The Last King of Sri Lanka, Sri Wickrama Rajasingha was captured on the 18th February 1815 in Madamahanuwara and was transferred to Colombo without entering Kandy. On the 6th of March 1815 the King and his escort entered the Colombo Fort where they were received by Colonel Kerr, the commandant of the garrison. Here King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha remained for nearly a year till the 24th of January 1816 when he and his family were deported to Vellore, India aboard the HMS Cornwallis.
The Old Colombo Dutch Hospital (known as The Dutch Hospital) is considered to be the oldest building in the Colombo Fort area dating back to the Dutch colonial era in Sri Lanka. It is now a heritage building and a shopping and dining precinct It is believed to have existed since 1681 when the Dutch established the Colombo hospital to look after the health of the officers and other staff serving under the Dutch East India Company. The hospital's proximity to the harbour allowed it to serve Dutch seafarers
You will be taken through the heart of the central business district which is full of colonial architecture. The clock tower in fort is a unique strucuture in the city on many aspects
The construction of the building commenced in 1911, with the laying of its foundation stone and at the time of its opening it was the tallest building in Colombo. Designed in a Greco-Roman architectural style, with a colonnade of Corinthian columns at the building's entrance. It has a circular glass dome with a tapering central atrium that lets light into the circular inner halls throughout all seven floors and features the tallest chandelier in Asia.
The old Cargills & Millers Buildings in Colombo are considered to be the oldest department stores in Sri Lanka. A Dutch building was originally on the land where the present Cargills & Millars buildings are located and it had been occupied by Sir Frederick North (1766-1827), the first British Governor of Ceylon from 1798 to 1805. In 1844, a British businessman William Miller started his company at this premises by replacing the old Dutch building and in 1896, it was acquired by David Sime Cargill, a Scottish businessman who headed the popular Cargills & Company
The Grand Oriental Hotel was officially opened on 5 November 1875, had 154 luxury and semi-luxury rooms, and was the first of the modern type of imposing hotels erected in the East. The original building on the site was a simple, single-storey structure with an open verandah to the street inhabited by a Dutch Governor. In 1837 it was converted into barracks for the British Army. The task of converting the building into a hotel was undertaken by the then Governor Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, engaging the architect of the Public Works Department, James George Smither, who was also responsible for the National Museum of Colombo, Colombo General Hospital and the old Colombo Town Hall. The estimated cost to build the hotel was 2,007 pounds but it is noteworthy that the hotel was constructed within one year under the estimated 1,868 pounds.
Popularly known as the Red Mosque, the place of workship is a unique materpiece
A family-run business for over 90 years, TITUS STORES was founded in 1924, and initially began as TITUS LAMP STORES, selling petrol lamps called TITUS Lamps. With the advent of electricity in Sri Lanka, the business shifted to homeware, gifts, and HORECA (Hotel Restaurant Catering) items and changed its name to TITUS STORES
Amongst the little known historic monuments of Colombo, is large gothic church-like mansion in the old business quarter of Pettah. People, both locals and tourists, pass it by with little thought to what it contains – a veritable treasure trove of artifacts. It vanishes among the landscape surrounded by equally dated buildings, colorful modern shops and other interesting pieces of architecture. The fact that it’s in one of the busiest sectors of the city doesn’t help. This building is the Old Town Hall, once the seat of the Colombo Municipality and was the main location for council meetings in Colombo.
Explore first hand the busy markets of the Pettah Bazaar
Built by the British, the Fort Railway station is the major hub in the Colombo city
The Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple is the main temple in the Colombo city with it's unique architecture influenced by many cultures
Sri Lanka’s iconic landmark, The Galle Face Hotel, is situated in the heart of Colombo, along the seafront and facing the famous Galle Face Green. The Galle Face Hotel embraces its rich history and legendary traditions, utilizing them to create engaging, immersive experiences that resonate with old and new generations of travellers alike. Known as South Asia’s leading Grande Dame, the Galle Face Hotel is testimony to both Sri Lanka’s colonial past and its independent present. International guests are immersed in the Hotel’s rich traditions and compelling stories, and even a short visit to the hotel is an experience of timeless grandeur and exceptional hospitality. The Hotel started as a Dutch villa called Galle Face House that had been a meeting place for gentlemen of the colonial era. That was until four British entrepreneurs decided to use it to start a business, unaware that, by the late 19th century, it would be known as the best hotel East of Suez.
