Let’s start off at the National Museum located on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7. This large white building is a sight to behold and a feat of architecture worth exploring for itself. Inside, you’ll see rare remnants from ancient kingdoms all the way through to Colonial occupation and even some recent history. For those interested in fauna and flora from the bygone days, you’ll find that the Museum of Natural History is conveniently housed on the same leafy green premises.

Our second stop would be the National Postal Museum on W A D Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo 10. It’s a special treat for Philately enthusiasts as this museum showcases many rare stamps and postal industry artefacts.While you are in Colombo 10 neighbourhood, you could stop at Hotel Buhari for their legendary biryani and Masala Chicken.

A short drive from here will bring you to the Dutch Period Museum located on Prince Street in Pettah, right at the heart of Colombo. Don’t let the bustle daunt you and instead focus on the colorful surroundings, sights and sounds of this busy part of the city. At this Governor’s residence converted into a museum you’ll find a comprehensive history of the Dutch occupation of Sri Lanka and a peek into the culture that has stayed alive among local communities. While you are here in Pettah, don’t forget to take a trek along the bazaar on Main Street and grab some piping hot samosas at any of the little eateries along the way.

Also, on the Second Cross Street in Pettah, you’ll see a unique and strikingly beautiful Mosque known to the locals as the Red Mosque, but in fact is red and white stripes like a candy cane. Jami Ul-Afar, was built in the early 1900s and remains one of the oldest and most revered mosques in the country.

From here we head to the Old Parliament Building in the Colombo Fort area, now housing the Presidential Secretariat. This beautiful old building is a sight to behold with its Baroque-style architecture and well-manicured lawns.

Finally, let’s circle back to Colombo 7, where the monument of National Independence stands in all its glory with it’s majestic stone lion guards. Independence Square, as it’s known to the locals, signifies Sri Lankas’ freedom from British Colonial rule in 1948 and is a peaceful space surrounded by green lawns, shady trees and walking/cycling tracks. A museum in the basement of the main structure provides information on the efforts of freedom fighters to gain independence.

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Being the fourth largest tea manufacturer in the world, ‘tea’ has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. So, if you’re keen on exploring tea culture, here are some Ceylon tea experiences you should not miss.

Types of tea

The central highlands of Sri Lanka have the perfect environment for growing the best-quality tea. Depending on the different amounts of processing that the leaf undergoes, the differing types of tea are produced.There are many kinds of tea that you can try out in Sri Lanka. The main types of tea are Black, Green and White. Each of these teas have their unique fragrance and taste.

Black Tea

Black tea is the most popular form of Ceylon tea. Black tea is made with hand-plucked tea leaves by expert female tea pluckers. Black tea undertakes an amount of processing which gives its unique black leaves. The tea has a reddish or orangish hue when prepared. A cup of black tea with milk and sugar is a staple for any occasion. It has a deep and satisfying aroma.

Green Tea

Green tea is another well-known category of Ceylon tea. Green tea undergoes less processing compared to black tea even though it comes from the same kind of plant. When processing Green tea, the leaves are unfermented to maintain their antioxidant characteristics. Green tea is famous the world over for its health benefits that include its weight loss properties as well as improved brain function, diabetes prevention, and heart health. When the tea is prepared it takes on a light yellow to greenish touch. The taste of green tea is a mix of sweet bitterness.

White Tea

White tea is a unique type of Ceylon tea. The harvesting process is what makes it special. White tea is made only with tea buds. These buds are not fermented at all and are hand-rolled individually. White tea is the only type of tea that is handmade so that the prices are quite expensive. The colour of the White tea is subtle and light. It has less caffeine and more antioxidants than Green or Black tea. This makes White tea one of the healthiest beverages. This tea is also a favourite of tea connoisseurs the world over White tea is also called “Silver Tips” and “Golden Tips”.

Low-grown Tea

Low-grown tea produced relatively near the coast in the ‘Sabaragamuwa’ and ‘Southern’ regions of Sri Lanka. The tea has grown in an area nourished by high humidity and monsoon season and surrounded by diverse wildlife. The aroma however, is prominently different from the other variations. Low-grown green tea has its own flavour of sweet caramel, and is not quite as strong as that of high and medium grown.

Tea Estates to Visit

Visiting a tea factory in Sri Lanka enables you to see, smell, taste and touch the tea at every stage of the production process, and get an understanding of different types of teas. Most tours will end in a tasting session of the different varieties grown at the plantation. Nuwara Eliya, one of the gorgeous cities in the Hill Country, is the heart of the Sri Lankan tea industry. Read our article on popular destinations Nuwara Eliya. The Blue Field Tea Factory at Ramboda offers comprehensive tours detailing the entire tea manufacturing process, and a variety of different teas are available to purchase. Heading South towards Nuwara Eliya, At the Damro Labookellie Tea Centre, you can tour, by walking through the plantations, or just stop for a refreshing cup of tea. Additionally, you can have the chance to buy freshly plucked leaves from the estate.Further south, Dambatenne Tea Factory outside the town of Haputale offers enjoyable tours explaining the production process and is just a short way off to Lipton’s Seat where you can enjoy panoramic views of the historic plantations.

