Kataragama Travel Forum

Dear All,
Im on a tight schedule to Kataragama from Colombo. Is there a night bus from Colombo to Kataragama and vice versa. Where can i get the bus? Thanks.

Vicknaes

Goto Colombo Central Bus Stand.
Thats at the heart of Colombo - Also called Pettah Bus stand or "Pita-Kotuwa Bus Stand".
Just behind that you will find the private bus stand.
(Not the most cleanest and the safest part of the country!!)

There you will find lots and lots of Luxury/Semi Luxry coaches.
Go buy a ticket and enjoy the trip. (there is a small Counter that you can make advance bookings, If you are planing to go on a weekend You better book the ticket before 2.00 PM and be there at least 30-45 minutes before departure . It would cost some where around 200 Rupees I guess. and the trip is about 7 hours. So try to catch a bus that leave little late so you will be able to reach Kataragam early morning.

Be aware of all sort of crooks. !! In both the places. There are peaple who is trying to sell different type of things and some peoapl that offer free rides (as they are going back to Kataragama alone) be carefull with them.

The trip will not be the most comfortable trip, But you wil survive :)

Cheers
Kayzee

Yes, there are night buses from Colombo. Go to Pettah central bus station, you can make advance bookings too. I recommend you take the Government Buses, they have a semi luxuary service, they are not the best but quite comfortable.
There are night buses from Kataragama also. Enjoy your trip.....

Thanks Sir for the replies. You have been of great help. As i arrive in Colombo on a thursday morning and want to leave on the same night, do u think its possible to get the ticket the same day?
Could I buy the ticket at the airport?
How much does the cab cost from the airport to colombo? Is this the best way to get to the city?
Thanks.

Vicknaes

You cannot book busses from Air Port.

Usually in the private bus station busses are booked on sameday. Only few busses (and government Busses) can be booked early.

I would suggest the private bu service. The Government Semi Luxury service is not air conditioned. and If you can book a government (We call them CTB busses)

What I would do is first goto Pettah Central Bus Stand and Check whether they have any Air Conditioned busses to
Kataragama and book it. If not then go to the Private bus Stand (just behind Main Stand, about 5 minute walk) and check for an air conditioned bus.

When you do your booking check whether Its a big bus. Usually they have 20-26 seaters which are small. Its not the easiset thing to sit in one of those buses for 7 hours.

You can ask the bus conductor how to get a bus in your return trip, They will advise you how to do it.

There are several different ways that you can come from Air Port to Colombo. In your case easiest will be using the Air Port to Colombo Shuttles. As you come out of the air port you will see CTB busses on your left side. those buses are going directly to Pettah Central bus Stand. So you can go in that bus and make your booking to Kataragama. cost of this cannot be more than 75 Rupees.

Then you have the common Air Port Taxi service. Which is quite messy. I would not recomend using the Air port taxi service. (2 times I used that service and had very bad experiences.)

If you are a non-Sri Lankan passport holder, There is a Ceylone Hotel Corporation Counter just outside Terminal. Talk to them they can arrange you a taxi . The cost of this will be around 1300RS.

Hope this helps.

Dear Sir,
Thank you for clearing my doubts. I'm still in a dillema in hoow 2 manage this trip in 3 day. I arrive in colombo around midnight. The next night I plan to take the bus to kataragama and then return the next night to colombo and fly back. In all, I have 2 night in the bus to and from katagarama. I leave early morning the following night.
I need advise on this matter:
Its better to stay in negombo then colombo? As i leave and arrive at late night.

Thank you.

Why not take a bus in next day morning you bus to Kataragama. you will be in Kataragama around 3-4 in the afternoon. Then you will have enought time to relax and have agood night sleep. Then take the next day night bus to Colombo.
You will have one qlty day to spend in colombo.

I do plan to take the bus thhe next night. As i arrive at night, im worried I cant catch the bus to colombo, plus i feel its better to stay in negombo as I arrive and leave at night. Do u think that this is a good idea?

You will be able to find a bus to colombo. But you will have aproblem in spending few hours. There has to be busses to Kataragama around 3.30 -4.00 am.

So if you dont have much lugage you can directly go to Petta Bus Station and get a bus to Kataragama.

So you will not be wasting a day in Negambo. And do most deficult part of the traveling at the beginig of the trip. Keep you relaxred for the rest of it.

This is what I'd do...

what time does the last shuttle bus leave to colombo from the airport? i arrive around midnight.

Vick

I beleive they have those shuttles round the clock.

I never did used them. At leaset they should have once leavin airport from 2-00, 3.00 in the morning.