Tour of Fort and Pettah (Self Guided), Colombo

The Galle Face is a promenade which stretches for half kilometre along the coast in the heart of financial and business district of Colombo. The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by the British Governor of Ceylon, Sir Henry Ward, and was also used for horse racing and as a golf course. It was known as the Colpitty Race Course.

The Galle Face Green is currently a 5 hectare ribbon strip of land between Galle Road and Indian Ocean which is now the largest open space in Colombo. This is a popular destination for children, vendors, teenagers, lovers, kite flyers, merrymakers and all those who want to indulge in their favorite pastimes next to the sea under the open sky. On Saturday and Sunday evenings, the land is busy with day trippers, picnickers and food vendors.

The Old Parliament is one of the most impressive buildings in the city, located just a few meters from the Indian Ocean. Visitors will be amazed by its resemblance to the Greek Temple of Goddess Athena, both of them designed in the Ionic style. Its history began with Sir Henry McCallum, who proposed to build a single building for the Legislative Council. The idea was accepted by the Government and on January 29, 1930, the Parliament was opened. Now it hosts the Presidential Secretariat and the Finance Ministry.

Opened in 1930, Regal cinema, situated in the Slave Island district, is one the oldest entertainment venues in the city and the first Sinhala theatre of the country. It is appreciated for its diverse film repertory, good quality, Dolby digital sound, comfort and the pleasure it provides. Many film festivals take place here. There is a choice of either house or balcony seating.

Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre is the main, multi-functional centre in the city and the first venue where exhibitors can hold their works and presentations. In this huge centre of around 40,000 sq ft, are organized all kinds of events such as exhibitions of contemporary artists, meetings and conferences as well as shows and trade actions.

Cargills is one of the most developed food corporations in Sri Lanka, providing the best traditions and ethical standards. It was established in 1844 with the purpose of linking the farmers and entrepreneurs, given that it was the first department store in the city. The building of Cargills situated on York Street is of great interest, thanks to its amazing colonial architecture. It impresses by its red and white stripes, ancient brass signs and wooden cabinets.

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. It was built in the early 20th century by the family of Framjee Bhikhajee Khan. This Parsi family hailed from Bombay, India and also owned the famous Colombo Oil Mills as well as other business interests in Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was then called.

The clock tower also provided a working water fountain, but this no longer functions. The plate on the clock tower carries the inscription: "This clock tower and fountain was erected to the memory of the late Framjee Bhikhajee Khan by his sons Bhikhajee and Munchershaw Framjee Khan as a token of affectionate gratitude and dedicated through the Municipal Council to the citizens of Colombo on the fourth day of January 1923, the 45th anniversary of his death." The Tower is roughly four storeys high and is situated on a landscaped roundabout that marks the entrance to the famous market.

The Colombo Dutch Museum is a museum that covers the history of the Dutch colonial rule in Sri Lanka. The old Dutch House on Prince Street, Pettah which houses this museum was built in the latter part of the 17th century and was initially the residence of Count August Carl Van Ranzow along with five other houses of the elite. Today, the sides of the street are choc-a-block with boutiques and stores of Moor traders. The restoration of this building commenced in 1977 and was completed in 1981. This museum was opened to the public in 1982. This building embodies the unique architectural features of a colonial Dutch town house. The museum while displaying the Dutch legacy with the artefacts viz. furniture, ceramics, coins, arms etc. portrays facets of contemporary life and culture.

One of the most important cultural spots is Elphinstone Theatre. It was established in 1925 and is the second oldest Theatre Hall in the city. It was recently redecorated in order to provide better conditions for a relaxing and pleasant rest. The theatre provides live performances, plays and has facilities for running films.

Established in 1926, New Olympia Theatre is the oldest cinema hall in the city, yet it keeps high standards of comfort and a good acoustic and quality level. New Olympia is managed in cooperation with Liberty Cinema LTD, and shows the same movies for different ages and tastes, so everyone can enjoy spending time here.