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The journey to Galle can be made via the Southern Highway or you could opt for the more scenic route via Galle Road, a coastal road stretching from Colombo to Galle, flanked by the Indian ocean on one side. You could take public transport in the form of a bus or train or choose to rent a vehicle, which is recommended if you are on limited time. Shared here are some activities that you could cover in a day in Galle.

Explore the Galle Fort

Naturally, this should be the first thing on your list, walking or cycling around are both good options. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galle Fort was built by the Portugese in the 16th century and later strengthened during the Dutch invasion of Sri Lanka. The Fort has since been linked to many historic events including the Siege of Galle in 1640. Currently, it preserves the historical beauty, but has also evolved into being the epi-center of culture in Galle. Inside this maze of quaint cobblestone paths are a countless number of cafes, restaurants, galleries and jewellery shops. You could easily spend an entire day here hopping from gallery to museum to cafe and also witness a stunning sunset from the edge of the ramparts.

Visit Rumassala Hill / Jungle Beach

Roughly 8 kilometers south of the center of Galle is the bay of Unawatuna with the Rumassala hill rising above the beach, covered in lush foliage. At the bottom of this hill you will find Jungle Beach, named after the thick groves of greenery nearby and at the peak of this hill is a beautiful white Peace Pagoda built by a travelling Japanese monk. Dip into the cool waters of the Indian Ocean for a refreshing swim or enjoy the view of multi-colored fishing boats from the golden beach. All types of restaurants and bars dot the entire length of the beach around here. Try some incomparably fresh seafood and sip a cold one as you enjoy the balmy unawatuna breeze.

Sea Turtle Hatchery, Mahamodara

The vibrant blue-green waters surrounding the island of Sri Lanka is home to all kinds of marine life including all five species of sea turtles. These turtles visit the sandy shores to lay their eggs, of which unfortunately most don’t survive unless actively protected. Hatcheries such as the one found in Mahamodara function with the objective of conserving the eggs laid by collecting and incubating and finally releasing the hatchlings to the ocean. For locals and tourists who wish to experience the process, the hatchery provides an opportunity to get closer to these rare species. However, as you will be briefed by the officials, extreme care should be taken when engaging with baby turtles while you are there.

Any combination of the above activities and many many more await you in the city of beautiful Galle. With a little bit of planning, you will no doubt make some of your best memories here.

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The National Museum

The Sri Lanka National Museum situated in a fine Colonial building in Colombo is the largest and oldest of museums in Sri Lanka . Displayed in this museum established in 1877 are a splendid collection of ancient royal regalia, ola manuscripts, antique furniture, temple frescoes, sculptures and lithic inscriptions among many others. The Sri Lanka National Museum is usually open to the public from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs except on Fridays. Within the precincts of the Sri Lanka National Museum is also the National Museum of Natural History, portraying the phenomenal natural heritage of the land including birds, insects, mammals, reptiles, flora and fauna and even some of the gems and geological treasures.

Galle Maritime Museum

Situated in one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Galle Maritime Museum is indeed one of the finest amongst museums in Sri Lanka . Housed in a regal old Dutch building within the fort, the Galle Maritime Museum displays phenomena connected with marine biology and botany with an emphasis also on traditional secrets of local fishing, coral beds and deep sea fishes among many others. The Galle Maritime Museum too is usually open every day from 09.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs.

Kandy National Museum

Located in the palace once dwelt in by queens, the Kandy National Museum displays ancient regalia from the Kandy kingdom in the last few centuries prior to British rule, including arms and weapons, jewellery, ivory carvings and ritual objects of the era. The Ratnapura National Museum housed in the Ehelepola Walawwa boasts a collection of pre-historic fossils of elephants, rhinoceros and hippopotamus collected from the gem pits in the ‘city of gems’. Portraying the history and life of the people of Galle, the Galle National Museum too is one of the finest of museums in Sri Lanka and displays handicrafts, embroidery, horn and shell objects among others.

Other Museums

For those looking beyond the traditional museums, Sri Lanka offers some diverse and offbeat options like the Central Bank Currency Museum showcasing currency from the 3rd century to ancient kingdoms, colonial-era and modern-day as well. Another interesting museum in Colombo is the National Postal Museum, offering insight into the history of postal services in Sri Lanka with a carefully curated collection of material, tools, and machinery used over time. The recently opened Cricket Museum and Sri Lanka’s first underwater museum are also worth checking during your travels.

A rare and exquisite collection of folk implements from all parts of the island are housed at the Koggala Folk Museum and range from handicrafts, cottage industries, medicine, costumes, religion etc demonstrating life as it were.

Among some of the finest of themed museums in Sri Lanka are the Sri Dalada Museum in Kandy, the Sigiriya Museum and the Tea Museum at Hantane, each offering visitors an unparalleled experience.

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