The best street foods in Colombo - Sri Lanka

Koththu Roti at Galle Face Green

Galle Face Green is a fantastic place just to dig into a variety of typical Sri Lankan street food.  At the open-air restaurants on the Green, you can try koththus and rotis with spicy curry. Kottus are rotis cut up and tossed with vegetables and a meat of your choice. It’s quite a popular meal and comes with a gravy. 

Samosa and Isso Vadai

Among the snacks served, you have to try samosas and isso vadai, among an assortment of other fried things. The triangular savoury filling wrapped pastry is a crunchy addictive delight. The isso (prawn/shrimp) vadai are spicy lentil cakes deep fried with either the prawn inside or pressed on top. Its a great snack crispy on the outside and soft inside - when fried just right.  Kadala is chick peas, boiled or sautéed with onions, green chillies and curry leaves - it’s a soft snack that goes a long way.

Snorkelling in the Ocean; Sri Lanka’s Hidden Adventure

East or West, Sri Lanka is a dream location for snorkelling. Throughout the year, you can take your pick from: Pasikudah, or Trincomalee on the east coast, or, Mirissa, Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa on the southern coast.

Snorkelling in Pasikudah

Pasikudah gives you one of the longest stretches of shallow reef coastlines - in the world. You can walk a few kilometres into the ocean. The water is not too deep and weak currents prevail for most of the time.

Pasikudah Sea Life & Reef

It is beautiful to snorkel in Pasikudah. You will enjoy seeing some amazing marine life: from Bengali snappers, Yellow striped Goatfish, Trevally, Coral Rock cods and Sting rays - just to name a few. These waters are home to over 50 species of coral species which primarily belong to the families of Acroporidae, Faviidae and others. Here in the coral habitat, you will see darting Damselfish, Butterflyfish and Cardinal fish can be seen.

Getting to Pasikudah

Batticaloa is the closest town to Pasikudah, which is just 30 kms away. If you are travelling by vehicle from Colombo to Batticaloa, it is about a 7 to 8 hour journey by vehicle. Train service is available but not recommended as these are old trains and the journey long and tedious. There are night buses that ply from Colombo to Batticaloa but they begin around 9/10pm and reach their destination by 3/4am the followed day. My advice is to travel in a vehicle - which your hotel could help you out with or the local taxi services, which offer long distance packages.

Pigeon Island, A Unique Snorkelling Spot

Located on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, what is great about Pigeon Island is its shallow reef and wondrous marine landscape - which makes for a great snorkelling experience. The Pigeon Island Marine Sanctuary consists of 2 islands and you will be greeted by the sight of the Blue Rock Pigeons nesting here. The Large Pigeon Island has a 200 metre long coral reef which is about 100 metres wide. There are hundreds of exquisite coral here, unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka although they have suffered a fair degree of damage. The coral habitat in the area of the Small Pigeon Island makes it an attractive feeding and breeding ground for hundreds of reef fish, such as: Wrasse, Ragged Fin, Parrotfish and the Black Tip Reef Shark among many others. There are sea turtles too.

When To Go

The busiest time here is between May and September, as this is the time to be here. You may want to book your stay in advance as the local hotels get booked pretty fast during the season. Many hotels will help you to organise your snorkelling trip to Pigeon Island if requested.

Getting to Pigeon Island

As Pigeon Island is close to Trincomalee, you will have to get here initially. The distance from Colombo to Trincomalee and a road trip can be covered in about 6/7 hours (depending on your departure time). The Island with its silky white beaches, is just about a kilometre from Nilaveli Beach.

Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa’s slice of the Indian Ocean is a dream to snorkel in, with the coral reef creating a barrier; the naturally formed enclosure breaks the current and makes it a great snorkelling experience.

Snorkelling in Hikkaduwa & the Coral Reef

The shallow, clear turquoise-blue waters offer great visibility to snorkel. You may well see a great variety of fish, like: angel fish, puffer fish, moray eels, sea cucumber amidst turtles and other fish. You can wade into the waters some distance before you will need to swim.
Keep in mind that the coral reef is in a damaged state due to various factors (coral mining, poor fishing practices, people breaking away coral) and was further impacted by the tsunami, over a decade back. Also, do watch out for sea pencils and jellyfish to avoid getting hurt while snorkelling. The beach tends to get a bit crowded, with food shacks in the vicinity as well.
Beach people are bound to ask if you would like to feed the turtles which are commonly seen here - but they will expect a heavy fee in return - so use your discretion.

