MensXpert.com - A Weekend In Colombo

One would have great expectations from the commercial capital of an island nation, popularly referred to as ‘The Pearl of the Indian Ocean”. Colombo, Sri Lanka’s coastal capital will not disappoint you. Sheer historical and cultural atmosphere, serene scenic locales, variety of cuisine, and a happening nightlife - Colombo has it all. So fasten your seatbelts, push back your tray tables, relax with a refreshing drink, and wait for take off. We’ll see you on the other side at this exotic locale which literally means ‘a harbor of mangoes’.

Off to Colombo

As you de-plane at the SirimavoBandaranaikeInternationalAirport in Colombo, a warm blast of humid air hits you. The weather in Colombo is always warm and humid, except during the monsoon rains which happen between May and August, and October and January. Your best option to get out of the airport would be to rent a car. Colombo is about 20 miles from the airport. As you drive into Sri Lanka’s largest city, you see contradictory faces of the city - widespread modernization and old world ruins. There are plenty of accommodation options to choose from. If you are looking for 5 star luxury and have a loaded wallet, ask your driver to take you to places like Hilton International, Taj Samudra, Lanka Oberoi, or Galadri. If you are in the mood to soak up the luxury of a beach resort, head to MountLavinia, about 5 miles away from the city. However, if you would rather save on the accommodation, there are several comfortable guesthouses and budget accommodation available at lower nightly rates.

Take a Minute to Relax

Arrived safely at the hotel of your choice? Raring to drop your bags and head out? Take a minute and plan your itinerary. You only have the weekend to get to know Colombo better; you don’t want to waste a moment, do you? Most hotels have ties with local tour operators and guides. Talking to the locals may also throw up some places to visit which might be off the beaten track. The main attractions in Colombo are museums, historic buildings, churches and temples, and beautiful parks. Did you notice the history hangover that Colombo seems to have?

A Little History Lesson

A large natural harbor made Colombo popular with Roman, Arab, and Chinese traders, almost 2000 years ago. The Dutch, the Portuguese, and the British followed up and left their mark on the city’s planning, architecture, clothing, food, and language. Today, Colombo is a vibrant city, a raging metropolis with all the amenities of a modern city interspersed with colonial ruins from an era gone by. Here’s a curious fact -although Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the administrative capital, Colombo is host to the diplomatic missions of several countries.

Get Set and Go

Alright, now that you’ve soaked up the history and the atmosphere, and taken a good night’s rest, it’s time to head out. A word of caution - if you intend to be a staid tourist, sitting in a tour bus, listening to the drone of the bored tour guide, you will miss out on the real Colombo. To feel the pulse of the city, you need to soak up the atmosphere. Get out of the hotel, and get into an auto rickshaw (a popular means of transportation) or a taxi and ask the driver to take you to your first stop. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that attractions are conveniently segregated for your viewing pleasure.

Sights and Shopping

Let’s haunt the Fort area and Pettah Bazaar on Day one. There’s nothing like mixing sight seeing with a little bit of shopping, is there?

For t- the centre of the city and the main business district, filled with shops, office blocks and government buildings. If architecture interests you, this is where you will be spending a majority of your time, admiring buildings from the Dutch, Portuguese and British colonial eras as well marvels of modern construction. The clock tower (once a lighthouse) and the newer twin towers of the WorldTradeCenter are worth a dekko. In this relatively vehicle free zone, you might also want to stroll over to the oldest and one of the largest Hindu temples in Colombo - Sri Kailasanathar Swami Devasthanam.

