Discover These Enticing Landmarks & Attractions in Colombo

Colombo is Sri Lanka’s capital and largest city offering a fascinating blend of old and new; there are colonial-style buildings and ancient monuments standing side by side with futuristic skyscrapers and other contemporary buildings. This Sri Lankan city is famous for its eclectic shopping and dining experiences, multiethnic heritage and dynamic nightlife, and has an excellent range of sightseeing attractions. Brightsun Travel offers cheap air tickets to Colombo from the UK, taking you to the heart of this cultural centre. With so much to explore, where do you start? We’ve compiled some must-visits that we recommend to you and travel companion/s whilst in Colombo.

Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple

The 120 year old Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is a charming structure which is located amidst the Beira Lake in the heart of the city’s Business District. Here you can admire imposing Buddha statues, mosaic embellishments, intricately carved verses from Buddhist scriptures and sacred relics of Lord Buddha. This stunning temple also houses a museum which displays an interesting collection of ivory carvings and sculptures.

Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque

The incredible Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque aka Red Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the country, located in Colombo’s eclectic Pettah district. This mesmerizing structure was constructed by Habibu Labbe Saibu Labbe in 1908 with red and white brickwork. The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque features Indo-Saracenic architecture, spires, teak wood columns, tall minarets and unique pomegranate shaped domes.

The Wolvendaal Church

The Wolvendaal Church is one of Colombo’s oldest archaeological religious sites which was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1749 with Doric architectural styles. This historical edifice also features a wooden roof, splendid paintings, statues, mural tablets, stained glass windows, intricate carvings and ancient tombstones and graves of Dutch governors. It’s an architectural marvel!

Independence Memorial Hall

The Independence Memorial Hall aka Torrington Square is an eclectic national monument situated in the heart of Colombo’s Cinnamon Gardens. This elegant architectural structure was constructed in commemoration of the country’s Independence from the British in 1948. The Independence Memorial Hall is home to various paintings, sculptures and an impressive statue of the country’s first Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Don Stephen Senanayake.

National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is the largest museum in the country which is dedicated to Sri Lankan geology, hydro-electric and irrigation projects, flora and fauna. Visit this alluring cultural space and discover an interesting collection of fossils, geological rocks and more than 5000 life-sized specimens of endemic mammals, reptiles and birds.

Old Parliament Building

The Old Parliament Building is a historical edifice and one of the major attractions of the city, located in the Colombo Fort which was built during the British colonial period with neo-classical architectural styles. This grandeur building housed the nation’s legislature for more than 50 years until the new Parliament was constructed.

Book cheap tickets to Colombo with Brightsun Travel today and look forward to discovering the gems of this captivating city.

Brightsun Travel can arrange all of your travel needs, from flights, short haul to long haul holidays, world tours and memorable life adventures! For more information on cheap tickets to Colombo, please visit us at brightsun.co.uk