Colombo City Tour
The best first afternoon in Colombo. Galle Face, the old Fort, Pettah's markets and a temple or two, with the stories that go with them.
Duration: 2 to 4 hours
From LKR 8,000 (about US$25)
Place in Colombo
Gangaramaya Temple
Gangaramaya is one of Colombo’s best-known Buddhist temples, on Sri Jinarathana Road beside Beira Lake. It is a temple complex with a museum, a library and a large collection of statues and objects, so allow more time than you think you need.
- Best time
- Early in the day, before the heat and the tour groups
- Allow
- About 1 hour, plus time at the Seema Malaka
- Cost
- Check the current entry fee before you go
- Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered. Shoes and hats off
What to see and do
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The temple complex
The grounds hold a vihara, a cetiya (pagoda), a Bodhi tree, a relic chamber, a museum, a library and halls, and the temple is known for the sheer number of objects and statues collected there.
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Seema Malaka
The monks’ assembly hall sits on Beira Lake and was designed by the architect Geoffrey Bawa. It is a short walk from the main temple and is worth a stop for the views across the water.
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Navam Perahera
The temple hosts an annual procession, the Navam Perahera. If your dates overlap, expect the area to be much busier.
A little history
The temple was completed in the late 19th century. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera and Devundera Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera are named as its founders, and the shipping merchant Don Bastian de Silva Jayasuriya Goonewardane bought and prepared the land.
It was first known as the Padawthota Gangaramaya Viharaya.
Visiting tips
- Cover your shoulders and knees. A scarf or sarong can help, and some temples lend a cloth at the entrance.
- You will be asked to remove your shoes and hat. Slip-on sandals make this easy.
- Be quiet near prayer areas, and ask before photographing people.
See it by tuk tuk
Gangaramaya and Beira Lake are part of the City Tour, usually as the quiet stop after Pettah.
Near Gangaramaya Temple
Pettah
Pettah is Colombo’s market district: crowded lanes, wholesale shops, the red-and-white Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque and some of the best snacks in the city. What to know before you go.
Lotus Tower
The Lotus Tower is Colombo’s lotus-bud shaped landmark beside Beira Lake. What it is, how tall it stands, and the best way to see it lit up after dark.
Guides that cover this place
Sources
Facts on this page come from the pages below, read on the dates shown. Opening times and fees change, so check before you go.
- Gangaramaya Temple, Wikipedia, read 12 October 2026
- What do I need to know about the Cultural Triangle? (temple etiquette), andBeyond, read 12 October 2026