Viharamahadevi Park Ticket Price & Entry Fee (2026)

All charges inside the park are small and paid in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR), in cash. The grounds themselves cost nothing.

Photography and pre-wedding photoshoot permits

Casual photography is free. Pull out your phone or a camera for holiday snaps and nobody will stop you. The rule changes the moment it becomes a shoot. If you are bringing a photographer, props, outfit changes or a bridal party for a pre-wedding or commercial shoot, the park expects you to hold a permit, arranged through the Colombo Municipal Council that manages the grounds. This catches a lot of couples out, because the park's lawns, fountain and the seated Buddha backdrop are among the most photographed spots in Colombo. Sort the permit before your shoot date rather than turning up and hoping. Commercial permit fees change from year to year, so confirm the current rate and where to collect it with the CMC.

Paddle boats, mini aquarium and what you pay inside

The park itself is the free part. The paid extras are easy to find and cheap. Paddle boats run on the small lake and cost around LKR 100 to 200 a head, paid at the jetty. There is a mini aquarium on the eastern side with a small ticket of its own, and that is really the only "ticket" people mean when they ask about fees here. Families with young children also pay a few rupees for the rides and the play area. None of it adds up to much. Carry a little cash, because these counters do not take cards.

Opening hours and best time to visit

Viharamahadevi Park is open every day, roughly 6 am to 6 pm. Early morning is the best window. Walkers and joggers have the paths to themselves before the heat builds, and the light on the flame trees is at its best then. Weekday mornings are calmest; weekends and public holidays fill with families by late afternoon. Across the year, December to early May is Colombo's driest, most comfortable stretch and the nicest season to linger. Give yourself 30 to 60 minutes for an easy loop. For a fuller breakdown of opening timings, see the dedicated timings page.

Where it is, and the Victoria Park name

The park sits in Cinnamon Gardens (Colombo 7), next to the Town Hall and across from the National Museum, so it folds neatly into a city walk. If you have seen it called Victoria Park, that is the same place. It was laid out as Victoria Park under British rule and renamed Viharamahadevi Park in 1958, after the queen mother of King Dutugemunu. For the park's history and layout in full, see our Viharamahadevi Park overview. For directions from Colombo Fort and beyond, see how to reach Viharamahadevi Park. Pairing it with other sights? Browse things to see in Colombo, or plan the whole island with our Sri Lanka tour packages.

The charges on this page are cross-checked by our Colombo desk against Colombo Municipal Council guidance and recent first-hand visitor reports, and reviewed before publishing.