Colombo: Parks, Temples and Waterfront Walks

The places to visit offer a range of experiences: parks with play and recreational facilities, public event venues, a water temple, lakeside walks and a spot to watch the sunset. This lets you tailor your hotel choice to your travel interests and decide what kind of visit matters most to you.

Parks and Public Events

Viharamahadevi Park brings several reasons to visit together in one place. It has a small zoo and a children’s playground; its open-air stadium serves as a venue for concerts and public events. A visit to the park and attending a concert are therefore two different ways to experience the place. The events programme may change, and visitor facilities may also change over time. If you are planning to attend a concert or use a specific facility, check the latest information. The park was formerly known as Victoria Park.

Crow Island Beach Park in Colombo 15 offers a different focus. It is a public park developed for beach recreation while aiming to preserve the area’s natural scenic beauty. Its facilities include a boardwalk, viewing decks and an observation tower. The emphasis is therefore on beach recreation and opportunities to take in the views, while Viharamahadevi Park has a different character, with its zoo, playground and event stadium.

At Beira Lake: Temples, Walks and a Boat Ride

Cultural and active ways to spend your time come together at Beira Lake. Seema Malaka is a well-known water temple on the lake. There are paths and developed walkways along the road around the lake. This makes it possible to distinguish a temple visit from exploring the area on foot. A 30-minute ride in a swan-shaped boat is available on the lake. The duration gives the boat ride a clear time frame, while the paths offer a different way to take in the surroundings on foot. As the ride’s availability may change, check in advance if you are planning this activity.

Galle Face Green: History and Sunset

Galle Face Green is on Colombo-Galle Main Road, near the Galle Face Hotel, and is 2 kilometres from Fort Railway Station. The area was originally used for horse racing and as a golf course. Today, Galle Face Green is a good place to watch the sunset. Horse racing and golf belong to its past; the sunset offers a different reason to visit. The site’s history and its appeal to today’s visitors are thus clearly separated in time.

An Annual Event in February

The Gangarama Nawam Maha Perahera is also relevant to your travel plans. It takes place annually in February at Gangaramaya Temple. Check the date for the year of your stay before making firm plans to attend.

Discover more destinations: Colombo, Hekitta, Kaduwela, Athurugiriya, Brahmanagama, Laksapatiya, Avissawella, Koswatta, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Moratuwa, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Wattala, Jambugasmulla, Piliyandala

For the overview of the wider region: Western Province.