From here, head to Pettah Bazaar. Pettah bazaar is to the east of Fort and this will be your shopping destination. You’ll find rows and rows of shops and stalls selling everything from vegetables to gemstones. Ah heaven! Before you head over to the shopping areas, you should visit the DutchPeriodMuseum. If you’ve never been to a prison before, now is your chance to get inside one. Housed in a Dutch prison dating backing to the 17th century, the Dutch museum showcases Dutch legacy with artefacts. Once you’ve got the sight seeing out of your way, head over the actual market. The Pettah Bazaar area is one of the oldest districts in Colombo and is ethnically very diverse. The experience of mingling with the locals and browsing for souvenirs will be extremely satisfying. If affordable handicrafts, masks, and authentic gemstones are what you are looking for, head to Laksala, a handicrafts emporium run by the Sri Lanka Handicrafts Board.

A coastal city and no mention of beaches, you ask? Well, on your second day in Colombo, head further south and you arrive on the city's majestic seafront- Galle Face Green. This is Colombo at its serene best.

You might come across locals enjoying a game of cricket, flying kites or taking evening strolls watching the sunset. If you fancy a swim, there’s even a small beach. And if you are lucky, you might even catch a pop concert, occasionally organized on the sea front. Can it get any better? Well, it does!

Did I mention that Colombo is a city of beautiful parks? Beyond the seafront is CinammonGardens with its tree-lined streets, and the lovely ViharamahaDeviPark. This is a good place to retreat from the busy environs of the other parts of the city. Home to the rich and powerful in Colombo, this area has palatial houses and exclusive bars and cafés. And while you are here you might as well check out the NationalMuseum and the Town Hall.

If your days are not packed enough, and you do find time, you might want to visit Dehiwala Zoo, famous for its elephant show. The large Hindu Temples will give you the impression that Sri Lankans are predominantly Hindus. However, Buddhism is practiced on a large scale as well. The Gangaramaya Vihara is Colombo's most famous Buddhist temple where you will get to admire an unusual slope of mini Buddha’s.

The Nightlife - Colombo Style

While your days are spent in being a passive observer, the night life in Colombo will beckon some action. The club scene in Colombo is hip and happening. There are several night clubs where you can dance through the night (well most of the night anyway). ‘The Blue Elephant’ is the most popular night club, and also very classy. As is ‘The Hut’ at MountLavinia. It has both live music and a DJ and if you do get tired of dancing, you can always take a stroll down the MountLavinia beach. Romantic, what say? ‘My Kind of Place’ at the Taj Samudra, could just turn out to be your kind of place, with its lively music and fun crowd.

If dancing is not your style, don’t worry! There are plenty of places where you can sit back and chill. Bradman Bar is a must visit. As the name suggests, this is a theme bar centered on Cricket. The memorabilia, the videos, the T-shirts of cricketing legends, make this bar popular among locals as well as visitors. If cricket is not for you, head over to the Glow bar, Hippos, or the Rhythm and Blues Bar, and enjoy the live music with your favorite poison.

Sample the Cuisines

Amidst all this sight seeing, shopping, drinking and dancing, remember to fill your tummy every now and them. In Colombo, there are all kinds of food to choose from. But do try the authentic Sri Lankan food, straight from the popular roadside joints. Some dishes to try are Godamba Rotti, Egg Rotti and the scalding Koththu Rotti. For the non adventurous and those with weak stomachs, there are a variety of Chinese, Indian, Thai, and even German eateries. So dig in folks!

Dos and Don’ts

Carry identification at all times. There are several check points all across the city and you may be asked to produce your ID by the military police or the army.

The Fort area was, until recently, heavily targeted by the separatists. Make sure you don’t remain in the area after sunset.

The ViharamahadeviPark is a favorite haunt of fruit bats. Avoid staying in the park after sundown when the bats fly out for some exercise.

The Galle Face Green is infamous for con artistes. Keep your wits about you, and don’t fall prey to scam artistes.

As you fly out of Colombo, you will ask yourself where all the time went. You’ll wonder how you could have had the time of your life in this exotic coastal city on so small a budget. You will wish you could spend just a little more time walking along the Green Path in the ViharamahadeviPark, or gorged on some more authentic Sri Lankan fare from the roadside joints. Remember, there’s always a next time.