Colombo City Tour By Scooter (Morning & Evening )

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Gangaramaya Temple

   Stop At: Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple, 61 Sri Jinaratana Road, Colombo 00200 Sri Lanka Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo, Sri Lanka, being a mix of modern architecture and cultural essence. Located on the Beira Lake, it was completed in the late 19th century.

   35 minutes here · Admission not included

2. Temple Of Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil

   Sri Kailasanathar Swami Devashthanam is a kovil hidden inside a bushy surrounding behind the Fort Railway Station. Built during the Portuguese era, it was a family kovil. Apparently, it is the oldest Hindu temple in Colombo. Although it is Sri Kailasanathar, Swami Devashthanam, many still identify it as the kovil at the Captain's Garden. Though I presumed it as an unseen and unknown kovil, we later realized that it is popular even among non-Hindus. The number of Sinhala notices displayed there makes it obvious. The area had been an island with the waters of the Beira Lake surrounding it. Devotees had travelled by boat to reach the temples to worship and make vows. During the Dutch period Captain’s Garden was known as ‘Cilamagoda’ and was an area of great economic activity since the warehouses for cinnamon, pepper, coconut, oil and coir were located in this vicinity.

   15 minutes here · Admission included

3. Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque

   Sri Lanka's Red Mosque, or Jami Ul-Alfar Masjid, is one of the architectural wonders of the world. Situated in the bustling Pettah district, one of the oldest parts of the city of Colombo, its tall minarets are seen from almost every street, towering over the hustle and bustle of the busy neighborhood streets. It is said that the Red Mosque has been a landmark for sailors approaching the port of Colombo ever since it was built in 1908, and upon looking at it you can easily imagine that being true. The mosque's distinct red-and-white pattern, whether swirling or spiraling or alternating, is quite mesmerizing. The domes are built in the shape of pomegranate (unlike the traditional onion shape)

   10 minutes here · Admission included

4. Pettah

   ‘Pettah’, in local parlance, refers to the Pettah Market, an expanse of shops extending from Olcott Mawatha, to Main Street and beyond. The name ‘Pettah’ is derived from the Tamil word ‘pettai’, used to indicate a suburb outside a fort. The Sinhalese word for the area, ‘pita-kotuwa’, meaning ‘outside the fort’, correlates with this. As indicated by its name, Pettah, or Pita-Kotuwa is the area outside the fort the Portuguese built in the 16th century. The fort was besieged by the Dutch in 1656, who demolished part of the fort and rebuilt it to take advantage of the natural strength of the location. After the British took over in 1815, they set about establishing control in Colombo, and in 1870 demolished the walls of the fort. Despite the absence of ramparts, the area continues to be known as Colombo Fort.

   15 minutes here

5. Old Town Hall

   The old building of the first municipality of Colombo (Old Town Hall) is slightly lost among the shopping streets of Pettah. To look at the magnificent architecture of the period of English rule. The building is dated 1865, and the first meeting of the Council of local government held in January 1866 it was also the judiciary. Old Town Hall was active until 1928, until the New Town Hall (Town Hall), which operates to this day in the North-Eastern part of the Park Viharamahadevi, was built. The building is right smack in the middle of all the little shops and street stalls of Pettah. It’s all arches, needle point columns, crumbly yellow walls and creaky staircases. Floor boards are mahogany, windows are a bit of an unusual design.

   15 minutes here · Admission included

6. Independence Memorial Hall

   The foundation stone of the independence hall was laid by the first prime minister of Sri Lanka, D.S .Senanayake on the 4th February, 1949, for the first anniversary of the independence. It was designed by Tom Neville Wynne-Jones, the then architect of the public works department. It is entirely made out of reinforced concrete, even the roof, which were at that time an advanced tech technology and an unusual practice. No wood was used in its construction. The style is inspired from the ancient audience hall in Kandy. Special ceremonies and important national events are held in this building symbolizing the freedom, the hopes and pride of a nation.

   15 minutes here

7. Viharamahadevi Park

   Formerly called Victoria Park, this expanse of vegetation in the heart of the city used to stretch uninterrupted from the town hall to Alfred Crescent .the Ceylon Agricultural Society held shows there in the area to the rear of the museum (now Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha). Today the park is multifunctional. At the western end is the War Memorial (where the November 11th Armistice Day parade happens). Further to the south is the Colombo Public Library building (accessible from outside the park on Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha).Along the southern perimeter (across from the Art Gallery and former Garden Club building), one or two elephants can often be seen either bathing in a small pool or munching branches and leaves. It is from here the elephants that feature in the GanagaramayaPeraheradepart. Elephants are brought to Colombo from all over the island specifically for the perahera (procession) help in February each year.

   Pass by without stopping

8. Cargills Department Store

   In 1844 British businessman William Milne started ‘Milne & Company' , general warehousemen, importers of oilman stores etc, with branches in Kandy and Galle. In 1850 Milne was joined by his friend, David Sime Cargill, and the firm became ‘Milne, Cargill & Co'.In 1860 Milne retired from business in Ceylon and moved back to England to form a company in Glasgow to look after the business of Cargill & Co. in the UK. Cargill became sole partner until he was joined by David MacKenzie and the name was changed to ‘Cargill & Co’. The company had a Colombo office at the intersection of Price and York Streets in Colombo Fort, a Kandy office at Upper Lake Road and an office in Galle Fortat 22 Pedlar Street. The Galle office was closed down in 1863.