Getting to Hikkaduwa

The coastal town of Hikkaduwa is just a two hour drive from Colombo on the southern expressway. The train from Colombo Fort Station to Hikkaduwa, takes about the same time to get there. It’s a lovely, interesting ride alongside the Indian Ocean.

Snorkelling in Unawatuna
Unawatuna possesses an idyllic stretch of beach and sea. Only a short distance from Galle, you can reach Unawatuna in just about 2.5 hours via the southern expressway (from Colombo). If you are in Galle, you can easily get to Unawatuna by tuk tuk or the local bus service.

Jungle Beach & Rock Island

Snorkelling can be done off the beach of Unawatuna, but there are two locations which will give you greater experiences. Jungle Beach is a picturesque and secluded oceanfront, and the headland facing Galle is a nice place to snorkel. You will find live coral and some varieties of fish. Mind you, Jungle Beach can get pretty crowded and people wading in the shallow waters can disturb the clarity of the waters. Another good spot to snorkel would be Rock Island, which is about a kilometre offshore where interesting kinds of sea life can be seen.
There are plenty of shacks renting out snorkels and masks but make sure you check your equipment before you rent - as there are several dud ones in the market. Also, do carry enough water when you go to Jungle Beach, as there are no places on the beachfront to buy water.

Mirissa

The coastal town of Mirissa sits almost on the southern tip of Sri Lanka, just beyond Galle. If you plan to go direct from the airport, it is about a 3.5 hour journey via the southern expressway.
Consisting of crescent-shaped beaches, the shoreline of Mirissa gently eases into the ocean - so there is no dangerous shelving. This also means you can walk out into the water for about 20 to 25 metres before the water gets to about waist deep and chances are you will spot fish swimming by your feet.

Mirissa - A Snorkelling Haven

Mirissa is great for snorkelling. Once you reach Mirissa Beach, look to your left and you will see the area around Parrot Rock (locally called Giragala). This part of the bay is particularly popular for snorkelling. If you snorkel all the way to the left end of the bay, you will sight plenty of coral and fish, such as: Spanish mackerel, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Barracuda and Giant Trevally.
Most visitors find Mirissa less frequented and more relaxing a location to spend time snorkelling.

When To Go

If you plan to go to Mirissa, do so during April to November, when generally fine weather prevails and the ocean is calm - giving you great visibility in the waters. During other months, you could experience choppy waters and it can get quite rough to enjoy snorkelling. Plus Mirissa tends to get crowded too with the locals enjoying the vacations.

Other Things to do in Mirissa
Mirissa is noted as a hotspot for surfing in Sri Lanka, on the Mirissa beach. But the town has become famous for Whale Watching in Sri Lanka, with boats operating from the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour. Journeys begin as early as 6a.m. to catch sight of dolphins and whales and these boat rides could take up to half a day.

Places to visit in Colombo

Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, located in the Western Province. This city is full of hustle and bustle and is never short of a place to visit and explore even to the most seasoned traveler. There are many things to do in Colombo, including organized Colombo City Tours, bespoke city tours or just a simple list of locations to visit based on your liking or interest.

Full of rich colonial history, Colombo now stands as a testimony of a golden era where different cultures mixed to make it the eclectic city it is today. Here are a list of places to visit and things to do in Colombo:

Town Hall Colombo

Built in front of the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo 07, he Town Hall of Colombo is the headquarters of the Colombo Municipal Council and the office of the Mayor of Colombo. The building was erected in 1921 after renowned Scottish town planner Professor Patrick Geddes recommended that the council should construct a large central municipal building to house the council, public reception hall, mayor’s office and a public library. The beautiful style of architecture and grandeur of the building is an enticing invitation for a location in an architecture tour of Sri Lanka.

