Colombo and the its districts sprawl down the Galle Road into the suburbs while Fort is the beginning, which was previously the centre of Dutch and Portuguese domination. You can still view examples of its colonial architecture. Today, Fort is the banking and commercial centre of Colombo, where Sri Lanka’s own twin towers stand in and the five-star Hilton, Ceylon Continental and Galadari hotels including many other famous buildings.
Pettah, is quite a busy area and very different to Fort. You will find a tourist market next to the railway station and a fascinating fish market, but not the most sweet-smelling or beautiful of destinations. There are also shops where you can try the delicious Indian sweets.
South of Pettah and the Fort, facing the sea, is Galle Face Green, designed by the British in 1859 for horse racing. The famous, Raffles-like, Galle Face Hotel is a beautiful old building of yesteryear, where you can enjoy colonial-style experiences, ie. sipping tea on the verandah or you can indulge in sunset cocktails on its chess board-style black-and-white patio in the evening.
Just inland is Slave island, where Sima Malaka Meditation Island in conjunction with the Gangaramaya Temple with Thai Buddha statues, sits on the Beira Lake. You may find Colombo is quite a green city if you take a stroll around Viharamahadevi Park with its towering trees.
Kollupitiya is an example of Colombo’s development into an international city. The Crescat Boulevard - a shopping centre, is managed by the highly regarded Colombo Plaza Hotel, including many restaurants and shops in this area of cosmopolitan flavour, ie. Barista, Nandos, Deli France, Pizza Hut, McDonalds. If you fancy a rice and curry meal, Renuka Hotel is the ideal place for you to enjoy one of the tastiest buffet spreads in the city.
When you proceed towards Galle Road, you reach Wellawatte with its beautiful Hindu kovils (temples) where you see the carved figures of bright colours. Further south, you will reach Dehiwala famous for its Zoo. Finally, you will reach Mount Lavinia, with its striking hotel and beach restaurants, where you can relax with sea air and refreshment on the beach.
