewelry shops. And of course, Petah is the famous fish and vegetable markets in the country.

More civilized shopping for tourists is offered in shopping centers, such as the Arena, Liberty Plaza, etc., built in recent years in the actual capital of Sri Lanka, with exclusive boutiques and huge supermarkets.

Hotels in Colombo

The gateway to Sri Lanka for many travelers embodies its actual capital. Many prefer to stop in Colombo by passing, on the way to the numerous resorts of this island. However, those who just pass through it, without delaying even for a day, lose the pleasure of knowing this diverse and very interesting city.

Colombo is famous for its most upscale hotels, such as Hilton Colombo Residence, Grand Oriental Hotel, Hotel Galadari and others. All of them are located on the beach and offer a full range of services: restaurants and swimming pools, casinos and fitness centers, bars and nightclubs, business centers and conference rooms and much more that will allow a person not only to relax, but also to benefit time. Along with expensive fashionable hotels in the city there are many budget hotels, the service in which is directly proportional to the price. As a rule, they are all small and built right on the beach. These Colombo hotels are individually designed, but all of them, organically fitting into the natural landscape, reflect the traditions and customs of the local culture. In each of them, tourists are offered their own programs designed for entertainment and recreation for their guests. These are themed evenings and fashion shows, cultural and ethnic representations, a barbecue under the moon, fascinating fishing and picnics, numerous excursions and much more. Almost all hotels offer tourists a wide range of water sports such as windsurfing and water skiing, scuba diving, and fishing on the high seas. In Colombo, as well as throughout the country, the voltage in the electrical network is 210-240 volts with sockets on the British model - three-pin, grounded. Therefore, to connect a computer or household appliances to the reception desk, an adapter is always offered.

Infrastructure

In Colombo there is a deep-water harbor, which has an area of two hundred and fifty hectares and is protected by malls. Near the port is located the "Fort" district. Colombo is considered the largest industrial and cultural center of the country. The port of Colombo is the largest in South Asia. Interesting and the architecture of the city, which is characterized by beautiful and unusual buildings. The international airport, named after Solomon Bandaranaike, is located thirty kilometers from Colombo. The city is connected with all regions of the country by railways and highways.

The city has a university, an observatory, several colleges, a national museum, many mosques, churches and temples.

Holiday in Colombo

Travelers Colombo is famous for its quite interesting "excursion program". Not less tourists are attracted here and the warm ocean with an interesting diving. Luxury beaches of Colombo are always full of people wishing to sunbathe and swim. Here, a safe environment and a rich animal world: crocodiles up to eight meters in length are found in the river Kelani, at the mouth of which the city is located. And along the banks nest white storks and pink flamingos, bright peacocks and motley parrots.

Divers from all over the world in Colombo attracts a variety of corals and marine creatures that have unusual names: Moorish idols, angelfish and parrots. There are many dolphins and whale sharks that can be found in March and April. However, the main feature of diving is visiting grottos, underwater rocks and a cemetery of sunken ships. For inspection here are opened almost twenty dead in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries ships, submerged at depths of eight to thirty meters. Many of them are well preserved, so experienced divers even manage to swim inside. For those who do not want to travel far from the city, but dream to luxuriate on the golden sands, it's better to go to Mount Lavinia, a beach area decorated with a small hotel built in 1810 for the private use of the then-Governor Colombo's family. On the shore of the ocean, small bathing houses are built, which can be rented for a day. Everywhere hawkers who sell fresh pineapple or coconut juice, bright shells and local souvenirs are strolling around. This is one of the most popular places for recreation, which is famous not only for the main city, but for the whole Sri Lanka. Colombo, reviews of the stay in which are always full of delight, has, in the opinion of some, the only drawback: before it is far to fly. For Russians who come to Sri Lanka for a period of not more than thirty days, a visa is opened for free at the entrance.