We arrived at Katunayake International airport and took the express bus for around an hour to Colombo central bus stand then a tuk-tuk to our hotel in the historic Fort district. We are just here for one night, and have to leave even earlier in the morning than planned, with our train leaving at 06.35.
Colombo was a small fishing and trading port until the Portuguese arrived in 1518 and built a fort, only to be ousted by the Dutch in 1656 who rebuilt the fort. In 1796 Colombo fell to the British, became the capital of Ceylon but the fort was knocked down to make way for new neo-classical buildings. Still known as the Fort District, it fell into decline following independence and the civil war, but recent urban regeneration has revitalised the area … but there is still no fort … we looked!
We checked in to C1 Fort Hotel …
… then walked to the railway station to collect our tickets, overshadowed by the Lotus Tower soaring above.
There was more juxtaposition of old and new …
… and quite a bit of old like Cargills – a landmark in its red and white livery …
… the central clock tower- lighthouse which was apparently built at the behest of the governors wife, frustrated at oriental timekeeping, with a beacon added later for shipping …
… and the Presidents House, surrounded by lovely gardens.
We ate early and were recommended a South Indian pure vegetarian place called the Golden Cafe, similar to other no frills eateries we have been to before, where we had huge crispy masala dosas with sambal and chutney … for Rs600 … £2.50 for us both!
On the way back we passed the very impressive Jami ul Aftar Mosque, which was unfortunately closed, but we might get another look at the end of our trip.
We were tucked up by 9pm with the clock set for 4.45 … to catch a train north!
Off Travelling Together 