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Colombo

Colombo

Activities

Colombo

ACT

iV

iT

iES

1 Kotahena

Kotahena, immediately northeast of Pet-
tah, is closely linked to Colombo’s port,
which forms the west boundary. It’s not as
rampant with commerce as Pettah but also
boasts many old buildings and streets. You
could easily visit the sights listed here with
the services of a taxi or three-wheeler.

Hindu Temples HiNDU TEMPlES
(Col 13) During the harvest festival of Thai
Pongal (held in January), devotees flock to
Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil (Map p60;
Srimath Ramanathan Mawatha, Col 13), which is
beautifully built of South Indian granite,
and Sri Muthumariamman Kovil (Kotahena
St, Col 13). The latter’s namesake goddess is
thought to be responsible for many miracles.

St Anthony’s Church CHURCH
(Map p60; http://www.stanthonyshrinekochchikade.org; St
Anthony’s Mawatha, Col 13; h6am-6pm) One of
the city’s most interesting shrines is St An-
thony’s Church. Outside it looks like a typ-
ical Portuguese Catholic church, but inside
the atmosphere is distinctly subcontinental.
There are queues of devotees offering puja
(offerings or prayers) to a dozen ornate stat-
ues; a statue of St Anthony said to be en-
dowed with miraculous qualities is the cen-
tre of devotions from people of many faiths.
Mothers often bring pubescent daughters
here to pray for protection from evil spirits
that might take advantage of the girls’ nas-
cent sexuality. The current church is built on
the sight of an 18th-century chapel that was
a mud hut. Photography is frowned upon.

St Lucia’s Cathedral CHURCH
(St lucia’s St, Col 13; h5.30am-noon & 2-7pm) This
enormous 1887 cathedral lies in the Catholic
heart of the Kotahena district. The biggest

church in Sri Lanka has an exterior inspired

by St Peter’s in Rome. It can hold up to 5000

worshippers in its rather plain interior.

1 North &^

Northwest of Colombo

The busy old commercial road linking

Colombo with Negombo and the north is

often traffic-choked and is lined with an

untidy mishmash of strip malls aimed at Sri

Lanka’s burgeoning middle class. It’s much

the same for the first few kilometres of the

road to Kandy, although lush green land-

scapes soon provide relief.

Kelaniya Raja

Maha Vihara BUDDHiST TEMPlE

(www.kelaniyatemple.org; Biyagama Rd) It’s be-

lieved Buddha visited the site of this temple

on his third visit to Sri Lanka. Suitably grand

and labyrinthine, it has a dramatic past. The

original temple was destroyed by Indian in-

vaders, then restored and destroyed again

by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The

Dutch restored it again in the 18th century

in order to curry favour locally.

The dagoba, which (unusually) is hollow,

is the focus of the Duruthu Perahera in Jan-

uary each year. The complex is some 7km

northeast of Fort, just off the Kandy Rd.

2 Activities

Spa Ceylon S PA

(www.spaceylon.com; massage per hr from

Rs 2800) With branches at Old Dutch Hospi-

tal (p58) and Park St Mews (Map p64; % 230

7676; http://www.spaceylon.com; Park St, Col 2; h10am-

11pm), this chain of luxury spas offers both

Ayurveda treatments and regular spa servic-

es in chic surrounds. It has numerous luxe

therapies.

Bambalapitiya & Wellawatta

ÿ Sleeping û Drinking & Nightlife

1 Casa Colombo.........................................B2 11 Qbaa..........................................................B2

2 Havelock Place Bungalow......................C 2 12 Rhythm & Blues.......................................A1

3 Hotel Sunshine........................................A2

4 Mrs Marie Barbara Settupathy's ..........A2 þ Shopping

5 Ozo Colombo...........................................A3 Dilmah Tea Shop............................(see 14 )

6 Tropic Inn..................................................A 1 13 Gandhara..................................................D4

(^14) Majestic City............................................A1
ú Eating 15 Melache....................................................B2
7 Bombay Sweet Mahal............................B4 Mlesna Tea Centre.........................(see 14 )
8 Curry Leaves...........................................C4 16 Vijitha Yapa Bookshop............................A 1
9 Hansa Coffee...........................................D2
10 Katpaham Restaurant............................A2