Based on the time of the day, you will be able to see the activities on the Green whilst getting a glimpse into the past of the green with iconic buildings such as the Old Parliament and the famous Galle Face Hotel
This Neo-Baroque-style building was built during the British colonial era to house the Legislative Council of Ceylon. It was built on an idea of Sir Henry McCallum, which led to a proposal made by a committee to construct the new building for the Secretariat, Council Chamber and Government offices on reclaimed land at the northern end of Galle Face’ were accepted by the Government in 1920. The chief architect of the Public Works Department, A. Woodson was responsible for the design of the building with his initial estimate of Rs 400,000 for the scheme being later revised Rs 450,000, taking into account the extra expenses involved. The British Coat of Arms adorned the top of the building face till 1948, when it was replaced by the arms of the Dominion of Ceylon and was once again replaced in 1972 with the arms of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Great tour with Ajeet. Got to see many interesting parts of Colombo, including the port, old hotel, mosque, dutch hospital. He had great English and was very knowledgeable. He ended up dropping me 1.5 hours to my hotel in Bentota for a reasonable price. Would recommend Ajeet and the tour!
This was an amazing overview of Sri Lankan history. Sheer takes the time to set the stage with who Sri Lankans are as a people and then the walk through Colombo Fort and other areas really shows the influence of colonial history and how it shaped Sri Lankan history. Definitely recommend this experience, especially early in your Colombo visit.
Our Colombo tour with Ajeet was really great, he was very informative on the culture and history of Sri Lanka. We did this tour at the beginning of our visit to the country and Ajeet made the tour relevant to this. Ajeet was interesting and engaging throughout, and went above and beyond to show us Colombo. We would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Colombo.
Ajeet is a great guide, patient and loves talking about Sri Lanka and it's history. This is a fantastic tour if you want to learn and ask heaps of questions. 10/10 would do again
My friend and I were travelling from the U.K. and booked this walking tour with my mother (she lives in Sri Lanka). Ajeet is very knowledgeable and I learnt a lot about Colombo and the history of both the city and Sri Lanka. It was fascinating to learn more about a city I thought I knew. Great photo opportunities along the way and we discovered some hidden gems. A great introduction to Colombo!
Booked this ‘walking’ tour after reading great reviews, can only describe this as a slow short stroll. Only positive thing was the guide was a very polite gentleman, but provided far too much detailed information and then laboured it, just needed some oomph! After the 1st hour he had lost our attention and after 2 hours, was ready for saying we had had enough. No harm to the guide, but he would be better rebranding this as a non walking tour. Very disappointed
Colombo is a bustling city with a rich cultural mix. The tour covers temples, markets, and coastal views. A city worth visiting, and a tour worth taking!
Tour guide had excellent knowledge regarding the history of Colombo and the present day progress the city and country has made as well as the achievements in its infrastructure. My guide was the catalyst for making this tour a great experience and something everyone should do and enjoy.
What a fantastic walking tour and one I would highly recommend. Our guide was probably the best guide we've had for a tour like this. Communication prior to the tour was great, where he kindly recommended a restaurant which was exactly what we were looking for in terms of a local experience. On the actual tour itself we learnt so much and only had wished we'd taken the tour at the beginning of our holiday. He was patient with all our questions and really tailored the tour according to our interests and that of the others in our group. The tour was a good blend of history, current affairs and culture and he gave us a copy of his book to take a away.
