Colombo is split into 15 postal code areas, which are often used to identify the specific districts. Pettah for example is also reed to as Colombo 11 (or just Col 11) and so on. The main areas of interest:
Colombo 01 Fort the revitalized centre of the city, historic and chic
Colombo 02 Slave Island not an island at all (though it really was used for keeping slaves in the Dutch colonial era) some of Colombo's oldest and most threatened areas are here including Union PI
Colombo 03 Kollupitiya The dense commerical heart of the city, with myriad shops, hotels and businesses along Galle Rd
Colombo 04 Bambalapitiya An extension of Col 3
Colombo 05 Havelock Town Gentrifying southern extension of Col 4 includes trendy Stratford Ave
Colombo 06 Wellawatta More commercial sprawl south along Galle Rd. Inland, Pamankade is a newly stylish enclave
Colombo 07 Cinnamon Gardens Colombo's swankiest district has the National Museum, Viharamahadevi Park, old colonial mansions and trendy shops
Colombo 08 Borella The quieter eastern extension of Cinnamon Gardens
Colombo 11 Pettah Old quarter just east of Fort with thriving markets
Colombo 13 Kotahena Alongside the ort north of Pettah, home to old neighbourhoods and important religious buildings
Navigating Colombo
Colombo's spine is Galle Rd, which starts just south of Fort and runs all the way to its namesake city in the south. Along the way, it passes the old beach resort of Mt Lavinia, which isn't officially part of Colombo but is definitely within its urban sprawl. Development is also frenzied all the way to the airport 30 km north.
NOte that street numbers start again each time you move into a new district. Thus there will be a "100 Galle Rd"in sevaral different neighbourhoods.
Some Colombo streets have both an old English name and a post independence Sinhala name. Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha is also known as Green Path, for example, while RA de Mel Mawatha is still known as Duplication Rd. For longer stays, the 96 page A-Z street Guide is useful Google Map are up to date and accurate.
COLOMBO IN
One Day
Start at the bustling markets of Pettah, taking time for small Hindu temples and the Dutch Period Museum. Head west to Fort and pause to appreciate the restoration of colonial gems like the Old Dutch Hospital. Have an excellent local lunch at AVP Resturant.
In the afternoon visit the electric Buddhist Gangaramaya Temple and wander down to Viharamahadevi Park. Later take a stroll along the ocenfront with Sri Lankan families at Galle Face Green as the sun sets and enjoy a snack from a vendor.
Two Days
Grab a kotthu (a rotti chopped and fried with a variety of indredients) at Hotel De Pilawoos before tackling excellent National Museum. Afterwards, go shopping at the many excellent stores and boutiques in leafy Cinnamon Gardens and Kollupitiya. For dinner join the smart set at Gallery Cafe or crack your way into shellfish sitting on the sand at Beach Wadiya
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