Once upon a time, the Fort of Colombo was a fortified town with administrative and military buildings as well as storehouses, mills, residential buildings, a church, a parade ground and stalls for horses and elephants. These were demolished in 1870 in the interest of the urban development. Today there is no indication of what it must have once looked like, except for some hardly recognizable parts of the governor’s house and some odds and ends.
The Fort today is a far cry from what it was during the colonial eras when it was ruled by the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally by the British. Today it is the commercial district of Colombo and is a hive of activity at all hours of the day and until the late hours of the evening. It proudly houses many of the Government buildings, banks, other commercial ventures, five star hotels, department stores and is still called the Fort. Interestingly, Sri Lanka property development companies have ventured into the Chinese market where, some of the country’s most exciting properties were showcased at the Beijing International property show to add more grandeur to the Colombo skyline.
However, Colombo today exudes its own quiet charm and grace. The Galle Face Green promenade during the Dutch times was a swamp but is now a lawn and a gathering place where people from all walks of life and all parts of Colombo gather in the evenings for a breath of fresh air and relaxation. Looking for a place to stay in Colombo? Why not try the Cinnamon Life Colombo, envisioned as an icon in hospitality is a concept of inspired living offering you a taste of paradise.
The mood in Colombo is now pretty relaxed, since the ending of the ethnic war. The Galle Road is an important street in Colombo it runs all the way down to Galle and beyond on the coastal belt. However, the Galle Road in Colombo during the peak hours could transform within minutes into a virtual nightmare.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
