Pettah Walking Tour

Pettah is where Colombo does its buying and selling. From Monday to Saturday the narrow streets east of Fort are packed with handcarts, delivery lorries, shoppers and porters carrying sacks on their backs. Some visitors love it on sight, others find it overwhelming. A guide makes the difference, and this half-day tour is designed to show you how the place works rather than just push you through the crowd.

Starting in Fort

The walk begins on the edge of the old Fort, past some of the colonial buildings that survived the city's rebuilding: the old Dutch Hospital, now restaurants and shops; the Cargills building; the Chatham Street arcade; and the Khan Clock Tower at the entrance to Pettah. See more on Colombo Fort and its colonial heritage.

Into the market streets

Pettah's streets are laid out by trade. One is all fabric, the next is spices and dried fish, then hardware, phones, gold jewellery. The "cross streets" running off Main Street each have their own speciality, which is handy if you are hunting for something in particular. Bargaining is normal in the smaller shops. Your guide will point out what is worth buying and help you avoid paying the tourist price. More on the streets of Pettah.

Landmarks along the way

• Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, the red-and-white "Red Mosque" on Second Cross Street, built in the early 20th century.
• The Dutch Museum, in a 17th-century Dutch townhouse, with furniture and records from the period.
• Wolvendaal Church, a Dutch Reformed church from the mid-1700s with a quiet graveyard and old tombstones.

At each stop your guide gives you the background and then leaves you time to look around.

Lunch at the Grand Oriental

The tour ends with lunch at the Grand Oriental Hotel by the harbour, one of the oldest hotels in the country. It is a calm place to sit down after the noise of the market.

Tips

• Go on a weekday or Saturday morning. Sunday is much quieter, and many shops are shut.
• Wear comfortable shoes and keep your bag in front of you in the crowds.
• Cover shoulders and knees if you want to go inside the mosque.

Pettah pairs well with a wider Colombo city tour on another day. For background on the city, see our Colombo guide.

What to eat on the way

Pettah is full of small snack shops. Look out for short eats such as fish buns and vadai, fresh juices, and faluda, a rose-syrup drink with jelly and ice cream that is a Colombo favourite on a hot day. Your guide will know which counters are busiest, which is usually the best sign.