The Most Beautiful Parks and Green Spaces in Colombo

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The Galle Face Green is the public area of choice for most locals in Colombo. Right next to the ocean and close to Colombo Fort, the Galle Face Green is a historical landmark. The Galle Face Hotel is right next to it and there are some impressive new constructions popping up around the area. The newest hotels in front of the Galle Face Green are the Taj Samudra and the Shangri La.

Viharamahadevi (Victoria) Park is the largest green open space inside the city. It is easy to spend an hour or two here, and there are child-centered facilities here. Apart from the paths to walk or run along, there are plenty of green areas to picnic or lounge on. In one corner of the park there is a nice little playground castle, some swings and slides and a water fountain that turns on a few times a day for the kids to cool off in. There are some snack huts with king coconut water and ice cream carts to keep everyone happy. There is also a huge golden Buddha that kids love to say hi to.

Diyatha Uthana is an urban park on the edge of Diyawanna Lake. There are walking paths, a playground, an aquarium and some food stalls for snacks. Sometimes there is also a market with souvenirs, trinkets and toys for the kids. This park is not usually frequented by tourists at all, since it’s not in the usual tourist areas. Next to the Diyatha Uthana Park is the Water’s Edge Hotel, which shares the green space with the park. There are always events and fairs happening in the open areas.

The highly urbanized administrative Capital of Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is not only home to the new parliament building but also to the Beddagana Wetland Park. On the shores of the Diyawanna Lake, just south of Diyatha Uthana and Water’s Edge, Beddagana Wetland Park is full of walking paths, where visitors can see regional birds and wildlife.

The Independence Square is the open area around the Independence Memorial in Cinnamon Gardens. There are green areas and walking paths, a bicycle track and places for sport and fitness. There is a memorial building and museum in honor of the Independence of Sri Lanka, too.

The Royal Colombo Golf Club was built in 1879. Visitors can play golf at the club on a daily basis. The Royal Colombo Golf Club has plenty of flora and fauna, and the train out of Colombo passes right through the green, for an unusual experience.