Colombo Fort Railway Station

The reason travelers come here is, that this is where the Central Bus Stand, for buses from all the main routes, and also where the Colombo Fort Railway Stationis. This Railway Station is the biggest station in Sri Lanka and has quite a bit of history.

What you can see now is the original colonial-era structure with just a few changes. These were namely the replacement of rotting wooden boards, which were used for stairs and railings, with cement stairs and stainless steel railings. The many cafeterias, waiting rooms, powder rooms, and bathrooms have received a facelift within the last decade or so, bringing them to the modern era.

However, the slightly dilapidated-looking outer structure, the little booking rooms with their dated wooden booths, the old roof with its black steel girder supports, the old-fashioned wood and steel railway tracks, and the many old trains that pull up in the station along with the new ones; all add to the aura of having traveled backward into time. The platforms are always crowded with the hundreds of thousands of travelers who pass through the station daily. Throughout the day and night, the bustle of the place never ceases. Though many new additions have been made; the beauty of the original station remains eternal and everlasting; a footprint of Sri Lanka’s colonial history.

Things to note:

• If you are on holiday in Sri Lanka during one of the peak tourist seasons; make sure to book over a month in advance to get even the most basic seat. During this time, the trains are so full that even the first-class cabins are jam-packed like a sardine can.
• The station bathrooms are quite filthy, de