Colombo
Colombo is Sri Lanka's capital and the country's largest city. Here is the commercial and cultural lifeblood strongest. Colombo is a colorful city, where one second can stand surrounded by incense and flowers in a Buddhist temple and other second consider a cool and stately building in the British colonial style. Do not miss to visit Mt Lavinia or Cinnamon Gardens tree-lined avenues and elegant colonial villas.
Colombo's city center, however, is a human buzz and trafikgytter of large proportions. Perhaps the most on the main street Galle Road which runs along the sea, but where the sea wind fans are barely noticeable through traffic, but if you dive into this swarm is shopping centers and restaurants with good food to get acquainted with. Food is an important part of Sri Lankan culture, and restaurants stay open for long.
Shopping opportunities are good. In addition to department stores and shops are the colorful bazaar in the neighborhood Pettahs narrow alleys. In Pettah, located near the Old Town Colombo Fort and the bus and train station, you can find fruits like mango, papaya and passion fruit, precious stones, gold jewelry, spices, handicrafts, clothing - and an endless variety of other things.
From Colombo, one can easily explore the rest of Sri Lanka. The island carries many statues, temples and seeing remnants of former kingdoms. The tropical flora and fauna takes place. In the south there are sandy beaches with palm trees bend over the sea. Here you can make trips to sunbathe on the beaches and snorkel at one of the coral reefs.
Story
Around 400 BC began the Sinhalese Kingdom Anaradhapura developed in Sri Lanka's north side. In the 300s AD came from India, Mahinda, the son of the Buddhist emperor Ashoka who then reigned in India, and spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Other kingdoms also developed but Anaradhapura remained the strongest in nearly 1500 years. In 1505 arrived the Portuguese, then there were three kingdoms in Sri Lanka, one of which was Tamil and low in the north. In 1658 the Dutch colonized large parts of Sri Lanka's coast and stayed for about 140 years. But not until 1802 was defeated Sri Lanka altogether, this time by the British who made the island to the British crown colony. In 1948, Sri Lanka became an independent state.
Since 1983, there has been a conflict in Sri Lanka that erupted in civil war at regular intervals. The Tamil Tigers, a separatist group that requires an independent state for Tamils in the country's northern and eastern parts, has brought the guerrilla war against the government army, which primarily represented by Sinhalese interests. In February 2002, peace was concluded between the warring parties. The agreement did not end all problems, but it was still a big step forward. Tourism, which virtually put on hold for parts of the nineties has returned in a big way. But the political backlash has also followed. In July 2004, Colombo hit by a suicide bomber. Towards the end of the same year reached Sri Lanka by the tsunami and more than 30,000 people lose their lives. 2005 comes with a state of emergency after the Sri Lankan foreign minister assassinated. In November of the same year held elections, an election boycotted by many Tamils. In 2009, it looks like the long war comes to an end when the Tamil guerrillas last strongholds on the island conquered by the government army.
Getting there
Scheduled flights to Sri Lanka, including Sri Lankan Airlines, Swiss Airlines and Lufthansa. Scandinavia-Sri Lanka round trip costing just under 10 000 SEK. You can also ski resorts, a week costs about 8000 crowns. The airport Bandaranaike Airport are three mil north of Colombo and just under a mil east of the resort of Negombo. Take a taxi or bus to Colombo and Negombo. Taxi service to Colombo will cost around $ 50 (1000 rupees), but we are happy with Ceylon Tourism's information desk in the arrivals hall of the fixed taxi price may have changed.
Getting around
Bus: Is a good option, even if it sometimes becomes entitled crowded. Colombo has three main stations for buses, all located in the southern end of Pettah. From here, the buses to a number of places around Sri Lanka. From the Central Bus Station, public buses between downtown and the suburbs, a ticket costs no more than 1-2 crowns.
Train: Main Station Colombo Fort has an information desk at the entrance. The staff is helpful and knows all about how to get to and from Colombo. To be sure of getting a seat should book a few days in advance.
Moped Taxi: Available everywhere, and drive you anywhere, even if it sometimes gets a little chaotic and exhaust filled, the retail price is 30 rupees per kilometer, but makes up for the price in advance.
Taxis: Clear comfortably. All taxis do not have meters, and even those who have it, often prefer to make up for a fixed price in advance. A distance of two to three kilometers should not cost more than five crowns (100 rupees). Call Taxi other hand, has always air conditioning and taximeter: Ace Cabs, phone 281-8818
Accommodation
Colombo YMCA, 39 Bristol Street, Fort, tel 011-232 52 52. A little simple and rugged, but central. Price range: Cheap.
Blue Seas Guest House, 9/6 The Saram Road in Mount Lavinia, tel 011-271 62 98. Simple but spacious rooms, some with balconies. A small guest house with living room in colonial style, garden and friendly staff. Price range: Cheap.
