[2024 Colombo Attraction] Travel Guide for Independence Square (Updated Sep)
No.3 of Best Things to Do in Colombo
City Parks
Historical Sites
Address:
7 Independence Ave, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-2 hours
Phone:
+94-112-878996
The Independence Square is located on the eastern side of Colombo University, the iconic Cultural Square, which was the site of the independence ceremony held on February 4, 1948, in Sri Lanka. The Independence Hall in the center of the square was built during the Kangdi Dynasty when the royal family met with the pilgrims. There is a fountain in the middle. The Lankan people like to go for a walk in the evening. The green lawn around the square surrounds the Independence Hall and is decorated by stone lions. The back of the memorial hall is the statue of the founding Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, D.S. Sitting here to see the White House in the distance, the flag flutters on the west side. Many young people come here to spend time reading, and resting here during the sunny days. It is a place to study in a quiet and calm environment.
Coco Wang.
Sri Lanka is known as the "Teardrop of the Indian Ocean".
🚅 Due to work reasons, we needed to assist with engineering projects in Sri Lanka. We arrived in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.✈️ We were met at the airport by a local colleague. I had also done some research online. A well-known travel magazine named it the world's top travel destination and one of the five most charming travel destinations in the world. It has also been named a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO. Sri Lanka has abundant tourism resources, from mountain tea gardens to charming beaches, from historical sites to wildlife. Here is a detailed guide I have compiled. If it is helpful to you, remember to like and collect it!
Colombo Travel Guide
- Attractions and prices:
- Independence Square: It is the site of Sri Lanka's independence ceremony on February 4, 1948, and is also a major tourist attraction. The pillars of the memorial hall are engraved with elephants, lions, and patterns depicting Sri Lanka's Buddhist history. There are 60 stone lion statues symbolizing the Sinhalese people around it. Free admission.
- Viharamahadevi Park: Colombo's largest park, built by the British, was renamed after Sri Lanka's independence to commemorate the mother of King Dutugemunu. To the east is Colombo City Hall, to the south is the Art Gallery, and to the north is Gangarama Temple. Opening hours 06:00 - 18:00, free admission.
- Colombo Lotus Tower: Located in the World Trade Center area, it offers panoramic views of Colombo. A meal at the Lotus Tower revolving restaurant costs about US$30 per person.
- Dewala Butterfly Park: Home to 36 different types of butterflies, it displays over 250 butterfly specimens for visitors to admire.
- Food and prices:
- Five-star hotel buffet:
- ayu (Mövenpick Colombo): Lunch 2930 rupees, dinner 3600 rupees.
- table one (Shangri-La Colombo): Lunch 3200 rupees, dinner 4100 rupees (excluding drinks).
- taprobane | Cinnamon Grand: Lunch 2931 rupees, dinner 3257 rupees.
- governor's restaurant | Mt. Lavinia Hotel: Lunch weekdays 1900 rupees, Saturday 2100 rupees, Sunday 3200 rupees, dinner 3100 rupees.
- harbour court (Kingsbury): Lunch 3100 rupees, dinner 3200 rupees.
- latitude | Taj Samudra: Lunch 2650 rupees, dinner 3200 rupees.
- Local specialties:
- Hopper: A bowl-shaped crispy, often served as breakfast, made with eggs, priced at around 50-200 rupees in street stalls.
- Kottu: A dish made by chopping up roti and stir-frying it with vegetables, meat, etc., priced at around 200-500 rupees per serving.
- Travel itinerary:
- Day 1: Visit Independence Square in the morning and admire the memorial hall and stone lions; visit Viharamahadevi Park in the afternoon and experience the local leisure atmosphere; enjoy local cuisine in the city in the evening.
- Day 2: Visit Colombo Lotus Tower, climb to the top for panoramic views of the city, and then visit Dewala Butterfly Park to see butterflies and specimens.
- Precautions:
- Tuk-tuk cars are the main mode of transportation. Be sure to negotiate a price before getting in to avoid being overcharged.
- Sri Lanka has a hot climate, so be sure to take sun protection and mosquito repellent measures. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, mosquito repellent, etc.
- Respect local religious culture and customs. Dress appropriately when entering religious sites such as temples and take off your shoes before entering.
- In terms of food, if you are not used to local food, you can bring some convenient food. There are many local cold drinks and raw food, so pay attention to food hygiene to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Pay attention to price and quality when purchasing items, and avoid buying overly expensive or poor-quality goods at tourist attractions.
Ember^Phoenix!555
On the last day of Sri Lanka's trip, we came to Independence Square.
Independence Square is located on the east side of Colombo University. It is an iconic cultural square and is the venue for the independence ceremony held on February 4, 1948 in Sri Lanka. The
Independence Hall in the center of the square was built in the hall of the Kangdi Dynasty when the royal family met with the pilgrims. There is a fountain in the evening, and the Lankan people like to go for a walk in the evening. The green lawn around the square reflects the Independence Hall and is surrounded by stone lions. On the back of the
memorial hall is the statue of the founding Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, D.S. Sitting here to see the White House in the distance, the flag is flying on the west side, very good. Many young people will rest here, reading and quiet places.
The sculpture of the founding Prime Minister of Sri Lanka stands on the square and is magnificent. The stone lion surrounds it and guards quietly. The memorial hall is a very obvious Kandy style, very similar to the buildings we saw in the Temple of the Tooth Relic. The
memorial hall is surrounded by many stone lions. There are a total of 60 stone lions symbolizing the Sinhalese. Each lion represents a king, reflecting the style of Kandy culture. The appearance is very cute.
Then we went to the memorial hall and saw the elephants, the lions and the patterns depicting the history of Sri Lankan Buddhism. Many local people come here to rest, read books, chat or something, very comfortable.
Due to the abundance of time, after watching the memorial hall, we still wandered around in the nearby park for a while, mainly still not willing to leave.