Wonderful history walking tour. Ajeet provides great pre tour communication and day before/morning of communication to make meeting up very easy. He is really knowledgeable and provided information we did not know on our walk through Colombo. He even arranged a back up Tuk Tuk in case of rain(it did rain s bit, but it was fine). We got the history of Sri Lanka and Colombo, statistics, demographics and a bit of info on Buddhism. Ajeet took us to all the main places in the Fort area, Petah and surrounding. He can adjust to your needs. He also gives a little surprise gift, which I will not spoil here. We wanted Sri Lanka food s and spicy for lunch at the end of the tour, so we were dropped at Ceylon Curry Club, a wonderful place. He even went in to speak with them and make sure they did not time down source levels for tourists. I recommend you book with Ajeet if you are interested in learning a bit about the history of the area and country.
Ajeet is an extremely knowledgeable guide about everything Sri Lanka and Colombo. The history, the people and the architecture are all included in his commentary . We did a wonderful walking tour of Colombo that also included an electric Tuk Tuk between areas. We highly recommend him to anybody who visits Colombo and wants to go a little bit beyond the basics. Ajeet is enthusiastic about his country and it shows in this tour!
We worked with Ajeet to help plan our trip and get a driver and also take this tour with him. He was excellent to work with and communication was a breeze through the entire process. The walking tour of Colombo was fun and informative, a great way to spend a couple hours. Ajeet obviously knows his city and his country and is excited to share it with you. Would highly recommend taking this tour with Ajeet and working with him to help plan your trip to Sri Lanka!
We had the fantastic opportunity to have the city tour of Colombo with Ajeet. The tour takes you around the old heart of the city and Ajeet has an immense knowledge of all historical and cultural aspects of this very interesting city! We enjoyed the experience of walking around Colombo and hearing all about its very rich history from Ajeet! A must do in Colombo!
Ajeet was extremely kind and filled with so much knowledge about Colombo city. I was the only person on the tour and he made me feel extremely comfortable. I truly believe that if you want to know about a city, you should explore it by walking through it. It did get a bit tiresome at the end as it was a hot day in Colombo. Make sure you carry a water bottle and some snacks and wear comfortable shoes.
Ajeet was a delightful host who showed us the highlights of Colombo and made time to share his deep knowledge and enthusiasm for his city.
Ajeet is everything you would wish in a guide. Charming, knowledgable and responsive to your interests and requests. This tour was a great introduction not only to Colombo but to Sri Lanka in general. Great experience!
Very interesting history lots to see, took great pictures and videos loved Colombo. AJ looked after us well and a special thanks for letting us know about the Nawam Maha Perahera festival, which was wonderful to watch.
Ajeet, was a wonderful guide. He had great insights into Colombo and Sri Lankan history and the challenges being faced. Ajeet was very interesting to listen to and was able to answer all our questions. The pace was very good and he was very insiteful. Pickup was on time and easy to fine. Ajeet made sure we got to our desired drop off location.
Ajeet is a terrific ambassador for Sri Lanka. He is brings to live the history of colonialism and is exceptionally knowledgeable in discussing how this nation is in transition from a geopolitical perspective. The walking tour provided a great balance of the Fort region and the hustle and bustle of the busy streets of this port city. A+
We had a terrific tour with Ajeet! He was so informative, had lots of interesting data and we really had a chance to see all around Colombo with him.
Ajeet is very knowledgeable and easy going . It was great to listen to him sharing about Sri Lanka these days. The tour is limited due to walking distances and gives only a very small view of Colombo, but certainly helps to better understand Sri Lanka's challenges.
Had a fabulous time on our private tour with Ajeet - he was generous with his time, passionate about Colombo and Sri Lanka and very knowledgeable about both local history and current challenges and opportunities. Booking was easy, communication spot on and great value for money - it was a friendly, relaxed, customised tour. After this glimpse of Ajeet's beloved country (from our cruise ship) definitely want to come back and explore Sri Lanka some more!
The tour guide was very knowledgeable told us lots of history and showed us lots of places of interest. It was amazing to see the sights and learn about the countries culture
Fantastic walking tour with Ajeet who was highly knowledgeable as we walked through the Historic areas of Colombo. It was a great conversation that touched on history and current geopolitics, and I leave with fond memories from Sri Lanka.
