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Colombo Pettah Commercial District
The Pettah begins where Colombo Fort ends and spreads it tentacles across towards Kotahena in the North and legal district of Hultsdorf to the South. It is a small town similar to The Fort and is more like a bazaar catering to many wholesale businesses. In the old days the retail business thrived in the Pettah too but today many of them have moved away to other lucrative locations within the city and some even out of the city towards the Nugegoda and Dehiwela areas. The main thoroughfares in Pettah are Main Street that cuts the town into two, Reclamation Road, now renamed to NHM Abdul Cader Mawatha, bordering the sea, Bankshall Street parallel to it, and Norris Road, now called Olcott Mawatha. McCalum Road, also borders the Pettah and moves towards Maradana. It is now referred to as D R Wijewardena Mawatha after the famous lake House newspaper tycoon. The streets that cross Main Street are Front Street, 1st Cross Street, 2nd Cross Street, 3rd Cross Street, 4th Cross Street & 5th Cross Street. Keyzer Street, Prince Street, & maliban Street run parallel to Main Street towards Olcott Mawatha. Bodhiraja Mawatha connects Olcott Mawatha to Main Street and meets it at the junction of Sea Street and Gabo's Lane. Immediately east of Fort (across the narrow canal that separates the outer harbour from the Beira Lake) is Pettah, a maze of streets and alleys piled and crammed with goods of every description, from colourful textiles, gold and silver, and colonial-era antiquities to the necessities of everyday life - spices, fruit and vegetables, reeking heaps of dried fish, paraffin, batteries, electrical goods, clothes and footwear. Whatever you are looking for, you'll find it in Pettah - though shopping here, which can call for determined bargaining, is not for the faint of heart. Among the most interesting streets for both sightseeing and shopping is Sea Street, in the northeast corner of Pettah, with its goldsmiths' workshops and the dramatically colourful Hindu Kathiresan and Old, Kathiresan kovils (temples). These are the starting point for the Vel festival, celebrating the marriage of the god Murugan (the top Tamil deity) to his queen. Deivanai and concubine Valli Ammal, and held each year in August. Not too far from these stand the Grand Mosque, the most important mosque for Sri Lanka's Muslim population, on New Moor Street, whose very name reflects a long-standing heritage of contact with the Arab world, and the Jami Ul Alfar Mosque, at the corner of Bankshall Street and Second Cross Street. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, its decorative brick- work, patterned in red and white, is conspicuous. Pettah is one of the most vibrant and colorful parts of Colombo. In Sinhalese called Pitta-Kottuwa, literally translating to Outer Fort, Pettah is known for its bustling open air bazaars and markets. You name it and your will find it in Pettah, with each thoroughfare having its own specialty — Gabo’s Lane and 5th Cross St specialize in Ayurvedic medicines, while jewelery stores line 2nd Cross Street and Sea Street. If you end up on Prince Street, be sure to visit the Dutch Museum which was originally the 17th century residence of the Dutch Governor. Pettah is also of the most ethnically mixed parts of the city and the streets are dotted with several interesting Mosques, Hindu Kovils, Churches and Buddhist Temples. The beautiful, red and white candy-striped, Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque is a popular tourist destination and provided me some wonderful photographs.
The Dutch MuseumThe old 'Dutch House' on Prince Street, Pettah (Colombo-11) which houses this museum was built in the latter part of the 17th century and was initially the residence of Count August Carl Van Ranzow along with five other houses of the elite. Today, the sides of the street are choc-a-block with boutiques and stores of moslem traders. The restoration of this building commenced in 1977 and was completed in 1981. This museum was opened to the public in 1982. This building embodies the unique architectural features of a colonial Dutch town house. The museum while displaying the Dutch legacy with the artefacts viz. furniture, ceramics, coins, arms etc. portrays facets of contemporary life and culture. Open daily except Fridays from 0900 Hrs. to 1700 hrs. The old 'Dutch House' in Prince Street, Pettah, which houses this museum was built in the latter part of the 17th century. It was the residence of Count August Carl Van Ranzow. Today, the sides of the streets are filled with boutiques and stores of traders. The building embodies the unique architectural features of a colonial Dutch town house. The museum which displays the Dutch legacy with artefact - viz. furniture, ceramics, coins, arms, etc. - portrays facets of contemporary life and culture. Fort & Pettah are generally safe during the day. However general safety tips apply — travel with a friend (specially women) and be vigilant of pickpockets. Parts of Fort are closed off to the public due to several government offices in the vicinity, be sure to carry your passport or National ID Card (NIC). |