AAA Guest House, 49 Lionel Edirishinge, Mawatha. Skilled budget accommodation in the leafy residential area quarter from the center. Rooms with air conditioning. Car Service is another feature. www.best4hostels.com/sri_lanka_hostels.htm. Prislläge: Cheap
Grand Oriental Hotel, 2 York Street, tel 011-232 03 20, www.grandoriental.com. At one time it was here most of the steamboat travelers arrived. Colombo's first hotel is over 100 years old and has an aura of bygone glamor. The rooms are now redesigned but the view over the harbor is still as captivating. Price range: Expensive.
Galle Face Hotel, 2 Galle Road, tel 011-254 10 10, www.gallefacehotel.com. A charming and famous hotel with plenty of atmosphere and colonial history. Price range: Expensive.
Restaurants
Cricket Club Cafe, 34 Queens Road, tel 250 13 84. Switch for awhile bat against knife and fork and eat British cultured lunch, two for about 140 crowns. Price range: Medium.
The Green Cabin, 453 Galle Road, tel 011-258 2211th Well known and well-established, with authentic Sri Lankan cuisine at reasonable prices. Try hopper, pancakes made of rice flour and coconut. Price range: Cheap.
Seafish, 15 Sir CA Gardiner Mawatha, behind the Regal Cinema in Pettah, tel 011-232 69 15. Excellent seafood at reasonable prices. Price range: Medium.
Tulips, 383 Duplication Road, tel 552 21:11, when the urge pointing towards something cool, western. Both food and cocktail reminiscent against, well, maybe New York. Price range: Expensive.
The Gallery Cafe, 2 Alfred House Road, tel 258 21 62 Architect's Dream turned into pretentious gourmet restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine. Price range: Expensive.
Le Palace, 79 Gregory's Road, Cinammon Gardens, tel 011-269 59 20. This restaurant is based in a beautiful building on one of Colombo's most exclusive streets. The French chef holding a French touch. Price range: Expensive.
Nightlife and entertainment
Cascades, Hotel Lanka Oberoi, 77 Steuart Place, Colombo 3, tel 011-232 00 01. Large Favorite mainly among the young party people. Not least because the pool room.
The Bistro Latino, Duplicatiuon Road, tel 249 24 92 Salsa and Latin, but just like in high school: you have to go home later than 23:00.
Kiss Kiss Bar, 32 B Sir Mohamed Makan Markar Mawatha, on Koluu's at the Holiday Inn. Popular pre-party place with strong kitsch approach that especially noticeable when looking towards the bar and sees a pair of huge neon glowing red lips pout against one.
Royal Colombo Golf Club, located in part Borella, tel 011-269 54 31. Exclusive golf club dating back to the 1870s, where over 400 people work. Visitors are welcome, but call first and tell me you will. Right strict dress code. A day on the course costs about $ 100 (2,000 rupees).
Attractions
The tourist office Ceylon Tourist Board on 80 Galle Rd in Kollupitiya can help with most things, Tel 112-437059.
National Museum. Founded in 1877 and spans through many centuries and cultures, from sinhalas kingdoms to British rule. On the first floor there is also a museum of puppets that make up an important part of the Sri Lankan heritage.
Cinnamon Gardens. Once covered with cinnamon plantations, nowadays most of the embassies and sumptuous villas. An upper-class area with elegant tree-lined avenues, numerous galleries and museums. The city's largest green space, park Viharamahadevi available here. So does the National Museum.
The market in Pettah. Most shopping desires fulfilled in this bazaar district located east of the fort, on the other side of the narrow channel. Do not miss the Sea streets goldsmiths and colorful temple in the northeastern part of Pettah. Everything from clothing through spices to colonial antiques are available here.
Dutch Period Museum. The building itself dates from the mid-1600s, this once lived East India Company Governor. Inside there including coins, weapons, furniture from the Dutch colonial heritage in Colombo. Located a little strange surrounded by shops and stalls in Pettahs bazaar area.
Kelanyia Raja Maha Vihara. This temple was a major center of Buddhism. According to a legend shall Buddha preached right here for over 2000 years ago.
Shopping
Laksala, located at 60 York Street in central Fort. A large and well-established business in two floors with traditional Sri Lankan handicrafts and a good chance to get an overview of the island's traditions in wood carvings, batik and hand-woven fabrics.
Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Exchange, 310 Galle Road, Kollupitiya. A state jewelry center with 34 shops. Upstairs there is a test lab as free checking and issuing certificates on the stone's authenticity.
Barefoot, 704 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, tel 011-258 93 05. Here you can find fine hand-woven fabrics, either per meter or as bedspreads, pillows and blankets, clothes, nice cuddly toys and much more. The transaction has an organic sting and is very popular among both tourists and more affluent Sri Lankans.
Odel Unlimited, 5 Alexandra Place, www.odel.lk. Everything from home furnishings and designer clothes to soaps, more exclusive but affordable. Perfect gift shop located in the nice area of Cinnamon Gardens.
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