I had a fantastic 4-hour walking/driving tour of Colombo with Ajit, who is passionate about not only sharing Sri Lanka's rich history but also learning from his clients' perspectives. It was a wonderful introduction to the city and he catered to my interests, including making sure we had a chance to view the railway cars after I expressed interest in Sri Lanka's train system. Overall, a great way to see Colombo's highlights and learn about the country from an experienced and friendly guide.
Ajeet taught me more about Sri Lanka in a couple of hours than my entire 3-month stay in the country. I love his passion, expertise and ability to share fascinating insights about his homeland. The tour is a must-do if you value learning and experiencing the real culture of Colombo.
Wow! What an amazing adventure with Ajeet. It was so fun talking to him and getting a tour of Colombo. 🙌🏽 Definitely recommend him.
Not once but tree times I have been walking the streets of Colombo with Ajit. If you want to understand the people, you have to know a bit about the history of the country and of the area. Ajit take you first through a historical journey of the people of Sri Lanka, who they are and where they came from. Then he connects the history by taking you on a walking trip in Colombo city where you can see with new eyes and new awareness how the city has developed. Knowledge is easy to carry and Ajit makes it fun and absolutly worthwhile. When my European customers visit Colombo to work, I take them on a Colombo walk with Ajit to connect them to the country, to the city and to our local team. I would recommend all companies in Colombo to take their customers out of office for a few hours and let them really understand the city, the country and the people together with the always smiling Ajit and his immense knowledge of his country and city conveyed by the means of a perfect English language. So, go – it’s worth it – not only once but several times….
We highly recommend this tour with Ajeet. He was knowledgeable and informative and shared his love of Sri Lanka and Colombo with us. The tour was well planned and covered cultural, social and historical sites in Colombo. Ajeet was friendly, interesting and had a good sense of humour. A fantastic day leaving us with many great memories!
We had Ajeet like a guide in Colombo and driver for the first days of our journey in SriLanka. He is professional in his work and very nice person which care about customers more than money. You will allways feel safe and will get best advices. Thank you Ajeet 🙏
Fascinating tour tailored to my interests. Ajeet turned up to my hotel promptly and was very knowledgeable about Colombo and the history of Sri Lanka. Mainly walking, but we also took a few tuk-tuk rides to cover longer distances in the blistering heat. Highly recommended.
We met Ajit as a 'guide' and left him as a friend. I cannot think of a better person to show you around Colombo, or for that matter, other parts of the country. Ajit is not your typical guide and does not claim to be the most knowledgeable person who knows every little trivia about the city. We were lucky to be the only two people on his tour - perhaps because it was Christmas day - and he walked us around the city in a manner that brought its entire history to life. He is very vivid, very well acquainted with the streets, extremely accommodative of your needs, and provided the historical as well as the social and political context. Ajit was extremely helpful with everything, from recommending restaurants to things to do in the city. It was like walking around with a local friend, very easy and comfortable. Even mundane places, such as the local market, post office or Colombo railway station, were brought alive by his background and contextual understanding. Ajit also drove us to Ahangama (a little beyond Galle), a service that he provides through his tourist company for the select few. The 2-3 hour ride was highly enjoyable and informative. He was kind enough to introduce us with his friend in Galle who was really helpful in arranging a car for us. I would highly recommend Ajit simply because he isnt your typical guide. A former IT professional who is chasing his heart's desires and generating an income at the same time, he brings much more to the conversations than the usual.
I booked a walking tour with Ajeet and it turned out to just be me in the tour - I lucked out! Ajeet is incredibly knowledgeable and does a great job explaining the history of Sri Lanka to help contextualize what you’re seeing on the tour. Definitely recommend!
Excellent and in depth tour from knowledgeable guide. Went to good variety of historical, cultural, and religious sites. Learned about history of Sri Lanka as well.
