Safe walking routes through the Pettah night market for tourists
5 Answers from travellers
Pettah is generally safe from violent crime, but pickpocketing is a major risk in the dense crowds at dusk. Keep your bags in front of you. Most shops close rapidly around 7 PM, so go between 5 PM and 6:30 PM. A hidden gem is the Red Mosque (Jami Ul-Alfar); seeing it lit up at dusk amidst the market chaos is incredible.
It gets very dark in the deep alleys once the shops roll down their shutters. Stick to Main Street after 7 PM.
Grab a hot falooda from the Bombay sweet shops on Second Cross street before they close.
There are small Muslim hotels selling biryani, but for a nice dinner, take a tuk-tuk out of Pettah to the Dutch Hospital precinct.
Scam Watch: colombo
Driver claims the meter is broken and quotes an inflated flat rate. Common on arrival at airport or railway stations when tourists are tired and disoriented.
Drivers wearing official-looking uniforms claim to be "government-approved" and charge 3-5x normal rates. They may have fake badges or ID cards.
Women with babies approach asking you to buy milk powder at a nearby shop (not cash). The shop is run by accomplices and charges 5-10x normal price.
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