How To Reach Colombo

Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka is one of the largest cities on the island. Having been the legislative capital once and now considered the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo is a well-developed city, so getting to the city and moving about is quite easy. Colombo is accessible from most major cities of the world. With three international airports now, the frequency of flights has increased. There are also extensive road and rail networks inside this island country, making travel to Colombo a piece of cake. To know how to reach Colombo by these various means, read on.

The Sri Lankan Airlines, now operating in 105 destinations across 47 countries has made travel to Sri Lanka an easy and comfortable affair. Sri Lanka has three international airports, the Bandaranaike International Airport, the Ratmalana Airport and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. The Bandaranaike Airport and the Ratmalana airport are located in Colombo. With frequent flights to almost all major cities in the world like Tokyo, Beijing, Melbourne, Doha, Dubai, and London, getting to Colombo is quite easy. There are flights to about 14 different destinations in India. There are direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai and so on while there are connecting flights from Lucknow, Chandigarh, etc.

Note: Indians can avail the on-arrival visa at the immigration office while other nationals need to apply for a visa before heading to the city.

Colombo is connected to the rest of the island by the Fort Railway line. The station is connected to the east through the Main Line, connecting it to cities like Ragama, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. This line is very scenic as it enters the highlands of the island. Colombo is also connected to the south through the Coast Line, connecting many of the beach towns in the south-west and the south.

Colombo currently has 4 expressways connecting it to the rest of the country. The Colombo-Matara expressway starts from Kottawa and goes on till Matara. The Outer Circular Expressway begins in Kottawa and goes on till Kerawalapitiya, the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway begins at New Kelani Bridge and goes on till Katunayake while the Colombo-Kandy Expressway begins at Kadawatha and ends at Katugastota. Travelling to Colombo via road can be fun and easy. There are also bus services to and from Colombo from various destinations in Sri Lanka, making it easier for tourists to get here. If one is driving, the journey via road can be rewarding with its picturesque views.

Colombo is extensively connected by bus services, both government and private. Although the train services are not the best, the coastal line runs parallel to the coast of Colombo giving access to some parts. There are also a number of auto rickshaws running across the city. It is important to note that the bus and train services can be very crowded during the peak seasons.