Sprawling south of Colombo, Dehiwala is a large suburb in the Sri Lankan capital. It was part of the Kingdom of Kotte before the arrival of the Portuguese and was home to the Governor of Ceylon, Sir Thomas Maitland, during the British colonial years. Dehiwala is famed for its zoological garden, which is one of the largest in Asia.
Things to do in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Home to a sacred bo tree is the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, a Buddhist temple complex that attracts hundreds of devotees on a daily basis. Its tree is said to be one of the first offshoots of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a historic tree in Anuradhapura’s Mahamewuna Garden. Coincide your visit with the colourful pageant of the annual Esala festival.
For a day on the sand, head to Mount Lavinia Beach, a golden sweep backed by seafood restaurants and bars. Extending to the north is palm-lined Dehiwala Beach, which offers views across Colombo’s skyline. Sprawling south of Dehiwala is Bolgoda Lake, which provides a popular setting for water sports.
Originally founded in 1936, the National Zoological Garden of Sri Lanka has grown to include around 3,000 animals representing 350 different species from across the globe. You can get up close to jaguars, tigers and sloths in its forested enclosures, as well as Sumatran orangutans and ring-tailed lemurs. The on-site museum exhibits animal skeletons, footprints and eggs.
Getting around Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Dehiwala is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Colombo and one hour from Bandaranaike International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. The smaller Colombo International Airport Ratmalana lies within Dehiwala’s boundaries. Regular trains connect to the Mount Lavinia and Rathmalana railway stations while both buses and rickshaws travel throughout the area.