🏨 Rediscover Colombo Activity - Colombo Travel Guide

Rediscover Colombo

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From $64.00

1 reviews (5.00)

Price varies by group size

Lowest Price Guarantee

Pricing Info: Per Person

Duration:

Departs: Colombo, Colombo

Ticket Type: Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Free cancellation

Up to 24 hours in advance.

Learn more

Overview

Rediscover-Colombo is a personalized city experience through the old city of Colombo, an unforgettable experience with your host as you drive & walk through the picturesque streets of Colombo and the mayhem of Pettah. It has been over 9 years now, since Chan, the boy behind Rediscover-Colombo, started to share his experience and knowledge enabling guests to spend a day or an evening in beautiful colonial Colombo. Continuous research goes into the areas you will visit and we truly believe that we learn something new every day.

When contacting us via phone or email, you will either speak with Chan or his partner Nish as we are a company that feel personalization is key, hence we have just three others Lakshan, Ishan & Ruvini who work with us.

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle

Bottled water

Coffee and/or Tea

Private transportation

WiFi on board

What's Not Included

Entrance Fees as per your customized sightseeings.

Gratuities

Traveler Information

INFANT: Age: 1 - 4
CHILD: Age: 5 - 11
YOUTH: Age: 12 - 18
ADULT: Age: 19 - 59
SENIOR: Age: 60 - 100

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Specialized infant seats are available

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

What To Expect

Sambodhi Chaithya

The elevated bell-shaped rather than dome-shaped stupa, with a circumference of 158 feet (48m), provides an extraordinary sight. Kulasinghe’s four pale yellow arches – one straddles the road – consist of sloped slabs of concrete to create the necessary curvature for them to intersect at a height of 107 feet (33m) underneath the square platform on which a stupa is based.

This platform is in fact a one-storey affair as can be determined by its height and many recessed windows. It is divided into four rooms, all representing bhavana (spiritual cultivation) kuti (a single-roomed abode), which are traditionally situated in forest solitude, but here transformed in a port-city setting for those who wish to still the mind.

The dazzling white stupa is 154 feet (47m) tall, and the whole structure reaches 261 feet (80m) into the sky. Note the structure on top of the dome, 37 feet (11m) tall. At the bottom is the cube-shaped hatharas kotuwa, then the conical spire known as koth kerella, and finally a pinnacle made of metal, the kotha, on top of which is a chudamanikya, a precious crystal or gemstone.

What makes the stupa even more extraordinary is that alongside is an 11-storey tower-like stair structure at the top of which is a steel bridge that leads to the stupa. Unless you suffer from fear of heights or are dressed in an inappropriate manner, boldly remove your shoes as is the custom and start the ascent. There are 258 steps in total, but they are shallow and mercifully smooth. As you ascend, breathtaking views of the port and Colombo city are revealed.

Eventually cross the bridge, enter the stupa through the impressive wooden doors, and marvel at the domed wonders inside. What catches the eye first is an imposing round shrine for worshippers in the centre of the circular floor, in which are four recessed seated Buddha statues. Then look around and you will observe that murals envelop the dome. In November 1986, Ven. Mapalagama Vipulasara Maha Thera, a locally and internationally acclaimed artist and sculptor of Buddha statues, was chosen to head a team of artists to create a series of 31 murals.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Independence Memorial Hall

Sri Lanka gained independence from the British on the fourth of February 1948. The Independence Memorial Hall in Colombo was built to commemorate this turning point in Sri Lankan history. Along with the Independence Memorial Museum, the monument is also home to a statue of the nation’s first Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake. Today, the revered hall stands as the venue for the most annual Independence Day celebrations & many religious events.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Colombo National Museum

Founded in 1877, the National Museum of Colombo, the country’s largest museum, has a veritable gold mine of exhibitions that showcase the island’s rich history & natural heritage. The museum is divided into two sections – the science division, which features collections of unique botanical specimens, mammal skins, a dry-mounted display of butterflies & other insects; and the cultural division, which displays ancient artefacts, antiques & paintings, as well as, the crown & throne of Kandyan kings.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Galle Face Green

Extending over a distance of half a kilometre along the coast of the Indian Ocean, The Galle Face Green is a beloved promenade located in the heart of Colombo. It was first laid out by Sir Henry Ward in 1859 & used for horse racing & as a golf course. Today, the promenade is alive with the happy activity of kite-flyers, street food vendors, & families enjoying the delights of open spaces & refreshing ocean breeze.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple

One of the most important temples in Colombo and amongst the most revered in the island nation, The Gangaramaya Temple is highly recommended for travellers who wish to learn about Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The beautiful temple is made up of numerous buildings, including a relic chamber, pagoda, museum, education hall & library and also contains large collections of precious stone carvings, olden pieces of art and brass work.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct

