Beira Lake in Colombo

Find serenity in its truest form in the placid waters of Lake Beira

Quick Information

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Best time to visit
Nov - Feb
Ideal Duration
3-4 Days
Visa
On Arrival
Starting from
Rs. 1,980
  • Culture
  • Wildlife
  • Nature

Beira Lake Colombo

Comprising almost 65 hectares of area, Beira Lake Colombo Sri Lanka is a location of epic scenic beauty.

Constructed and named by the Portuguese in the late sixteenth century, it was originally built as a means to defend against local kings. It worked very well, as it was guarded by crocodiles and its original area was much greater. Beira Lake was in fact so large that it had several islands, some of which were large enough to house a village and an entire plantation of coconut trees. The British took over and converted this beautiful lake into a spot for recreational activities such as rowing and yachting. Enjoying a Beira Lake boat ride is a popular thing to do here. There is no Beira Lake entry fees as such, but there are charges for boating and rowing.

Today, Beira Lake is connected to an intricate network of canals all over Colombo. This helps in easy transportation of goods across suburban Colombo. But back in 1810, Colombo’s first botanical garden, which is Kew Gardens was opened up in Slave Island. For over one hundred and forty years, Beira Lake has been home to Colombo Rowing Club and is now a serene place indeed. This besides, the lake is also home to several species of flora and fauna. Some of the most commonly seen examples are egrets, storks, cormorants, pelicans, monitor lizards, and a variety of fish. Swan boat rides around the lake are particularly enjoyable. Another big attraction at Beira Lake is the floating marketplace.

Currently, there are two islands in Beira Lake Colombo. One hosts the beautiful Simamalaka Viharaya and the other is known as Kaala Doowa. The Simamalaka Viharaya is a Buddhist place of worship built under Muslim patrons and local help. With exquisite blue roof tiles and a fancy wooden pavilion, this spot is an instant hit among tourists. The small, but beautiful island hosts a stupa and other small shrines to honor local gods and goddesses. There is also a Bodhi tree, which is of little surprise since it is a Buddhist shrine. Kaala Doowa is the other island in Beira Lake and is a well-known hotspot for romancing couples. The sunset and boat rides are particularly romantic here. To make things even more scenic and memorable, the island has quite a population of cute bunnies.

The lake is also very close to Viharamahadevi Park, Gangaramaya Temple, and Gangaramaya Park, all worth a visit. A steel bridge across the lake makes things even better. Especially during the Vesak festival, when the lake and the bridge are decorated as part of the festivities. Make sure to find out the Beira Lake timing before you head there.

One of the popular tourist places in Colombo, the lake is an ideal place to spend your evenings in Colombo after a full-day sightseeing tour. An early morning visit allows beautiful sunrise views and birding opportunities. Gangaramaya Temple, Viharamahadevi Park, and Galle Face Beach are notable places near Beira Lake.

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Colombo Packages Reviews

Read on to find out why our customers love us!

Eranki's 9 days trip to Colombo

Our tour was very nicely arranged and Ms.Chamodi and her team were very professional and helpful

Eranki Venkata Ravikanth Bengaluru

Varsha's 5 days trip to Colombo

Our sri lanka trip was organized by steeple tours. It was very well organized and all customizations were done as per our suggestion. Mrs Chandi was very helpful and she was always polite and helped us in getting things done faster All the hotels we stayed were very good. No issues faced. Would like to mention specifically , our driver Mr Anil was very friendly and helpful. He was very polite too and drove very smooth! His suggestions were very apt and helped in planning places better. He was kind to our kid and a good gentleman as well. Thanks steeple tours for organizing our trip well and helping us in getting queries resolved faster. Thanks Varsha Stay at the palms was very good. Very beautiful resort huge and good food for Indians as well. Kids can enjoy beach and pool time.

