Excursion Colombo's art & architecture medley tour at Colombo

This half-day excursion shows you the varied hues of the city, taking you slightly off the beaten track.

Colombo and Geoffrey Bawa's former residence

Depart the pier for Colombo, capital and major port of Sri Lanka and a fascinating city that links the past with the present. Its culture and art are a unique mix of relics of Portuguese, Dutch and English settlements, blended with Indian influences.

Your tour begins at house number 11, on 33rd Lane, residence of renowned architect, the Late Geoffrey Bawa. It is an architectural bricolage housing arts and artefacts from his collection. This interesting composition in a row of four houses slowly acquired over a period of time, started with the construction of a pied-à-terre in 1958. The final result is an introspective labyrinth of rooms and garden courts which together create the illusion of limitless space. While the main house evokes a feeling of a lost world of verandahs and courtyards, the new tower serves as a periscope with views across the treetops towards the sea.

Panoramic drive and lunch

Re-board the vehicle for a panoramic drive past some of the city's highlights.

Lunch today is at Gallery Café - another legacy of Geoffrey Bawa. His former office now houses the café and art gallery run by Shanth Fernando.

National Museum and city sightseeing

Delve deeper into this culture at the elegant, white, colonnaded National Museum, the largest museum in Sri Lanka. View the fascinating and sometimes scary mask collection, which has its share of demons, including Prince Maha Kola, wearing a diadem of interwoven snakes. Another gallery contains a display of outstanding Hindu and Buddhist bronzes. One group of statuettes is connected with the cult of Shiva, and includes a fine sculpture of Shiva as "lord of the dance." Some of the images are mobile - not intended to be worshipped in the most sacred places, but destined for ritual processions around the temple or through the streets of the town. The museum also houses a collection of the regalia of the last King of Kandy.

At the conclusion of the tour, drive past the Colonial heritage of Colombo - the Old Parliament and government buildings; Galle Face Green where Colombo high society once strolled, to see and be seen by those who mattered, against the backdrop of the neo-classical facades of the Colombo Club and the Galle Face Hotel. Today there are joggers who talk politics and business as they run, and there may be kite flyers trying to catch a breeze.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Colombo, Geoffrey Bawa's Residence, Lunch at Gallery Café, National Museum, Colonial heritage of Colombo - the Old Parliament and government buildings, Galle Face Green,

Note

Please note: This excursion requires an extensive amount of walking for approximately 240 yards (219 metres) over unpaved and some cobblestone surfaces with approximately 35 steps at Geoffrey Bawa's residence, and 30 steps at the National Museum. It is not suitable for guests who utilise a wheelchair or those with limited mobility. Comfortable walking shoes and lightweight clothing and sunscreen are recommended. Vehicles used are the best available in the city; they are not of the same standards as vehicles found in Western countries. Expect crowds at the sites visited. Souvenir shops accept cash in US Dollars, Pounds, Euros and local currency. Credit cards might not be accepted. Photo and video taking is prohibited in certain areas of Geoffrey Bawa's residence. Shoes must be removed prior to entering Geoffrey Bawa's residence. At the National Museum there is a charge of USD 18.00 (at time of printing) for videos, to be paid directly to the museum. Photos of the government building and old Parliament are prohibited. Order of sites may be reversed.