COLOMBO, SRI LANKA

For a taste of traditional colombo, get lost in the maze of streets and alleys that make up Pettah. Here the kitsch and eclectic rub shoulders with the mundane as shops crammed with gold, silver and colourful textiles compete with antiques, dried fish and spices. stop by at the Dutch Museum after you have bargained your hearts’ content. the building embodies the unique cultural features of a Dutch townhouse and houses artefacts from the time that Colombo was occupied by the Dutch. Pettah is also home to the Jami-Ul-alfar Mosque known for its red and white candy strips.

Tea connoisseurs will enjoy the one hour trip to the Mlesna tea Fortress. Here you can watch professional tasters at work and all the steps that are involved in packaging tea. shop for some of the finest tea and porcelain as you wash down a complimentary cup of tea.

A few hours seem like a flash at the National Museum, that gives a traveller a sense of sri lanka’s rich history and traditions.

Two wonderful churches, the Wolvendaal Chuch—built in 1749 by the Dutch and the st. anthony’s Church, which from the outside looks like a Portuguese Catholic Church but as you step inside and you’ll see devotees offer puja. If you have to choose one temple amongst all the old and new, go for the Gangaramaya temple. the temple complex has been constructed after combing elements of thai, sri Lankan, Chinese and Indian architecture.

Evenings in Colombo are best spent at the Galle Face Beach, watching beautiful sunsets over the ocean as kids fly kites in the distant sky. You can also sample sri Lankan street food like isso wade and ulundu wade, which is essentially a dish cooked with prawns and the latter including savory donuts. after the sun sets, the tranquil view can still be enjoyed at the iconic Galle Face Hotel.

Do not forget to carry an empty bag while holidaying in Colombo. the shops that establish sri Lanka’s place as a garment manufacturer and exporter—odel and Cotton Collection are great for fashion wear.

Handicrafts are best at the state run Laksala and at Barefoot, where all the products are handmade and ecofriendly. In fact, the cafe here gives you the ideal break from the fiery curries with its live jazz on sundays and its idyllic setting in a frangipani garden.

If you are tired with all the shopping then drive down to Pinnawala elephant orphanage, a 24-acre breeding ground for elephants that have been orphaned. You can get close to the elephants and enjoy them as they feed and bathe.

With its myriad sights, sounds, textures and tastes, Colombo offers tourists a breathtaking experience from start till the end.