The buzzing commercial hub of Sri Lanka, Colombo, was once known as the ‘Garden City of the East’. The distinctive architecture, the roadways lined with large, shady trees and the bustling street markets of Pettah all show glimpses of the colonial era. Today, mixed with the history you will see: modern galleries and design houses, trendy eateries, boutiques and shopping precincts; the cosmopolitan side of the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Resorts are also making a comeback following the end of the thirty year civil war in 2009. The allure of the Indian Ocean continues to be Sri Lanka’s star attraction with surfers and divers travelling across the world to enjoy these tropical seas.
The National Museum is located in the heart of Colombo and is the largest in the country. It has been functioning as the country’s most prestigious museum since 1877. The complex was founded by Sir William Henry Gregory; the British governor of Sri Lanka, which was known as Ceylon at the time. The building which houses the museum is an imposing colonial type mansion that shows a distinct influence of Italian architecture. Due to its central location, it is easily accessible from most hotels in the city of which The Steuart by Citrus which belongs to the Citrus Leisure group is worth considering.
The museum’s humble beginnings consisted of just eight hundred exhibits but today there are over one hundred thousand pieces on display. Peruse the ancient artefacts that have been sourced from the country’s many historic kingdoms, mighty rulers and other significant historic places and figures. A science programme for school age children, a library for rare historical books and a mobile museum facility are also run by the Colombo National Museum while other museum branches can be found in Jaffna, Kandy, Ratnapura and six other locations around the country.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
