IF YOU'RE ON A REALLY TIGHT BUDGET AND NEED A PLACE TO STAY FOR A WHILE IN COLOMBO,

then Hotel Concord may be the place for you. Located on the main Galle Road in the suburb of Dehiwela, this small hotel can cater to all your immediate needs because of its central location. You're no more than a brief walk or car journey away from the heady variety of restaurants, shopping malls, banks, business centers, bars, and nightclubs located all over this truly cosmopolitan city. There is enough variety in price and location to suit any mood or budget.
Other modes of transportation around the city include the regular bus service and the zippy little trishaws or 'tuk-tuks' which take you places in next to no time at very cheap prices - make sure you bargain with them though, and watch out for the occasional hair-raising experience.

Of the 25 simply furnished rooms at the Concord, 14 are air-conditioned, the rest have fans and they all have phones. The bar is well stocked with all types of alcohol and reasonably priced, and the fairly large restaurant serves an à la carte menu of eastern and western fare. The hotel is dark and cool and offers much welcome shade and respite from the sometimes-intense heat and mad hustle and bustle of the city. The atmosphere here is relaxed and familiar; you can do your own thing in uninterrupted privacy. You will find the Manager and staff fluent in English, very accommodating, and helpful when it comes to making travel arrangements out of the city.

The Concord also has conference and banqueting facilities for up to 300 at the Conimara Banquet Hall, which is also quite popular with the locals for weddings and receptions. There is also a small beer garden for you to relax in during the evening, and ample parking space.

Among the many places of interest, the largest zoo in Asia is almost on your doorstep and definitely worth a visit. You could also check out the Museum and Town Hall for stunning architecture, the National Art Gallery and Gallery 706 at Barefoot for some of the best Art exhibited by local painters. Find your way to the Beira Lake and visit the beautiful Gangarama temple there, which is home to elephants that are used in the spectacular Peraharas - religious processions on full moon days in honour of the Buddha.