Walk with me…, it’s the city that surrounds the Lotus that tiptoes to kiss the cloud portals for the heavens…, the busy, bustling yet ever exquisite trade capital of a country that is like no other, and here I promise, you will never want a rest as we proceed, even if I wanted. Once hailed as the Garden City of the East, these “towering and majestic, the grand old trees that dot Colombo’s sidewalks are so much a part of the city’s identity that they are often overlooked by those who walk or drive past them every day”. But it was all part of the British regime’s plan for the city. Now, however, the compact aura is overwhelming, as winds of contemporary culture blew here and there now and then, thus upbringing this city you and I walk today. This city lived many histories, like every other gorgeous city in this world.
And where else do we remember when we say “history”, other than the museum? “Katu-ge” or, the National Museum of Colombo, two-storied and Italian in architecture, and white everywhere outside, provides tangible evidence for all the great lore of a proud nation.
Just as you step into the museum, all your fatigue mitigates in the presence of the calm Buddha sculpture. Inside, along with several historically crucial wings to the main area, ranging from masks and puppet collections to skeletons of fabled, the museum holds contain a huge collection of much importance to Sri Lanka such as the regalia of the country, including the crown jewels and the throne of the last King of Kandy, whispering the amour propre of a nation, through the sands of time.
Now get this show on the road again, as we walk to an edifice that trapped a universe inside, and no it’s not an exaggeration! Built in the shape of a lotus in full bloom, the Sri Lanka Planetarium is the first and only planetarium in Sri Lanka.
As the planetarium is equipped with all the necessities to gift a glimpse of the beauty and depth in celestial mysteries, “you can take a tour of the galaxy, see the night sky as it appears from another country, witness the midnight sun from the Arctic Circle, and marvel at solar eclipses, meteor showers, comets, and various other celestial events” inside. And let’s remember the light Christie Pillai brought to this wonderful destination, a subtle tribute, to a humble legend.
Then, we walk into a destination that ensembles victory, in every inch inside its perimeter, and spreads the notion of independence, throughout the nation – The Independence Square.
It was built for that very sense of independence, for that very purpose of commemoration of the Independence of Sri Lanka from British rule. Thereafter, most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations have been held here. And, “The design of the building is based on the ‘Magul Maduwa’ (Celebration Hall), the Royal audience hall of the Kingdom of Kandy the last native kingdom of the island”. Being an emblem of freedom, today, it’s also a recreational venue for joggers, strolling couples, students from the nearby university, and families looking for a refreshing reprieve from the urban mess of Colombo.
On to the next destination! In the center of Beira Lake is a mesmerizingly reposeful temple with Buddha statues meditating alongside its pathway.
Yes, the Gangaramaya temple stands gracefully in calming waters, giving life to a healing portal in the center of a city that never sleeps. Owning a grand collection of artifacts, this temple preserves our heritage in its way while completing the sacred mission of every religious sanctum. It’s somewhere you will want to sit and wonder, and never get up and leave, for hours.
Next, we rest, on a bench, in a lush green dramatically picturesque park, but beware the crows!
And yes, you guessed right! They called it Victoria Park, and we call it Viharamahadevi Park, in the ritziest Cinnamon Gardens, and yes you can watch ducks here, especially Muscovy ducks, in the artificial lake. You get lucky, as you can admire the tranquility of a series of water fountains, and wander in the shades of the tall ancestral canopy in scenic walkways. And pose everywhere, and you won’t regret that. Plus here’s my tip, evening, is the best time to a stroll in the park.
And when we think of heartful evenings in Colombo, some beach walks feel irresistible.
It’s the softness of the milky foam that pecks your feet and turns back to the sea. It’s the salty breeze. It’s the mouthwatering aroma of seafood crisps in fancy stalls. It’s those kids, that make you think, why don’t you fly that kite, or how you flew that better, at least, the way you like to think. It’s that serene poise nature that does giveaways to everyone who makes up their minds to get an instant vacation from hectic monotony. You can pick between alluring waves in Mount Lavinia beach, and crowded yet always festive Galle Face beach, both daring yet crowd favorites.
And let’s hit the road again. This time, one final excursion before we go home. Let’s think about some shopping. But the cons of having such thoughts in a city is that we will always have multiple choices, and multiple choices always embarrass us. We have our newest addition One Galle Face Mall, or the Marino Mall, contemporary and elegant, in face of the deep blue sea, or the Colombo City Center, or Arcade, powerfully evocative destinations in the mid-city, or the floating market, for a one-of-a-kind thrill on Beira Lake, or maybe the Dutch hospital, or…, the list goes on.
All these settings are glorious in their ways. It’s the metropolis of our country after all, so if you can’t pick one, visit them all. Dip in the city vibe once in a while, and a walk-in such a spot will do. Twilights are when these kinds of walks must kick off. The gleaming neon beams in sideways bring you an atmosphere so vibrant, thus cheerful, and the warm smell of street delicacies, and the sweet cooling of weather by the evening, always come as a bonus.
If you want to feel luckier, make sure you pick your home route in a way you pass the iconic Lotus tower and Altair, the blinding spectacles at night.
And the view will stay in your mind, making you homesick for a city which no single entity can compromise to have witnessed all its spectacles, you will always have more to witness! Yes, like every other gorgeous city in this world.
By Rtr. Udari De Silva
Image Credits:
Awwww🥺🥺 This is just so beautiful❤️
Beautiful 🥺💖