Colombo

At present the largest city in Sri Lanka lies on the west coast and can be considered the commercial, cultural, and administrative center. It used to be the main political city of the whole island as well. In the past, its importance was based mainly on its advantageous location and large port - thanks to that it was known to ancient traders more than 2,000 years ago.

It must be admitted that Colombo today is not a particularly attractive city. It is rather a typical Asian city with lots of cars, noise, and people. Perhaps the most interesting thing about its appearance is the mix of local architecture with buildings dating from the British period. The heritage of colonial Colombo remains untouched even today and intertwines with newer landmarks, modern markets, and restaurants.

The old districts are worth a visit, for example Fort. Right next to Fort lies the busy Pettah market, which is one of the oldest parts of Colombo. In the city you will also find many other monuments - mosques, churches, Hindu temples, or museums. Today it is popular mainly as a stop for last-minute shopping before departure - especially tea and spices can be bought very advantageously in the city.