Overview
Take a trip to Colombo on your Sri Lanka Vacation
On Sri Lanka vacations, Colombo is Sri Lanka’s largest city and was the island’s capital till 1978, although still remains Sri Lanka’s commercial and financial centre.
Located on Sri Lanka’s west coast and featuring a large harbour, Colombo is ideally situated along the east-west sea trade routes and has been a port city for the last 2000 years.
Before obtaining its independence in 1948, Sri Lanka was under the control of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British from the 16th century, and its history is reflected in the colonial architecture, food, clothing, language, and attitudes found throughout the city. While the Portuguese and Dutch primarily used Colombo as a military fort, the British set Colombo on its way to major development, constructing houses and other various structures.
With Colombo’s own cultural and historic attractions in districts such as Fort, Cinnamon Gardens and Pettah, on Sri Lanka vacations, it is also used as a gateway to other cities including Nuwara Eliya, a high-altitude, a picturesque city featuring Sri Lanka’s most important tea production site, and Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital and home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha.
Surrounded by various canals, a river to the north and northeast, and a lake in the heart of the city, Colombo is a mix of land and water, as well as of old and new, and offers interesting places to shop, dine, and experience some of Sri Lanka’s arts and culture on a Sri Lanka vacation.
Surrounded by various canals, a river to the north and northeast, and a lake in the heart of the city, Colombo is a mix of land and water, as well as of old and new, and offers interesting places to shop, dine, and experience some of Sri Lanka’s arts and culture on a Sri Lanka vacation.
At a Glance
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Sinhala, TamilCurrency
Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)What do the experts say?
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Colombo is the largest city and former capital ...
Sammangodu Sri Kathiravelayutha Swami Temple
Tuk-tuks are a popular mode of transport in Col...
A wedding pattern on the hands of a Colombo bride
A fishing boat at sunset
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
ColomboMostly Cloudy
32°C / 89°F
30mm / 1.2"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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