Colombo 4.5-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour with All Entry Fees Included
by Travel with Lenin
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$90Overview
The tour begins with a tuk tuk ride through Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The journey lasts about four and a half hours and includes private transportation and bottled water. All entry fees to the visited sites are covered. The first stop is Gangaramaya Temple, one of Colombo’s oldest Buddhist temples, founded in the late 19th century. Visitors spend about 20 minutes seeing its combination of religious, educational, and cultural features. Next, the tuk tuk takes guests to Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil, a granite Hindu temple built during British rule and known for its dark interior lit by oil lamps and detailed stone carvings. The tour continues to Independence Memorial Hall, a national monument commemorating Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule in 1948, with a brief 10-minute visit. Then the tuk tuk heads to Pettah, a busy commercial neighborhood famous for its sprawling open-air markets. Guests have about an hour to explore the market’s many shops and stalls arranged like a large crossword puzzle. Other locations visited include Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo’s oldest and largest public park located near the colonial Town Hall; the Ceylon Tea Supermarket, where visitors learn about Sri Lanka’s tea production; and the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, known as the Red Mosque, notable for its red and white stone minarets and Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The Pettah Floating Market is another stop, featuring around 100 vendors selling a variety of goods along a canal with wooden boardwalks, open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. The tour also includes a visit to the Old Town Hall building hidden within Pettah Market, built in 1873 with Neo-gothic architecture and original wooden furniture. Additional stops include the historic Cargills Department Store, President’s House (the official residence and workplace of Sri Lanka’s president), Manning Market (Colombo’s wholesale fruit and vegetable center), Kayman’s Gate Belltower, Colombo Lighthouse on the waterfront, Fort Railway Station - the main rail hub in Colombo - and Wolvendaal Church, one of the oldest Dutch colonial Protestant churches still in use. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price. The tour covers all listed sites with private transport by tuk tuk, lasting approximately four and a half hours.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Gangaramaya Temple
Gangaramaya Temple is one of Colombo's oldest Buddhist temples, founded in the late 19th century by scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera. Its development continued under successive monks who expanded it beyond a traditional temple into a place of worship, education, and cultural activities. Visitors spend about 20 minutes here.
20 min
Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil
This granite Hindu temple was constructed during British rule by Ponnambalam Mudaliyar and later rebuilt by his son, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and features Dravidian architectural styles. Its stone interior is dimly lit by oil lamps, with intricately carved walls and pillars. Visitors spend roughly 20 minutes inside.
20 min
Independence Memorial Hall
Independence Memorial Hall commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule on February 4, 1948. It is a national monument where visitors spend about 10 minutes viewing the structure.
10 min
Pettah
Pettah is a bustling commercial neighborhood east of Colombo’s city center, known for its large open-air markets arranged like a crossword puzzle. The market area hosts numerous wholesale and retail shops, buildings, and commercial institutions. Visitors have about 60 minutes to explore this busy market district.
60 min
Viharamahadevi Park
Located in Cinnamon Gardens in front of Colombo’s colonial-era Town Hall, Viharamahadevi Park is the oldest and largest public park in the city, built during British colonial administration.
Ceylon Tea Supermarket
This supermarket offers a selection of Ceylon tea, a key product of Sri Lanka known for its cultural and economic importance. Sri Lanka ranks as the fourth largest tea producer and third largest exporter worldwide as of 2019. Visitors spend about 20 minutes here.
20 min
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Known as the Red Mosque, this mosque was built in the early 20th century in the Indo-Saracenic style. It features red and white stone minarets topped with onion- and pomegranate-shaped domes. The mosque served as a visual landmark for ships arriving at the nearby port. Visitors, both men and women, are welcome to enter.
Pettah Floating Market
Established around 2000 in a former industrial area, this floating market features almost 100 vendors selling fruits, vegetables, clothes, crafts, jewelry, and electronics along a canal bordered by sidewalks and wooden boardwalks. The boardwalks both line and cross the canal, making it suitable for shopping, strolling, and people watching. The market is open from 8 am to 8 pm; sunset, about 5 pm, is a good time to visit and take photos.
