Things to do in Wattala
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Top 10 attractions in Wattala
Independence Square
Located on the east side of the University of Colombo, the square is an iconic cultural square and the place where Sri Lanka's independence ceremony on February 4, 1948 was held. Looking around here, the White House is faintly visible in the distance. Many young people rest and read here, which is a good place to find a comfortable and quiet place. 1. "Kandy Culture" Visit the Memorial Hall, you will see elephants, lions and patterns describing the history of Sri Lanka's Buddhism carved on the pillars. There are also 60 stone lions symbolizing the Sinhalese around the memorial hall. Each lion represents a king, reflecting the style of Kandy culture. 2. The Independence Hall in the center of the Independence Hall Square is built to imitate the hall where pilgrims were received during the Kandy Dynasty. The green lawn around the square reflects the Independence Memorial Hall, surrounded by stone lions, and there is a statue of D.S Senyonayake on the back of the Memorial Hall. 3. Shopping There is also a shopping center called Arcade. There are many brand stores in the European-style building. It is quite cost-effective when the products are discounted.Colombo · 9.2 km from Wattala
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque is located near Pettah Market. Construction began in 1908 and was completed the following year. Due to its striking red and white striped exterior walls, it is colloquially known by locals as the "Red Mosque" and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Colombo. It is said that in the days before high-rise buildings emerged around the harbor, sailors entering the port often used it to identify the port of Colombo. The entire building is a two-story structure made of red and white bricks, with stripes, domes, minarets, and a clock tower stacked in layers. Stylistically, it belongs to the Indo-Saracenic style, blending Indian Islamic and indigenous Indian architectural traditions, with Gothic Revival and Neoclassical elements.Colombo · 7 km from Wattala
Galle Face Green
Galle Face Green Plaza is a scenic promenade in the heart of Colombo's financial and business district, stretching for half a kilometer along the coast of the Indian Ocean, a great place to watch the sunset. The surrounding business atmosphere is strong and the activities are rich. 1. Seaside scenery When you walk on this seaside avenue with the sea breeze and the sound of the waves, one side is the Indian Ocean seascape, and the other side is the modern city scenery of Colombo. In the evening, it is still a place to enjoy the sunset view. There is a slender beach under the seawall. Although it is not too clean, it is also a good place to play in the water. There is a viewing platform in the middle of the square, where you can get close contact with the sea. 2. There is a flag lowering ceremony at 6 o'clock every night in the surrounding activity square, which is very spectacular and worth seeing. In addition, there is a night market near the beach at night. You will see many barbecue stalls. Grilled fish is very surprising. All kinds of traditional Lankan food will also gather here. In addition, due to its close proximity to the Presidential Palace, the Independence Day military parade has also been held here in recent years. 3. The history of the square During the Dutch rule, it was used as a breakwater and a fortress. In 1859, the then Governor of British Ceylon opened this green space for a racecourse and golf course. Today, Galle Face Green has become a popular local leisure spot, where you can often see locals jogging, walking, kite flying, and even couples who are in love.Colombo · 8.7 km from Wattala
BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall)
The Bandaranaike International Conference Building is located in the heart of Colombo's Beta District. The building is a project assisted by the Chinese government in Sri Lanka free of charge. Since its completion 30 years ago, it has played an important role in the social life of Sri Lanka. The internal facilities of the entire building are relatively complete, with a 16,000-square-foot conference hall, 400 telephone lines and a newly built library showing its momentum. The building adopts an octagonal plane, with 48 snow-white marble pillars forming a veranda, large overhanging eaves, and a latticed exterior wall. It is light and cheerful, full of tropical architectural style and local characteristics. It has been put into use for more than 30 years. play an important role. In 1964, China decided to build an international conference building for Sri Lanka free of charge. Completed in May 1973, completed and put into use for more than 30 years, it has played an important role in the social life of Sri Lanka. Its status is equivalent to the Great Hall of the People in China. It is known as "a symbol of Sri Lanka-China friendship and a pearl of Sri Lanka" . In contrast, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka has an obvious political status. The two buildings complement each other, symbolizing the close unity of the Chinese and Sri Lankan people.Colombo · 9.2 km from Wattala