Old Parliament Building

Situated in Colombo Fort, the Old Parliament of Sri Lanka is a must see location as it was built in the Neo-Baroque style of architecture to house the Legislative Council of Ceylon. The building was opened by then Governor Sir Herbert Stanley on the 29th of January, 1930 and was used to house the State Council of Ceylon when it was established a year later.

Seema Malakaya Temple

The assembly hall for monks at the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple; one of the most famous temples and is famous for tourist attraction due to its modern architecture, religious importance and cultural significance was built to represent the perfect harmony of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles of architecture. Visiting this temple, is definite thing to do when in Colombo!

Galle Face Hotel

Built in 1864 by four British entrepreneurs, Galle Face Hotel is a landmark destination for its rich colonial history and is among the few remaining colonial hotels in operation today in Asia and is one of the best heritage hotels in the world. Despite many renovations along the years, the architectural details of the hotel has been preserved to reflect the beauty and grandeur of the bygone era whilst offering modern comforts for today’s traveler. In 2012, it became the first hotel in the country to be featured on a postage stamp.

Independence Square

Located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s ritziest neighborhood Cinnamon Gardens, the Independence Square boasts of lavish symbols of the island’s rich colonial history and political freedom in its architecture. The most prominent feature of the moment is the assembly hall which was inspired by the ‘Magul Maduwa’ of the royal court of the Kandyan Kingdom. Today the Independence Square is a popular destination for joggers, university students and families looking for an urban solace away from the city traffic and a definite addition to any architecture tour in Colombo.

Race Course

The magnificent colonial structure of the racecourse building comes complete with a grandstand. Today the 120 year of structure is used for a different sport altogether along with some new additions such as a shopping mall and restaurant area to the building however keeping its original British classic style of architecture.

The Dutch Hospital

The Old Colombo Dutch Hospital, also known as Dutch Hospital is one of the oldest buildings in the Colombo Fort area dating back to the Dutch colonial era in Sri Lanka. This heritage building was renovated and is now converted into a restaurant strip and premier local souvenir boutiques.

Colombo Lighthouse

Operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the 12 meter high Lighthouse built in 1952 is one of the lesser known but equally fascinating attractions in Colombo. Tourists and locals flock to the Lighthouse to sit, relax and enjoy the magnificent view of the Indian

Ocean – making this a sure spot for a Colombo city tour.

Grand Oriental Hotel

Dating back to 1837, the hotel was first constructed as a British military barrack, later into a hostel for soldiers and subsequently in 1875 it was converted into the well-equipped and luxurious Grand Oriental Hotel by architect R. Smith. This was the first European owned hotel with the first hotel in Ceylon to have an electrically operated lift.

Through time the Hotel gained a reputation with its plush offerings at a central location on the Indian sea route, and became the choice of many illustrious patrons including Dr Jose Mercado Rizal Y Alonzo; a Philippian national hero and famous Russian author Anton Chekov; where he commenced writing his novel “Gusev.” And in early 1950s, the hotel was chosen as the caterer during the stay of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Kent. Today the hotel is a popular destination for a Colombo city tour as well as an architecture tour.

The Cargills Building

The beautiful and ornate Cargills Building in Colombo Fort began construction in 1902 and was completed in 1906 in the Renaissance style architecture. In the past, the building served as Colombo’s premier department store from clothing to groceries. Today, the building still serves as a department store and as well as the city’s most familiar landmarks and a popular destination for architecture tours in Colombo.

The Lotus Pond Theater

The final leg of the Colombo City and Colombo Architecture Tour concludes at Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Theater, a fully equipped state of the art performance center for large scale theatrical productions made using modern architecture techniques. The theater consists of a main auditorium and an open air theater and is situated in the heart of Colombo and facilitates both local and foreign producers.

Odel promenade

The Odel shopping promenade is your one-stop shopping destination to purchase Sri Lankan souvenirs to take back home. The department store has a variety of international luxury brands for clothes, bags and accessories and makeup. Additionally, the store also has a selection of local teas, Sri Lankan handmade souvenirs and even a Spa Ceylon luxury Ayurveda shop to take back a little piece of Sri Lankan relaxation.

To get the real Colombo experience, get in touch with our agents on our hotline. We are more than happy to arrange a Colombo city tour or custom create a tour for based on the length of your stay and budget.