Old Town Hall
Built in 1873 by British architect J. G. Smither, this Neo-gothic building served as Colombo’s municipal headquarters from 1873 to 1924. It features pointed arches, cast iron columns, and custom-designed wooden furniture with backs shaped like window arches. Visitors spend about 15 minutes here.
15 min
Cargills Department Store
Founded in 1844 by William Milne and later managed by David Sime Cargill, Cargills & Co. operated offices in Colombo, Kandy, and Galle. The Colombo office was located at the intersection of Price and York Streets in the Fort area.
President's House
The official residence and office of Sri Lanka’s president, located on Janadhipathi Mawatha in Colombo. Since 1804, it has housed British governors and Sri Lankan presidents, previously known as King's House or Queen's House until 1972. It is currently used for state functions.
Manning Market
Located just east of Fort train station, Manning Market is Colombo’s wholesale center for fruits and vegetables. It is a busy market favored for its wide variety of produce.
15 min
Kayman’s Gate Belltower
Kayman’s Gate was an entrance to the former Colombo Fort, situated at the foot of Wolvendaal Hill in the Pettah district. A historic free-standing bell tower remains at the intersection of Main and 4th Cross Streets.
Colombo Lighthouse
This lighthouse is operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and is located at Galbokka Point on the waterfront south of Colombo’s port. It guides marine traffic along Marine Drive in the Fort area.
5 min
Colombo Fort Railway Station
Fort railway station is Colombo’s main rail hub served by Sri Lanka Railways. It handles many inter-city and commuter trains daily and is the terminus for most intercity routes in the country. Visitors spend about 15 minutes here.
15 min
Wolvendaal Church
Located in Pettah, Wolvendaal Church is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest Dutch colonial-era Protestant churches still in use. It is an important historical building in Colombo.
15 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Colombo 4.5-Hour Tuk Tuk Tour with All Entry Fees Included
by Travel with Lenin
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$90Overview
The tour begins with a tuk tuk ride through Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The journey lasts about four and a half hours and includes private transportation and bottled water. All entry fees to the visited sites are covered. The first stop is Gangaramaya Temple, one of Colombo’s oldest Buddhist temples, founded in the late 19th century. Visitors spend about 20 minutes seeing its combination of religious, educational, and cultural features. Next, the tuk tuk takes guests to Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil, a granite Hindu temple built during British rule and known for its dark interior lit by oil lamps and detailed stone carvings. The tour continues to Independence Memorial Hall, a national monument commemorating Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule in 1948, with a brief 10-minute visit. Then the tuk tuk heads to Pettah, a busy commercial neighborhood famous for its sprawling open-air markets. Guests have about an hour to explore the market’s many shops and stalls arranged like a large crossword puzzle. Other locations visited include Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo’s oldest and largest public park located near the colonial Town Hall; the Ceylon Tea Supermarket, where visitors learn about Sri Lanka’s tea production; and the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, known as the Red Mosque, notable for its red and white stone minarets and Indo-Saracenic architectural style. The Pettah Floating Market is another stop, featuring around 100 vendors selling a variety of goods along a canal with wooden boardwalks, open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. The tour also includes a visit to the Old Town Hall building hidden within Pettah Market, built in 1873 with Neo-gothic architecture and original wooden furniture. Additional stops include the historic Cargills Department Store, President’s House (the official residence and workplace of Sri Lanka’s president), Manning Market (Colombo’s wholesale fruit and vegetable center), Kayman’s Gate Belltower, Colombo Lighthouse on the waterfront, Fort Railway Station - the main rail hub in Colombo - and Wolvendaal Church, one of the oldest Dutch colonial Protestant churches still in use. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price. The tour covers all listed sites with private transport by tuk tuk, lasting approximately four and a half hours.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Gangaramaya Temple
Gangaramaya Temple is one of Colombo's oldest Buddhist temples, founded in the late 19th century by scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera. Its development continued under successive monks who expanded it beyond a traditional temple into a place of worship, education, and cultural activities. Visitors spend about 20 minutes here.
