North Central Province Travel Forum

Dear friends who know Sri Lanka well,

Could anyone tell me how long (time)and how much($) it takes to get from the Colombo International Airport to the Central Bus Stand?

What district of Colombo is the Bus Stand in? in Colombo 1 or 2 or 3 or…?

And can I get to Kegalla (Kegalle) from the CBS? Thanks a lot in advance and many blessings!

Hi,

Normally it would take an hour to come to Colombo. But if you come here during the peak traffic time it would add around another 15 to 30 min more in your journey.

Central Bus Stand is located in Colombo 1. If you are planning to come on a bus it would cost you less than a dollar or half a dollar to come to Fort or Pettah where the two main places buses start end their journey.

I would recommend you to take a Kandy bus or any bus going in the Kandy road and get down at Kegalle. I think it would take around 2 hrs too reach Kegalle and would cost you less than US$2.

(I have never been to Kegalle on a "bus", therefore I hope someone who has travel some experience would provide a good answer)

Do pls refer my Colombo page for further details about buses...


RUPESH

Why go all the way south to Colombo and back NE to Kegalle. I am sure there are buses from Katunayake or Negombo to Kegalle via Nittambuwa, but the best people to ask would be from Kegalle, if you have friends or a hotel there. You would avoid all the traffic jams around Colombo. Good luck

Thank you for the info. The point is that I want to make the Central Bus Stand a staring point of my journey. I would like to visit some monasteries located within 30-km zone south- & northeastward from the city before going to Kegalle. Therefore, I think that I have to be hardwired to the CBS for some time because it is from this place that I can reach any places around Colombo. From Kegalle I want to get to a place called Devalegama.

I am reading a guidebook that says about some Central Bus Sand in Pettah close to the bodhi tree in Colombo. Is the same bus stand (in Colombo 1) that I am asking about? Is there a guesthouse area nearby?



Thanx again for your help and many blessings to all of you!

thanks. well, is the bodhi tree a place that anyone know of in CLM? you mean that there is no bus stand any longer there?

Your detailed knowledge of the country is very impressive. What about Kirindiwela? Can I get to Kirindiwela from the airport, then from Kirindiwela directly to Kegalle? Or, like this: Colombo-Kirindiwela-Kegalle-Kandy? It would be very convenient if it was possible to visit these two places one by one without going back to Colombo. Thanks.

Thanks, and from which bus stand in Colombo can I go to Kirindiwela?

Thank you, Oscar, for guiding me. Each time I communicate with you, the vision of my trip is getting clearer and clearer. One more question. Is it possible to get to Kanduboda then from Kanduboda to Kirindiwela without going back to Colombo? Therefore, my trip looks like this: Colombo-Kanduboda-Kirindiwela-Kegalle, etc.

Yes. That Kanduboda is near Delgoba. And my guide-page says that I should take a bus 224 (Colombo/Pugoda) leaving from the CBS. I don’t know if this info is outdated or not. Well, as a matter of fact, I am supposed to be there this Sunday. I don’t mind traveling by local buses. I used to travel this way in India. Still alive. And as a result, my Hindi improved in a short time then.
Well, when I get to the country, I will let you know how my plan based on your guidance worked, just for curiosity sake.
And, by the way, is the Bo tree in CLM a famous place of interest? I read many posts and articles in guide-books where this place was often mentioned?

Thanx again for your help. Many blessings!