Colombo Trip Overview
As the fourth largest city in Sri Lanka, Negombo has long been a center of commercial activity and urban lifestyle n addition to its reputation as a popular stopover destination for travelers arriving from the nearby international airport. Negombo is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries old fishing industry. Negombo has a large bilingual population of dominated by Roman Catholics, the majority settled in coastal belt speaks Tamil language as well but most of them are Sinhalese by ethnicity. Negombo’s history also lends the city its fond nickname of ‘Little Rome’, where a number of catholic churches and cathedrals were established by the Portuguese, while the Dutch have also left behind their legacy of a 17th century fort that now serves as the city prison.
• Travel comfortably with a driver-guide
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off
• Admire the well-maintained ruins
Additional Info
Duration: 12 to 14 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
As the fourth largest city in Sri Lanka, Negombo has long been a center of commercial activity and urban lifestyle n addition to its reputation as a popular stopover destination for travelers arriving from the nearby international airport. Negombo is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries old fishing industry. Negombo has a large bilingual population of dominated by Roman Catholics, the majority settled in coastal belt speaks Tamil language as well but most of them are Sinhalese by ethnicity. Negombo’s history also lends the city its fond nickname of ‘Little Rome’, where a number of catholic churches and cathedrals were established by the Portuguese, while the Dutch have also left behind their legacy of a 17th century fort that now serves as the city prison.
• Travel comfortably with a driver-guide
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off
• Admire the well-maintained ruins
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Angurukaramulla Temple, Temple road, Negombo 22100 Sri Lanka
The entrance to the temple is very impressive with a large Buddha above the door. Inside, there are murals, with numbers, depicting the life and story of Buddha. Also known as Bodhirajarama Maha Viharaya, this place of worship for Hindus and Buddhists alike dates back over three centuries. It is famous for its Buddha Statue that is visible from afar, which is over 6m in height. At the base of the Buddha Statue lies a dragon’s head with a mouth open wide that acts as the entryway to the Buduge (Shrine room).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: St. Mary’s Church, Main Street, Negombo 22100 Sri Lanka
The St. Mary’s Church is a Roman Catholic church, which is one of the largest cathedrals in Sri Lanka located in the heart of Negombo. The church was built in neoclassicism style with columns and plain walls. Its ceilings are painted with alabaster images of many saints and religious icons. The unique paintings on the life of Christ on the ceiling were done by the N.S. Godamanne, a local painter of Buddhist origin who aided the construction of the church
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Negombo Lagoon, Negombo Sri Lanka
Negombo Lagoon has the most diverse of all mangrove communities in the west coast of island. The lagoon crabs and prawns are the most popular yet are always in high demand. A “Once in a Lifetime” experience, watching the long narrow single-outrigger fishing boats with their huge billowing red-brown square sails hurling themselve up onto the sand, laden with fish. Walk and wonder at the many thousands of salted and split fish laid out on great long mats and drying in the sun.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Dutch Canal, Custom House Road, Negombo 22100 Sri Lanka
If you wish to view the country from a different angle he or she must pay a visit to The Dutch Canal, NegomboFlowing through the heart of the city, Dutch Canal once acted as an important transportation and trading route. The canals of Negombo were named by the Arabian geographers as the “Gobbs of Serendib”. Today, the long canal still allows transportation, but mostly for tourists looking for a unique way to explore the city. Various tour operators conduct boat tours on the canal, which typically include several stops along the way and end at Negombo Lagoon.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Negombo Fish Market, Negombo Sri Lanka
One of Negombo’s most popular sites is the fish market, known by locals as “Lellama“; the second-largest in Sri Lanka. It gives tourists the chance to meet the local fishermen, watch the daily fish auctions, organise fishing trips or boating tours of the lagoon and ocean beyond. Negombo made its start as a fishing community, and fishermen today continue to hawk their wares on the city’s sandy shores. Starting from as early as 4AM, fishing boats begin to make their way to the beach laden with that morning’s catch. Shrimps, crabs and lobsters are hunted at the famous Negombo Lagoon, while fresh fish is hauled in from the waves of the Indian Ocean.
Duration: 1 hour
