Colombo
Sri Lanka's cultural and commercial capital, Colombo has a long history as a trading port. Governed successively by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, the city has a unique multicultural spirit, unusual architecture, a diversity of religious heritage, and colorful markets to match.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
Cricket
Depending on the schedule, attend a cricket match in Colombo. While technically cricket is not Sri Lanka’s national sport (volleyball is), it is by far the most popular, a status helped by the national team’s upset of Australia in the 1996 Cricket World Cup finals.
Galle Face Green
Stroll along the edge of the Indian Ocean on the Galle Face Green and arrive at the landmark Victorian Galle Face Hotel. Enjoy cocktails at its beach bar, where Somerset Maugham and Noel Coward once held court.
Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple
Visit the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, one of the central places of worship in Sri Lanka. The complex is a vast group of shrines dating from various periods and built in a wide range of architectural styles, which can lend the temple a quirky, patchwork feel. The grounds also contain a bodhi tree said to be grown from a cutting of the one under which the Buddha gained enlightenment, as well as a crystal lotus reputed to contain one of his bones.
Jami Ul Alfar Mosque
See the Jami Ul Alfar mosque in the Pettah neighborhood, whose garish exterior of red and white stripes, checkers, spirals and other patterns makes it one of Colombo's most recognizable religious landmarks.
Seema Malaka Temple
While at Gangaramaya, see the Seema Malaka Temple, one of Sri Lanka’s most unusual shrines. Built in the 1970s to replace an earlier 19th-century building that was slowly sinking into Beira Lake, Seema Malaka was designed in a serene, minimalist style by renowned Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Several simple pavilions appear to float on the surface of the lake, connected to each other and the mainland by walkways lined with statues of the Buddha.
Sri Lanka Regions
Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below on the right.
Central
Southern
Eastern
Western
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With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
A Seafood Lover’s Guide to Colombo
- Author
- Umar Fareez
Park your bags at Tintagel or Uga Residence and then head on over to these charming Colombo seafood staples for Crabzilla and ambulthiyal.
A Day in Galle Fort: Exploring Sri Lanka’s Colonial Heritage
- Author
- Zinara Rathnayake
From the 17th century architecture of the luxury Amangalla to some of the best seafood in Sri Lanka, a day in Galle Fort is for history lovers, epicureans, and shopaholics alike.
Looking for Sri Lankan Leopards in Luxury
- Author
- Travelogues
Wild Sri Lankan leopards roam the vast Yala National Park alongside crocodiles and elephants, a chance for travelers to see the heart of Sri Lanka in both comfort and authenticity
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