Sri Lanka Itinerary: 6 Days - Colombo and Bentota Wellness Retreat

Beira Lake

A 65-acre lake in central Colombo used by the Dutch as a defensive moat in the 17th century, now a public park and rowing venue.

Pettah Market

Colombo's oldest and busiest bazaar district, where each street specialises in a single trade, from textiles to electronics to spices.

Seema Malaka Temple

A Buddhist meditation pavilion on three floating platforms on Beira Lake, designed by Geoffrey Bawa and completed in 1978.

Gangaramaya Temple

Colombo's most visited Buddhist temple, built in the 1880s, housing a museum of rare artefacts gifted by donors from across Asia.

Colombo National Museum

Sri Lanka's oldest and largest museum, opened in 1877, holding the throne and crown of the last Kandyan king.

Independence Memorial Hall

Octagonal open-air memorial in Colombo 7, built in 1953 to mark Ceylon's independence from British rule on 4 February 1948.

Galle Face Green

A 500-metre oceanfront promenade in central Colombo, the largest open urban space in the city and a popular spot for kite flying and street food.

Old Parliament Building & President's House

Colombo Fort's twin colonial landmarks: the 1930 Parliament building (now Presidential Secretariat) and the 18th-century President's House.

Dutch Hospital Shopping Precinct

A 400-year-old Dutch colonial hospital in Colombo Fort, restored into a precinct of upscale restaurants, cafes, and boutiques.

Colombo Fort Area & Lighthouse

The historic colonial waterfront district of Colombo, anchored by the old red-and-white striped lighthouse built by the British in 1952.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

One of the most sacred Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, 11km north of Colombo, believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself in 500 BCE.

Mount Lavinia Beach

A 1km stretch of sandy beach 12km south of Colombo Fort, best known for its fresh seafood restaurants and direct west-facing sunset views.