Hotel Marino Beach Colombo City Tour.

The Hotel started as a Dutch villa called Galle Face House that had been a meeting place for gentlemen of the colonial era. That was until four British entrepreneurs decided to use it to start a business, unaware that, by the late 19th century, it would be known as the best hotel East of Suez.

Old Colombo Lighthouse or Colombo Fort Clock Tower is a clock tower and was a lighthouse in Colombo. The lighthouse is no longer operational, but the tower remains and functions as a clock tower.

The Khan Clock Tower was built in Colombo, Sri Lanka by the Khan Family of Bombay. The Clock Tower is a popular landmark and marks the entrance to Pettah Market. The Clock Tower was built in the early 20th century by the family of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan.

St. Anthony's Shrine is a Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is located at Kochchikade, Kotahena, Colombo 13, and is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. The church is designated a national shrine and minor basilica. A tiny piece of St. Anthony's tongue is preserved in a special reliquary, which is housed in a glass case.

The Jami-ul-Alfar Mosque is such a striking example of Colombo’s rich cultural and architectural heritage! It’s fascinating how it was built to serve the local Muslim community over a century ago and has become not just a religious site but a beloved landmark. The red and white candy cane stripes and the pomegranate-shaped domes set it apart from other mosques. I wonder how many people, especially tourists, are drawn to it because of its unique look and history.  

Pettah Market sounds like a vibrant and lively place to explore! It’s great that there’s such a wide variety of items available, from fresh produce to electronics. It must be an interesting experience to navigate through the chaos and discover hidden gems at low prices. The gold market on Sea Street must be fascinating too,

Fort Railway Station is a major rail hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways, with many inter-city and commuter trains entering each day. Fort Station is the main rail gateway to central Colombo; it is the terminus of most intercity trains in the country.

The Floating Markets are located on Bastian Mawatha in Pettah, a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and consist of 92 trade stalls, with a number of the stalls established on boats on Beira Lake. The floating market serves as a tourist attraction selling local produce and local handicrafts.

The Lotus Tower, also known as the Colombo Lotus Tower, stands at a height of 351.5 meters in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It has become a symbolic landmark for the country.

As the oldest and largest Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Kaleshwaram Kovil stands as a testament to architectural grandeur and religious devotion. Adorned with intricate sculptures and carvings of Hindu deities, the temple's majestic blue roof rises 80 feet above the ground, drawing awe and reverence from all who visit.

Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo. It was founded in the late 19th century by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera.

After the Venerable Sri Sumangala, his chief pupil Devundera Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera took on the administration of the temple. It was he who laid the foundation to convert the little temple to an institute of international reckoning.

Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka, located in the western province. Diverse and vibrant, it is also the country's administrative and economic center.

Colombo is Sri Lanka's largest city, home to around a million people is also one of the busiest ports in the south, and Colombo was the capital for two hundred Itntil the capital was shifted to nearby Sri Jayawaritut remains the hub and heart of the city.it 

The city offers historical monuments, colonial architecture, beaches, fine dining, vibrant nightlife, and lots of shopping. Its architecture, influenced by Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonization, is very visible in the buildings surrounding it.

The Viharamahadevi Park (formerly Victoria Park) is a public park located in Colombo, next to the National Museum in Sri Lanka. It is the oldest and largest park in the Port of Colombo. Situated in front of the colonial-era Town Hall building, the park is named after Queen Viharamahadevi, the mother of King Dutugamunu. The park was built on land donated to the Colombo city by Charles Henry de Soysa during the British rule of Sri Lanka and used to be named "Victoria Park" after Queen Victoria. During World War II it was occupied by the British Army with the Australian 17th Brigade based at Victoria Park. After the war, the park was restored and opened to the public in 1951.

The Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) – Mahinda Rajapakse Theatre is a fully equipped performance center, meant for large-scale theatrical productions. The theatre consists of two venues for performance, which include the main auditorium and an open-air amphitheater.

Independence Memorial Hall is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule with the restoration of full governing responsibility to a Ceylonese-elected legislature on 4 February 1948.

The replica Of Aukana Buddha Statue is situated in Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, just opposite the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). This Buddha statue was built in 1970 and is a replica of the Aukana Buddha Statue found in Anuradhapura which is believed to date back to the 5th century. It depicts Lord Buddha in a standing position.

Established in memory of the Late Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. S W R D Bandaranaike, The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) was built in honor of the foreign policy of Mr. Bandaranaike. The People’s Republic of China donated LKR 35 million towards the construction of BMICH as a gift to the people of Sri Lanka.

If you’re in Colombo and love art, there’s a special place you should visit—Green Path! This unique open-air art market is a vibrant spot where local artists gather to showcase their incredible work. Located right in the heart of Colombo, near Viharamahadevi Park, Green Path is a must-see destination for anyone interested in creativity and culture.

Throughout history, three renowned origins have stood out for blue sapphire stones: Burma, Kashmir, and Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon until 1972. Among these, Sri Lanka, or Ceylon, has maintained its status as the most prolific source of sapphires.

Today, Kashmir sapphires are nearly extinct, with no significant discoveries of new stones in the past century. Burma continues to yield high-quality sapphires, although its primary emphasis is now on ruby mining.

Sri Lanka stands out in the world of precious gemstones, with sapphires constituting 85% of the 130 varieties mined there. Among these, none rival the global appeal of Ceylon Blue Sapphires, renowned for their hue reminiscent of cornflowers.

Primarily sourced from alluvial deposits within Sri Lanka’s highland complex, Ceylon Blue Sapphires, particularly those from the Elahera region, are esteemed for their superior quality. Recent discoveries in the Kataragama klippe, Thammannawa, Kataragama area have added to this reputation.

Across centuries, Sri Lanka’s fame in the gemstone world has been propelled by remarkable finds, making it a sought-after destination for large blue sapphires and blue star sapphires exceeding 100 carats.

Ceylon Blue Sapphires, noted for their lighter and brighter blue tones, have been traded globally since the 2nd Century A.D., prized for their clarity and saturation. Traditionally, the most prized blue sapphires exhibit a velvety blue to violetish hue, ranging from medium to medium-dark tones, characteristics still highly coveted in today’s market.

Noteworthy specimens originating from Sri Lanka, such as the Blue Giant of the Orient, Logan Sapphire, and the Star of Adam, underscore the country’s prominence in the realm of blue sapphires. These gems are celebrated worldwide for their clarity, transparency, and saturation.

Ceylon tea is a popular type of black tea that is also known as Sri Lankan tea. Served as an iced tea or warm, it is a favorite beverage for many tea drinkers. While Ceylon is known for its bold flavor, it can vary significantly in taste, depending on the type of tea and where it's grown in the country.