Lakshmi Sharath went for an unforgettable spin around Colombo with Mastercard
When you explore Sri Lanka you’ll discover that it is the land of serendipity. Serendip is also the ancient name of Sri Lanka or Ceylon and as I wandered around Colombo, I stumbled upon its idyllic charms. Armed with my camera, my day was packed with mystical moments, colonial stories, deals, discounts, and other incredible experiences. Here is my guide for a whirlwind 24 hours in Colombo.
8.00 am
Start your day with string hoppers
The classic Sri Lankan breakfast served in almost every hotel and home in Sri Lanka are the traditional hoppers and string hoppers made from rice flour. Locally in South India, we know them as Appam and Idiyappam. However, the Sri Lankan variety comes with different flavours including egg and is served with pol sambol, a local version of coconut chutney which also sometimes includes sprinkling of dry Maldive fish. If your hotel does not serve either for breakfast then walk into any of the vegetarian hotels in the city.
9.30 am
A spiritual tryst at the massive Gangaramaya Buddhist temple
It does not matter if you do not have time to visit the Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy, but you must visit the magnificent century-old Gangaramaya Buddhist temple. Massive Buddha statues greet you in this old shrine which is also a museum and a centre of Buddhist learning. The temple designed in a confluence of Sri Lankan, Chinese, Indian, Thai and Burmese styles of architecture and has several carvings and sculptures. The entry ticket of 300 LKR also includes a visit to the enchanting Seema Malaka temple that was designed by the famous architect Geoffrey Bawa on the Beira Lake close by.
11.00 am
Feel the colonial hangover at The Fort
The Portuguese, the Dutch and the British have all laid siege to Colombo and if you want to get a glimpse of the colonial era, then head to the Fort. You can either walk around or I would recommend a short tuk tuk ride to explore the monuments. It was earlier referred to as Kotonthota and was a fortified trading post set up by the Portuguese. It became the centre of Dutch East India Company before the British arrived and destroyed most of it. Even today, the area around the fort is still considered a relic of the Dutch, referred to as Casteel with monuments like 950 tall Clock Tower which was once the lighthouse. The President’s House was once the office of the Dutch and British governors. The quaint Dutch Hospital with its sprawling courtyards is now a lovely shopping haunt with cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. The fort is now the Financial capital of Colombo with the World Trade Centre towering over other buildings.
1.00 pm
Lunch at The Mango Tree
Colombo has a rich and checkered history and the name is believed to be a reference of a harbour with leafy mango gardens or “Kola-amba-thota.”. The Portuguese apparently gave the name Colombo after the Colambo tree. And that is probably why having lunch at The Mango Tree, a lovely Indian restaurant set up amidst its shade is a great idea. While I savoured some spicy biriyani with some cool mango lassi, I was happy that my Mastercard gave me a discount of 10% as well on the total value.
Colombo has several options for lunch and if you love seafood, well, they have Ministry for Crab as well. Another restaurant that is highly recommended for seafood is The Black Pepper in the Fort near the Old Dutch Hospital, where you are also entitled to a 15% discount with your Mastercard on your food bill.
2.30 pm
Soak in the bustling lanes of Pettah
The bustling lanes of Pettah, a reference to the Tamil word, Pettai is a maze of lanes which form the local market. In the Dutch era it was referred to as Oude Stade. Every lane here specialises in one item like jewellery, lace, electronics, food and groceries. Just walk around or take a tuk tuk ride into these colorful lanes. Stop by the Old Town Hall and the colourful Red Mosque or the Jami Ul- Aifar Mosque commissioned by South Indian merchants, the Khan Clock Tower which stands at the entrance, the Colombo Dutch Museum and the Wolvendaal Church.
4.00 pm
Sri Lankan tea and shopping
There are several shopping malls and galleries in Colombo from where you can shop for a variety of local souvenirs, branded clothes, bags and accessories. For some exclusive porcelain ware, a visit to the stunningly beautiful Dankotuwa should be on your itinerary. Every porcelain item - be it a set of bowls or plates or an elegant tea set is at a discount of 12.5% from Mastercard. Another iconic shop of Colombo is the colourful Barefoot with its local arts and crafts, gifts and colourful textiles and you just cannot stop yourself from indulging. After shopping, refresh yourself with a cup of Sri Lankan tea and some delicious cakes at the quaint and lively garden cafe behind the store.
5.30 pm
Sunset at Galle Face Green with cocktails at Shangri La
If you are a sunset person like me, then head to Galle Face Green, a beautiful promenade along the oceanfront where you can see the rosy hues of sunset. The Galle Face Green stretches for over 500 metres along the coast and was once a golf course and was used for horse racing and other sports. The Galle Face Hotel stands here with its old world charm. However, another stunning hotel is the neighbouring Shangri La which takes you into a different world. We were at the Horizon Lounge on the 32nd floor as we saw the skyline of Colombo soaked in shades of crimson while we sipped the iconic cocktail, The Lost Horizon. These are some incredible experiences brought to you by Mastercard at Shangri La, and you can get 15% discount on your room rates if you are planning to stay there. I am definitely coming back to redeem that offer.
7.30 pm
Cultural evening at Dutch Hospital
Dance and drama and colourful pageants entertain you at Dutch Hospital brought to you by Fairway Colombo. You can watch the performance and sip some cocktails as you enjoy the Sri Lankan folk dances. These performances change every day and weekends are even more colourful. Spend an hour here before soaking in the night life at Colombo.
9.00 pm
Night life at Colombo
Casinos, lounge bars, night clubs and pubs - you are absolutely spoilt for choice, especially if you are here like me on a weekend. I would recommend a night at the Berlin’s Sky Lounge where you can sit on the terrace and gaze upon the entire skyline of Colombo as it glistens in the night. Sip a cocktail or have some beer and relax in the open, feeling the breeze on your face, listening to pulsating music and watching the stars. You can also head down to 11 Cielo for some delicious Italian food or have your dinner sent up as you soak in the night life. And believe me, it is raining discounts here, as I got a 20% overall discount from both the restaurant and lounge bar as I partied the night away. If you are in a mood to try your luck before leaving Colombo, then you must end your day at Bally’s Casino, where your Mastercard will grant you vouchers worth 30 USD. And that would be the best way to call it a night!
While the day was packed with eclectic experiences, I did wish I had more time in Colombo to take in the laid back ambience and relaxed vibe. There are many more places to explore - from Independence Square to Mount Lavina. While there are local cabs, metered taxis, tuk tuks in the city, I would recommend that you hire a comfortable car from Casons for the entire duration of your stay. The friendly drivers also couple up as your local guide and regales you with stories. You can book them online as well and as a Mastercard customer, I was entitled to another 10% discount. Personally, for me, this had been one of the priceless trips, which was also not very expensive as I got a consolidated value of over 50% in discounts across all experiences in just a day.
For more offers visit: http://bit.ly/travelwithmastercard
Author - Lakshmi Sharath Travel Blogger, India. www.lakshmisharath.com