   Pass by without stopping

9. Galle Face Green

   Galle face green has always played a special part in the lives of Colombo-dwellers, although it is the British who are credited with making it a place of social interaction, as it remains today. In colonial times, the British embraced Galle face green as a leisure ground especially in the evening when elite ladies were said to promenade the length of the green. Active pursuits of cricket, football, polo and the famed horse races also took place on Galle face green. Horse-racing become popular in the 1840s and the Ceylon turf club was founded here sometime between the and 1860, although official records were not kept until 1866. The formal structure of the walk along the seaside was built during the period of governor ward in 1859. A plaque recognizes his achievement in providing a place where residents of Colombo could gather and socialize.

   Pass by without stopping

10. Colombo Lighthouse

    The current 29-metre-high (95 ft) lighthouse was built in 1952 after the Old Colombo Lighthouse was deactivated when its light became obscured by nearby buildings as part of the Colombo Harbor Expansion project. It was opened by Rt Hon D.S. Senanayake, the first prime minister of Ceylon. Built on a concrete base which is 12 m (39 ft) high, it has four statues of lions at its base. Due to the panoramic view of the Indian Ocean it offered, it became a city landmark. With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War, public access to the site was restricted. This was due to its placement in a high-security zone as it is across the street from the Naval Headquarters and close proximity of the Port of Colombo.

    10 minutes here

11. Colombo Fort Clock Tower

    The tower was constructed as a clock tower in 1856-57 and completed on the 25 February 1857.The tower was designed by Emily Elizabeth Ward, the wife of Governor Sir Henry George Ward (1797 – 1860).The construction was undertaken by the Public Works Department, under the supervision of Mr John Flemming Churchill (Director General of Public Works). The 29-metre-high (95 ft) tower was the tallest structure in Colombo at that time. The original clock was commissioned for £1,200 in 1814 by the then Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg (1759 – 1833) but was kept in a warehouse, due to economic reasons, until 1857 when it was finally installed. The lighthouse was deactivated after its light became obscured by nearby buildings and was decommissioned on 12 July 1952.The modern Galle Buck Lighthouse was erected on Marine Drive as its replacement.

    Pass by without stopping

12. Kayman’s Gate Belltower

    Kayman's Gate was an entrance to the former Colombo Fort located at the foot of the Wolvendaal Hill in the Pettah district of Colombo, Sri Lanka. A historic free-standing bell tower still stands at the site, now at the intersection of Main and 4th Cross Streets.

    10 minutes here

13. Colombo Lotus Tower

    Lotus Tower (Sinhala: නෙළුම් කුළුණ; Tamil: தாமரைக் கோபுரம்), also referred to as Colombo Lotus Tower, is a 350 m (1,150 ft) tall tower, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has been called a symbolic landmark of Sri Lanka.As of 2019, the tower is the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia; the second tallest structure in South Asia after the guy-wire-supported INS Kattabomman in India; the 11th tallest tower in Asia and the 19th tallest tower in the world.It was first proposed to be built in the suburb of Peliyagoda but later the Government of Sri Lanka decided to change the location.The lotus-shaped tower is used for communication, observation and other leisure facilities. Construction is estimated to have cost USD 113 million.

    20 minutes here · Admission not included

14. Wolvendaal Church is located in Pettah, a neighborhood of Colombo. It is one of the most important Dutch Colonial era buildings in Sri Lanka, and is one of the oldest Protestant churches still in use in the country.

    15 minutes here · Admission included

15. Colombo Fort Railway Station

    Fort railway station is a major rail hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways, with many inter-city and commuter trains entering each day. Fort Station is the main rail gateway to central Colombo; it is the terminus of most intercity trains in the country.

    15 minutes here · Admission included

16. Sambodhi Chaithya

    One of the most iconic tourist places in Colombo, Sambodhi Chaithya is a magnificent Buddhist stupa which is built in the shape of a space rocket! The Sri Lanka Ports Authority Maritime Museum, commonly known as the Colombo Maritime Museum, is located at 19 Chaithya Road, Colombo, adjacent to the Colombo Port. The museum is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

    15 minutes here

17. Colombo Port City

    Port City Colombo is a brand-new city development built as an International ‘Service Oriented’ Special Economic Zone with an initial investment of US$1.4bn and an expected US$20bn overall investment when completed. Spanning 269 ha, it is a sea reclamation project next to the existing Colombo Business District (CBD). The Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021 was approved by the Government of Sri Lanka in May 2021, with a modern legal framework and attractive regulations focused on ease of doing business.

    20 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en, fr, ta, es

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 1 travelers per booking

Operated by

Orwell Ceylon Tours By Tuk Tuk

Know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Photos

Traveler reviews

1 verified traveler reviews for Colombo City Tour By Scooter (Morning & Evening ). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.