Highly recommended. Ajeet is knowledgeable and an excellent communicator. Any tour guided by him would educational, interesting and fun. He is a great ambassador for his country. Many thanks Ajeet for a memorable day and going the extra mile! Mary & Keith (UK)
Highly recommend this tour. Fascinating insight into the history of Sri Lanka and the future of the city. Encompasses a boat trip, tuk tuk rides and walking round the city. Seeing places that coach trips can’t take you to. A highlight was the visit to the Galle hotel. Ajeet is an excellent guide with superlative English and was very knowledgeable about his city. A fantastic day.
Ajeet covered everything I was looking for - history and culture from the beginning of times till current events. I learned so much throughout the tour! I felt prepared to journey across the island with a perspective that made me understand the culture and the people better.
The tour was wonderful and if you like learning about history, then I highly recommend this tour. It was so excellent to hear about the history of Sri Lanka and gain a better understanding of your surroundings. I have some great photos and was able to tell my family and friends all about Sri Lanka. There was a lot included in the tour and it was one of my favourite days in Sri Lanka.
We have had many guides across the world and Ajit has to be one of the best. He is extremely knowledgeable and informative and brings Colombo and Sri Lanka to life with its history which you get it all, the good and the bad. He made our first day in Sri Lanka memorable and we would recommend him to anyone with out hesitation. Thanks Amit for an excellent and memorable experience. Be sure to ask about his other tours, you shouldn’t miss them especially the authentic Sri Lankan home lunch. Absolutely fantastic experience with locals.
Ajit is a very friendly and informative tour guide. He was flexible in the organisation of the tour and was able to work around my needs, which was amazing. His wealth of knowledge towards Sri Lanka’s history is worthy to note. I am grateful for finding Ajit last minute and for him introducing me to the many monuments of Colombo. We covered all the spots on my list and more! I particularly enjoyed the Gangarama temple which Ajit kindly squeezed in even tho we were running short on time. When I am next in Colombo I will be sure to see you again. I recommend Ajit as a very accommodating guide.
Interesting walk tour with an excellent guide, good English language skills (not obvious in Sri Lanka), knowledgeable, Helpful, flexible and very accommodating. Warmly recommended for an introduction to Colombo for first time visitors.
We had one day in Colombo and arrived on Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Despite the holiday and that many businesses were closed, Ajit crafted a great afternoon showing us the highlights of the history of Colombo and it’s holy sites. We walked in Fort and Pettah and he drove us to other sites farther away (it was very hot)! Great private tour at a reasonable price. Highly recommended.
My walking tour with Ajit was by the far the most memorable experience of my trip. He truly creates a hand-crafted experience. I learned so much, saw so much, and enjoyed so much during this tour. I couldn't have asked for a more knowledgeable, caring, and fun host. Thank you Ceymondu!
What a nice walk. My boyfriend and I enjoyed a walk through Colombo accompanied by Ajeet. Ajeet is a source of stories and historical facts. He can tell hours about the history and evolution of Sri Lanka. For a comprehensive guide with conversations about what Sri Lanka really means, I would join Ajeet. I will definitely be back for a next time.
Ajeed proved to be a very attentive guide, with a lot of knowledge about his country and his city, he responded to everyone's request and made sure we were always well. Via WhatsApp we were able to clarify our wishes with Ajeed in advance and fix the meeting point. We arrived by cruise ship, Ajeed was waiting for us at Portgate, unmistakably with a hat on his head! Fortunately, he had organized a minivan so that we could hop into the cool of the van again and again and not have to cover the longer distances on foot, which was a real boon in the heat. Before we really started, Ajeed gave us an introduction to the history of Sri Lanka and its development to this day. A great basis for the rest of the day. Ajeed speaks excellent English and can really give you a sense of this lively city of Colombo and its history. For dinner, Ajeed took us to a small, typical u of locals frequented place where we dined excellently. He made our day in Colombo special. He went with us especially to Mount Lavinia and arranged a personal meeting with Chef (Dr) Publis Silva, the author of a cookbook that we discovered and bought in the city. What an experience! Should we come back to Colombo, then we definitely go on a discovery tour with Ajeed again.
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