Varsha H Bangalore

Varun's 10 days trip to Colombo

Travel Triangle suggests selected tour agencies, 3 at a time to make a choice. TT is also available for quick resolution of any issues. A verification by TT of Travel agencies gives higher comfort.

Varun Joshi New delhi

Hemanth's 6 days trip to Colombo

I stayed for 5 nights at different hotels. Day 1 - Very good Day 2 - bad (poor room, congested bathroom, no intercom) Day 3 - decent (located in remote location) Day 4 - decent (old property, no intercom, no TV) Day 5 - excellent I did not feel that Day 2 to Day 4 hotels were 3 stars.

Hemanth G Bangalore

Chandrika's 5 days trip to Colombo

Our experience is really really great. Very well coordinated by agent and travel triangle. Few hiccups but overall job well done. Thanks

Chandrika Rayapudi Chennai

Surbhi's 9 days trip to Colombo

Hotels were good with decent vegetarian options available. The cab was in good condition with decent driver, but try allocating someone who is aligned with the hectic/lenient schedule of the trip. Also for the travel agent services, initially itenary was planned and full trip can was chosen with a purpose of going to nearby restaurant with convenience. This was clarified over call as well..but this 1as questioned when we wanted to visit a restaurant for lunch. Paid extra for this. May be travel agent should specify how many kms we are allowed to move in a particular day or trip if we are taking cab for complete trip...else there is no use . Also the Sim cards which were given in the package stopped working one day before our trip ended...whi h caused lot of hassle when we were outside the hotel. Overall the trip experience was good , but could have been better if above points were taken care of

Surbhi Sawhney Delhi

Aadityan's 7 days trip to Colombo

It was great experience travelling. All the hotels were great only one hotel was average. That was also great in terms of service but it was old buildings. Chauffeur was great in guiding us throughout the trip.

Aadityan A Chennai

Pragya's 7 days trip to Colombo

We booked 7 day itinerary to Sri Lanka with Dinagi travels. Chamodi was our travel agent and she was very proactive in answering all queries and customizing the itinerary as per our requirements. Our car was very clean and comfortable and our driver Gamini was very good. All the hotel stays were good except the one in Bentota , Laluna, it seemed not well maintained, but beach was accessible with a 5 min boat ride. I would highly recommend to book with Chamodi.

Pragya Sharma Bengaluru

Swapan's 10 days trip to Colombo

We have a wonderful and pleasant trip.

Swapan Chatterjee Kolkata

Jagannath's 8 days trip to Colombo

Exceptional Service by Ayesha & Kavindu – A Perfect Sri Lanka Trip! A huge thank you to Ayesha, our travel agent, for flawlessly planning our trip from Sigiriya to Colombo, ensuring every detail was taken care of, including our 5-star stay at Marino Beach Colombo. A special shoutout to Kavindu, our guide and chauffeur, who was with us for seven days, assisting us at every step with his local knowledge and warm hospitality. His thoughtful gestures, like the random King Coconut treat, made our journey even more special. Every destination was a delight: Sigiriya – The majestic Sigiriya Rock climb was tough but offered breathtaking views. Kandy – The Temple of the Tooth Relic and Kandy Lake were serene and beautiful. Nuwara Eliya – The cool weather and lush tea plantations made it a scenic paradise. Horton Plains – The stunning landscapes of World’s End and Baker’s Falls left us in awe. Ella – Enjoyed the stunning views and the iconic Nine Arches Bridge. Yala – The wildlife safari experience was thrilling, with sightings of elephants, deer, and crocodiles. Galle – Loved the colonial charm and pristine beaches. Colombo – A perfect end with a luxurious stay at Marino Beach and its infinity pool. Thanks to Ayesha for seamless planning and Kavindu for his exceptional guidance, making this an unforgettable and hassle-free experience. Highly recommended!

Jagannath Ghosh Delhi

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FAQ's of Colombo

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Yes, visitors can enjoy boating.

The lake is open for visitors 24 hours. However, early morning and evening is a good time to visit.

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