20 min
Sri Ponnambalam Vanesar Kovil
This granite Hindu temple was constructed during British rule by Ponnambalam Mudaliyar and later rebuilt by his son, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and features Dravidian architectural styles. Its stone interior is dimly lit by oil lamps, with intricately carved walls and pillars. Visitors spend roughly 20 minutes inside.
20 min
Independence Memorial Hall
Independence Memorial Hall commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule on February 4, 1948. It is a national monument where visitors spend about 10 minutes viewing the structure.
10 min
Pettah
Pettah is a bustling commercial neighborhood east of Colombo’s city center, known for its large open-air markets arranged like a crossword puzzle. The market area hosts numerous wholesale and retail shops, buildings, and commercial institutions. Visitors have about 60 minutes to explore this busy market district.
60 min
Viharamahadevi Park
Located in Cinnamon Gardens in front of Colombo’s colonial-era Town Hall, Viharamahadevi Park is the oldest and largest public park in the city, built during British colonial administration.
Ceylon Tea Supermarket
This supermarket offers a selection of Ceylon tea, a key product of Sri Lanka known for its cultural and economic importance. Sri Lanka ranks as the fourth largest tea producer and third largest exporter worldwide as of 2019. Visitors spend about 20 minutes here.
20 min
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
Known as the Red Mosque, this mosque was built in the early 20th century in the Indo-Saracenic style. It features red and white stone minarets topped with onion- and pomegranate-shaped domes. The mosque served as a visual landmark for ships arriving at the nearby port. Visitors, both men and women, are welcome to enter.
Pettah Floating Market
Established around 2000 in a former industrial area, this floating market features almost 100 vendors selling fruits, vegetables, clothes, crafts, jewelry, and electronics along a canal bordered by sidewalks and wooden boardwalks. The boardwalks both line and cross the canal, making it suitable for shopping, strolling, and people watching. The market is open from 8 am to 8 pm; sunset, about 5 pm, is a good time to visit and take photos.
Old Town Hall
Built in 1873 by British architect J. G. Smither, this Neo-gothic building served as Colombo’s municipal headquarters from 1873 to 1924. It features pointed arches, cast iron columns, and custom-designed wooden furniture with backs shaped like window arches. Visitors spend about 15 minutes here.
15 min
Cargills Department Store
Founded in 1844 by William Milne and later managed by David Sime Cargill, Cargills & Co. operated offices in Colombo, Kandy, and Galle. The Colombo office was located at the intersection of Price and York Streets in the Fort area.
President's House
The official residence and office of Sri Lanka’s president, located on Janadhipathi Mawatha in Colombo. Since 1804, it has housed British governors and Sri Lankan presidents, previously known as King's House or Queen's House until 1972. It is currently used for state functions.
Manning Market
Located just east of Fort train station, Manning Market is Colombo’s wholesale center for fruits and vegetables. It is a busy market favored for its wide variety of produce.
15 min
Kayman’s Gate Belltower
Kayman’s Gate was an entrance to the former Colombo Fort, situated at the foot of Wolvendaal Hill in the Pettah district. A historic free-standing bell tower remains at the intersection of Main and 4th Cross Streets.
Colombo Lighthouse
This lighthouse is operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and is located at Galbokka Point on the waterfront south of Colombo’s port. It guides marine traffic along Marine Drive in the Fort area.
5 min
Colombo Fort Railway Station
Fort railway station is Colombo’s main rail hub served by Sri Lanka Railways. It handles many inter-city and commuter trains daily and is the terminus for most intercity routes in the country. Visitors spend about 15 minutes here.
15 min
Wolvendaal Church
Located in Pettah, Wolvendaal Church is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest Dutch colonial-era Protestant churches still in use. It is an important historical building in Colombo.
15 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.