Colombo National Museum
Sri Lanka's oldest and largest museum, opened in 1877, holding the throne and crown of the last Kandyan king.
Duration
2-3 hours
Entry Fee
$15 USD
Difficulty
easy
Budget
moderate
About Colombo National Museum
Founded in 1877 by Governor Sir William Henry Gregory, the Colombo National Museum is the country's largest museum and houses over 100,000 artefacts across two floors. The centrepiece collection includes the throne and crown jewels of the final Kandyan monarch, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, surrendered to the British in 1815. Natural history galleries cover geological specimens, a blue whale skeleton, and pre-historic Sri Lankan fauna. The library wing holds rare ola leaf manuscripts. Visit on a weekday morning to avoid school groups, and allow at least two hours to cover the main galleries.
Highlights
- Throne and regalia of the last Kandyan king (1815)
- 100,000+ artefacts across natural history, archaeology, and ethnology
- Blue whale skeleton in the natural history wing
- Rare ola leaf manuscript collection
- Colonial neoclassical building dating to 1877
Practical Tips
Arrive before 10am on weekdays to avoid school excursion crowds.
Photography inside is restricted; check at the entrance which galleries allow cameras.
The museum cafe in the courtyard is a good spot for a short break between floors.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Best time of day: Year-round; November to March is drier and more comfortable
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Physical difficulty
- easy
- Setting
- indoor
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- Yes
- Budget level
- moderate
- Photography
- ★★★☆☆
Plan Your Visit
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