Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with a rich culture and is also adorned with natural beauty. Here, in the Colombo which is the business city of the country there are a few places that you could visit for sight-seeing.

Thalangama lake side is a beautiful wetland ecosystem in the Colombo district which is only a few meters from the Lake Residence. It is surprising to see this lovely landscape so peaceful in midst of the city. Talangama Lake side is a heaven for ornithologists and photographers.

Paddling boats are offered which can take you in to the labyrinth of mangroves, which can be an amazing experience to a nature lover; near these birds could be observed at close proximity.

At this picturesque master piece of nature, you can witness exotic plants, flowers, birds, turtles, terrapins, water monitor lizards and even heard of buffalo lazing around while enjoying the symphony of bird singings.

Diyatha is a nature Park located in the heart of Colombo. The place itself is like a natural elements sanctuary. Colombo is a city packed with well-maintained natural Parks. But Diyatha is unique in beauty because in one corner it is bordered by the Diyawannawa lake.

The Place has a good & flower market along with well-maintained food & beverage stalls. It only takes a 10-minute drive from the Lake Residence to this amazing place where you can relax yourself watching the open aquarium or Diyawannawa Lake which dates back to Kotte Kingdom. For ones who enjoys jogging there is a well-maintained jogging track too.

Sri Lanka is known to be one of the oldest countries to follow Buddhism with its official introduction in the 2nd century BC by Venerable Mahinda. The culture of country has also woven around the religion since the majority of citizens are following it.

Gangaramaya temple is popular among travelers because of it being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence. This temple is very beautiful thanks its eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture. Temple also comprises of a Library and Museum.

It is most notable among tourists for its architecture of the Simamalaka Shrine which is a master piece of widely known architect Geoffrey Bawa; This being funded by a Muslim sponsor shows the co-existence among the ethnicities of Sri lanka.

Sri Lanka, is beautiful tropical island blessed with the sandy beaches and wavy sea. However, in the business city of Colombo it is not so easy to find a place where you can enjoy the waves of the ocean. Thus, Galle Face Green offers you the opportunity to revel in the beachside while relaxing overlooking the disappearing sun in the far way horizon.

Galle Face Green was initially laid out in 1859 by Sir Henry Ward, Governor of British Ceylon. The stretch of land was used for horse racing and golf and was known as the Colpetty Race Course. It is an ideal place for families, children, lovers and picnickers to enjoy the sea, fly kites, play ant etc it is also a half kilometer promenade in the heart of Colombo.

There are many stalls along the beach to purchase food, beverage and toys for a very low price but if you are looking for a rather better place Galle Face Hotel, The Kingsburry, Galadari Hotel, Taj Samudra Colombo, Ramada Colombo and Hilton Colombo are all within walking distance.

The Colombo National Museum is in Colombo 7, the colonial styled white building which was built in 1877 stands proud in a green loan which is very beautiful.The national museum being the largest in Sri Lanka houses artifacts spanning the history of country. The Museum brings out the rich history of the island covering a period of 2500 years.

The tour includes seeing important collections including the throne and crown of the Sri Lankan monarchs, money used in various eras, art, weapons, furniture, paintings and other artifacts. There are three main sections including natural science, cultural and a library.

Neighboring building has a Barista Café and a Laksala Gift shop that has a huge variety of Sri Lankan art work and souvenirs and the prices are very reasonable. If you can spend about 1-2 hours National Museum is a place where you can learn about the culture and history of this beautiful island.

Apart from the mentioned attractions; The Independence Square, the Viharamahadevi Park, St. Lucia’s Cathedral and the Fort Railway Station are some of the other places to visit. Colombo boasts many more attractions which you will be able to see as you travel around the city.

The National Zoological Gardens of Sri Lanka is situated in Dehiwala. It’s home to various types of animals from mammals to birds. It’s not only a place that hosts animals but it also promotes animal welfare as well as knowledge. The National ZOO of Sri Lanka consists of an aquarium, walk through aviary, reptile house and a butterfly garden. It is rich with diversity because of the worldwide collection of animals. The premises can be easily reached through public transportation.

There are several animal shows conducted by the Zoo; Elephant performances, Chimps tour and Sea Lion performances are the best among many. The aquarium at the National Zoo is unique because, it is the only one of its kind in Asia which displays over 500 varieties of unparalleled aquatic life and also because it offers rare platform of seeing the nighttime life of aquatic species; This is very attractively presented under the lighted natural and landscaped environment. As a whole the Zoo tour guaranteed to be both a memorable educational experience.

Located very closely to the Lake Residence, Ape Gama takes only a few minutes’ drive to reach. This premises presents a model village of traditional Sri Lanka. It showcases the industries, life styles and many other aspects of good old days.

Beyond the life style presentation, it also provides the opportunity for its visitors to purchase authentic and handmade art & crafts. The uniqueness of this place is it also offers the rare opportunity of witnessing the craftsmen work in their outlets carving masks and statues, painting fabric, making jewellery, sewing, making lace. You will understand that, even with the modern influences, elegance of what Sri Lanka was before remains unchanged at this very place.

Shopping in Colombo is an interesting experience. The place has wide variety from small stalls to sky scrapper malls.