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, located in Kelaniya, 10 km northeast of Colombo. The temple features a stupa and a main hall, with plain white walls, and steps in front of the archway leading to the opposite side of the river. There is a small stupa on the other side of the river. Legend has it that the Buddha gifted his robe to the King of Kelaniya, and it was enshrined within the stupa when it was built. The small stupa is also part of the temple. The interior of the hall is magnificent, with numerous Buddha statues.Gampaha · 3.9 km from Wattala
Viharamahadevi Park
To the east of Viharamahadevi Park is the Colombo City Hall & Municipal Council, to the south is the art gallery, and not far to the north is the Gangaramaya Temple Colombo. The environment here is beautiful, with palm trees, large trees, and green spaces, making it a great place for locals to walk and exercise. It is one of the larger parks in Colombo, featuring stretches of green space, towering trees and other tropical plants, as well as decorations like fountains and sculptures, and a golden Buddha statue. Strolling here, you can not only enjoy the fresh and elegant natural environment but also often see local residents cycling, chatting, picnicking, or even taking wedding photos. It is a popular local spot in Colombo and a great place for the whole family to have a picnic on weekends. It was built by the British and rebuilt in 1951. Later, it was renamed to commemorate the mother of King Dutugemunu, a hero who liberated the motherland.Colombo · 8.4 km from Wattala
Nelum Pokuna Theatre
This new and palatial theatre is located in the south of Vila Maha Devi Park and was built with Chinese aid. The appearance seems to have Chinese characteristics, but in fact its design is inspired by the shape of the lotus pond in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which is a new symbol of friendship between China and Sri Lanka. Officially opened on December 15, 2011, the main theater has 1,288 seats, and others include a library, an open theater, and a training center. The main theater is equipped with a lifting stage and a modern sound system. It is a relatively advanced theater in South Asia. Large-scale performances are often staged here, and the lighting is very beautiful at night.Colombo · 8.7 km from Wattala
New Kathiresan Kovil
The new and old Hindu temples are adjacent to each other, located in the middle of the sea street, and built for the god of war Murugan, the son of Shiva. The entrance of the temple is decorated with a large number of Hindu god statues, which are exquisite in shape. Among them, there are six blue dragons supporting the lintel above the middle entrance. There is also an elephant temple next to these two Hindu temples. After understanding the basic teachings of Hinduism, visiting this Hindu temple will be more rewarding.Colombo · 6.4 km from Wattala
Negombo Lagoon
Negombo LagoonLocated on the west coast of Sri Lanka, it is a representative local coastal lagoon and natural wetland landscape. The lagoon is long and narrow, stretching over 10 km with a water area of approx. 3,000 hectares. Its southern end connects to the Muthurajawela Marsh, together forming a vast coastal wetland ecosystem. The water here is open, the waterways are winding, and the natural landscape along the shore is rich, featuring calm waters, dense mangroves, scattered small islands, and continuous coconut groves. Large areas of mangroves grow along the water's edge, with intertwined branches and leaves, providing a habitat and foraging environment for various bird species. Taking a small boat deep into the lagoon allows you to appreciate the lush mangrove foliage up close, observe water bird activity, and experience the scenery where the lake and coastal villages blend together from a water-level perspective.Negombo · 20.5 km from Wattala
St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade
St. Anthony's Church is a typical Portuguese Catholic church, but the interior decoration is rich in South Asian style. Although it is a church, some people with other religious beliefs will also come here to pay their respects. It is said that St. Anthony's Church is particularly effective in solving family problems. 1. Church History The church is extremely exotic, with a conical central tower spire surrounded by 7 small domes in Byzantine style. The church has been built since 1232 to store the remains and relics of St. Anthony. The reliefs on the surrounding walls show the trajectory of St. Anthony's life. 2. Popularity The church is very popular, many believers bring offerings to worship in front of the ornate statues, especially local mothers often bring their underage daughters to pray for the protection of St. Anthony to avoid misfortune.Colombo · 6 km from Wattala
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Featured Outdoor experiences in Wattala
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Free things to do in Wattala
Independence Square
Colombo · 9.2 km from WattalaImmediate access, Book now for todayJami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Colombo · 7 km from WattalaGalle Face Green
Colombo · 8.7 km from WattalaBMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall)
Colombo · 9.2 km from WattalaKelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
Gampaha · 3.9 km from WattalaViharamahadevi Park
Colombo · 8.4 km from WattalaNelum Pokuna Theatre
Colombo · 8.7 km from WattalaNew Kathiresan Kovil
Colombo · 6.4 km from WattalaNegombo Lagoon
Negombo · 20.5 km from WattalaSt. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade
Colombo · 6 km from Wattala
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What travelers say about Wattala
khccMay 1, 2024
4.0
It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the museum. This is a large square. It is said that it was the place where independence celebrations were held. It has good greening and is very suitable. Take a walk here at dusk.
Independence Square
Quest JourneyOctober 4, 2023
5.0
Jami ul Alfar Mosque: Vibrant Red Mosque, Colombo's Architectural Gem of Srilanka
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
purplepolarbearAugust 16, 2023
5.0
It's a nice and quiet beach in the city center with an upscale shopping mall. There isn't a sandy beach but has a deck reaching out over the waters to watch the waves. Beware of stray dogs in the area. People were also flying kites on the grass.
Galle Face Green
wzchcjyJanuary 19, 2020
5.0
It is a building funded by China, which makes it very familiar. It is located in the center of Colombo, with a very high-quality design. There is also a large square in front of it, with a high green coverage rate. However, you cannot go inside, you can only look at the exterior.
BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall)
Sanka AbeywickramaOctober 3, 2019
5.0
Kelaniya Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple in near to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Buddhists believe the temple to have been hallowed during the third and final visit of the Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka, eight years after gaining enlightenment. According to the ancient book call 'Mahawansa' the original pagoda at Kelaniya enshrined a gem studded throne on which the Buddha set and preached. The temple was refurbished in the first half of the 20th century.
Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya
支付宝岛June 16, 2020
5.0
It's a pretty park, located in the city center, connected to the city hall. The park is very large and completely free. However, there are no facilities inside, it's quite simple. Many people relax here, and there are also ice cream trucks
Viharamahadevi Park
泰宁根吴承恩May 8, 2020
4.0
The Lotus Pond Theatre is a local landmark in Colombo, and it was built with aid from China. The red exterior of the building is very eye-catching, and it can be said to be a local internet check-in spot, but it is not open to the public, so you can only look at it from the outside.
Nelum Pokuna Theatre
yangduoduo17June 19, 2020
5.0
Although we didn't go inside, from the outside it was an amazing Hindu temple in the middle of Colombo, the carvings were amazing. It seemed like an ordinary residential area but then we saw this temple. Amazing!! What a piece of incredible architecture. Definitely make time to visit. We took a tuk tuk from our Cinnamom Lakeside hotel which was only 5 minutes away and well worth the trip.
New Kathiresan Kovil
DEAR张小球May 30, 2020
5.0
It was quite late when we arrived at Negombo Lagoon. I had planned to give up, but I insisted on coming to see it. I didn't expect to enjoy the beautiful sunset. It was worth the trip.
Negombo Lagoon
小小呆60May 23, 2020
3.0
This church is the most popular Catholic church in Colombo. There are always a lot of people there almost every day. We went there at the earliest opportunity. The whole church is built in a very simple style.
St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade
