Stroll around the floating market in Pettah

A floating market is a market where some vendors are on boats or small floating stalls. These attractions are popular with tourists and can be found in many Asian countries. In this case, the market is located on Beira Lake, right in the middle of Sri Lanka's capital. The setting is green and relaxing.

The Pettah district of Colombo is adjacent to the Colombo Fort district, which you can also visit. Pettah, which is derived from the Tamil word "Pettai", originated during the colonial period and the British occupation, and refers to a suburb outside the fort. It is the busiest district of the capital, with two huge markets, countless textile shops, restaurants and monuments to visit.

Street vendors in Colombo

There are hundreds of street vendors roaming the streets of Colombo, day and night. Most of them sell food, but they also sell local handicrafts and other souvenirs. In 2015, the Sri Lankan government and the urban development authorities gave the vendors the opportunity to get together to attract more people and, above all, they offered a small kiosk to those who didn't have one. This initiative by the development minister means that the vendors are no longer congesting other streets that are very busy with scooters and cars, and they are attracting more and more tourists and shoppers.

The Pettah market is an opportunity to taste, discover and appreciate the many gems of Sri Lankan culture.

Wood carvings

Sri Lanka is a master of the art of wood. The Sri Lankans make magnificent statues and statuettes. These are lovely decorations to take home as souvenirs or gifts.

Handcrafted jewellery

Sri Lanka is a land full of precious stones, so jewellery is one of the country's specialities. However, we recommend that you take care when buying jewellery and precious stones. It is often best to go through approved shops.

Colourful textiles and traditional designs

Sri Lanka is world-famous for the beauty and rarity of these fabrics. The seamstresses at the floating market in Pettah can work wonders if you want something made-to-measure. Otherwise, many trousers, dresses and scarves are cut from colourful fabrics and carefully embroidered.

The spicy cuisine of Sri Lanka

Colombo's markets provide an opportunity to sample some of the local specialities that Sri Lankans are so fond of. While you're at the market, don't forget to stop off at one of the many street food stalls to sample :

• Kottu Roti: vegetables, cheese, eggs and Roti (Sri Lankan bread) are chopped together to create this Sri Lankan culinary staple.
• Appa or Hopper: a delicious pancake made from fermented rice flour and palm wine. To be eaten hot and crispy!
• Sambol: a coconut and chilli-based condiment, it is an absolutely fantastic accompaniment to all the country's curries. Be careful, it stings!

Tea, an art of living

It's hard to talk about a market in Sri Lanka without mentioning tea. Tea is the national drink and an integral part of the country's culture. The Pettah floating market is full of tea vendors, selling tea in bags or loose.