Centrepiece of the vibrant Fort, this colonial-era complex dates back to the early 1600s. Lavishly restored, it is home to shops, cafes and restaurants run by some of Colombo’s best operators. Enjoy a pause for a cold drink amid the incredibly thick columns of its arcades. There's an annex in a 19th-century British building on the backside that faces Chatham St.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Viharamahadevi Park

Colombo’s biggest park was originally called Victoria Park, but was renamed in the 1950s after the mother of King Dutugemunu. It’s notable for its superb flowering trees, which bloom in March, April and early May. Elephants used for ceremonies sometimes spend the night in the park, chomping on palm branches. It has been given a major sprucing up and now boasts comfy benches (often occupied with caressing couples), walkways, landscaping and playgrounds. You'll even still see the odd snake charmer.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

The Diyawanna Ferry Service (actually a boat service) run by the Sri Lanka Navy is an excellent new addition to the diversions available to Colombars and visitors. It is the best way to see Sri Lanka’s Parliament from all angles, since the boat does a full circle of the iconic Bawa building. The other attractions are birds (pelicans nesting on trees in the middle of the lake), kingfishers, cormorants and other water birds. Unlike on Bolgoda, there aren’t that many glamorous houses to spot.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Pettah Floating Market

The Pettah Floating Markets are located on Bastian Mawatha in Pettah, a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and consist of 92 trade stalls, with a number of the stalls established on boats on Beira Lake. The floating market serves as a tourist attraction selling local produce and local handicraft.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Number 11

Number 11 - Geoffery Bawa’s Home
The house in 33rd Lane is an essay in architectural bricollage. In 1958 Bawa bought the third in a row of four small houses which lay along a short cul-de-sac at the end of a narrow suburban lane and converted it into a pied-à-terre with living room, bedroom, tiny kitchen and room for a servant. When the fourth bungalow became vacant this was colonised to serve as dining room and second living room. Ten years later the remaining bungalows were acquired and added into the composition and the first in the row was demolished to be replaced by a four-storey tower

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque

Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque known colloquially as the Samman Kottu Palli, Rathu Palliya, Red Masjid or the Red Mosque) is a historic mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is located on Second Cross Street in Pettah. The mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Colombo and a popular tourist site in the city.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Paradise Road

Spacious retailer stocking stylish home goods & decor items, including dishware, handicrafts & art.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St Anthony's Shrine

St. Anthony's Shrine is a Roman Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. The church is located at Kochchikade, Kotahena, Colombo 13, and is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. The church is designated a national shrine and minor basilica.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Ballys Casino

Located close to Colombo's top hotels and the back entrance to Colombo Fort railway station, Bally's is a long established casino with a reputation for respectability and warm hospitality. Poker, table games & slots offered in an upscale environment with live dance & music shows.

60 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Barefoot

Popular shop offering colorful clothing, unique crafts, fabric & books, plus a cafe with a patio.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Royal Colombo Golf Club

The Royal Colombo Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Sri Lanka. Established in 1880, it is located in the capital city of Colombo at The Ridgeway Links also known as the Anderson Golf Course.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

The Lighthouse

Old Colombo Lighthouse or Colombo Fort Clock Tower is a clock tower and was a lighthouse in Colombo. The lighthouse is no longer operational, but the tower remains and functions as a clock tower. It is located at the junction of Chatham Street and Janadhipathi Mawatha in Colombo fort.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil

Historic stone Hindu temple with intricate carvings, sculptures & colorful shrines.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Khan Clock Tower

The Khan Clock Tower was built in Colombo, Sri Lanka by the Khan Family of Bombay. The Clock Tower is a popular landmark and marks the entrance to Pettah Market. The Clock Tower was built in the early 20th century by the family of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Ceylon Tea Supermarket

A wide range of handpicked loose-leaf Sri Lankan teas is the specialty at this family-owned shop.

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Ape Gama

Living heritage museum & events venue with rustic village houses & handicrafts on sale.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Odel

‘Odel’ is a household name in the apparel and accessories market, attracting unprecedented footfalls, both local and foreign customers on weekdays and weekends. ODEL possesses the largest international branded apparel and fashion accessory portfolio in Sri Lanka. These branded items complement Odel’s product range giving the shopper a unique experience.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Colombo Fort Railway Station

Experience one of the Sri Lankan trains from Fort to Wellawatte. It is related that all the land bordering Galle Road and the Railway tracks along the beach from The Savoy Cinema at the top of Charlemont Road to the Wellawatte Railway Station was once owned by a Burgher gentleman named Gauder. His children were named Charlemont (son), Alexandra (daughter) and Frances (daughter) after whom the successive streets have been named and stand that way to date. Not much information is available about the Gauder family.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

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