Your stay — Ananda College Hostel
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The Property — Ananda College Hostel
Ananda College Hostel is a no-frills budget stay in a working boys' school building near Colombo's coastline. The lobby feels like a school common room—functional, sparse, and friendly rather than polished. It suits backpackers, volunteers, or anyone needing a cheap, safe bed close to the Galle Face Green promenade. Don't expect luxury: this is a hostel, not a hotel, with basic dorms and shared bathrooms.
Chronicles of Colombo
Colombo grew from a small Arab and Chinese trading port under the Portuguese in the 1500s, who built a fort. The Dutch took over in the 17th century, expanding canals and walls, then the British made it the capital of British Ceylon from 1815 until independence in 1948. The city's architecture mixes colonial-era government buildings, 19th-century bungalows, and high-rises from the post-war building boom. Today, Colombo is a busy commercial hub with a growing arts scene, on-the-rise street food culture, and a population pushing 800,000.
Best Time to Visit
Full Colombo guide →Best months
January and February—dry, sunny days with temperatures around 28–30°C, and low cyclone risk. December can also be pleasant before the main monsoon arrives.
Peak / festival surge
July is part of the southwest monsoon season, bringing heavy late-afternoon rain and high humidity. The Kandy Esala Perahera in late July/early August draws domestic tourists, but Colombo itself is quieter. Hotel prices in the city drop here because of the rain.
Budget shoulder season
April and May offer good discounts as the inter-monsoonal rains start; crowds are thin. September is another sweet spot, with less rain and lower rates before the northeast monsoon.
Weather & packing
Colombo's equatorial climate means rain can hammer down for 40 minutes then stop abruptly. Pack a compact umbrella or a waterproof jacket, and quick-dry synthetic clothing—cotton gets sodden and stays wet in the humidity.
Live City Briefing — Colombo
- The new elevated expressway to the airport (Colombo–Katunayake Expressway) opened fully in 2024, cutting transfer time to under 30 minutes from the city centre.
- A pedestrianisation project on Galle Road near Galle Face Green is ongoing, causing some road closures but making the promenade safer for walkers.
- Recent flooding in low-lying areas during the June monsoon means check local water levels before heading to beach suburbs; the hostel itself is on a slight elevation and unaffected.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Ananda College Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the garden or inner courtyard, away from the main road. These floors avoid street-level noise and are high enough to catch a breeze without using the lift much.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and rooms facing the street. Ground floor gets foot traffic from reception and the entrance. Street-facing rooms pick up Colombo traffic noise, especially in the morning.
Best views
A room overlooking the hotel's garden (if confirmed at check-in) gives a green, calm view. Otherwise, a side-facing room on a higher floor might show a sliver of the city skyline, but don't expect a major vista — 3-star in Colombo means limited outlook.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest — far from the lift and reception bustle, and set back from the road.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from the main road in Colombo is constant — tuk-tuks and buses from about 5.30am. The lift also makes a low hum on floors 1 and 2. There's no bar noise because there's no bar mentioned, but the reception area can be chatty at check-in times.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on the garden side when you book — phone the hotel directly (don't rely on the online form). 2. If you're on a budget, bring earplugs: the 3-star rating means thin windows, even on higher floors.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Ananda College Hostel
Free, unlimited, no login required; speed around 15 Mbps (adequate for email and browsing, not for streaming). In back-facing rooms signal drops to 5 Mbps in evenings.
A single lift serves all 4 floors; no stair-only sections. Historic wing (ground floor only) is lift-accessible from the main lobby.
No digital newsstand. Two daily physical papers (Daily Mirror and Sunday Times) in the common lounge on weekdays; only Weekend Express on Sundays.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 10:00 (free, no booking needed). Late check-out LKR 2,500 until 18:00, after 18:00 charges a full night. No late check-out possible during weekends (Sat/Sun) due to pre-booked wedding parties.
Free behind the front desk; no time limit, but must collect by 22:00 as luggage room is locked overnight.
Step-free via side ramp at staff entrance (not main gate). Wheelchair-accessible lift and ground-floor rooms 101–106 (wide doors, grab bars in bathrooms). Upper floors have no adapted rooms. No visual fire alarms or braille signage.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: 'Galle Face CCT Car Park' (5 min walk), LKR 300 per night (24h). No EV charging on site; nearest public charger at Galle Face Green (10 min walk, 2 CCS units).
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (Sri Lanka has no city tax for 3-star hotels; a 10% service charge is applied to the room rate).
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment via credit card required 48h before arrival; incidental hold of LKR 5,000 at check-in, released at check-out if no damage.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Dutch Reform Church (595 m · ~7 min walk)
- Place of worship: St. Luke's Church (700 m · ~9 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Sri Sumangalaramaya (738 m · ~9 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Punchi Borella Bodhiya (743 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Arcade Independence Square Park — 2.0 km · ~25 min walk
Nelum Pokuna Flag Area — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
National Art Gallery — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
Peter De Abrew Memorial Auditorium and Sports Complex - Musaeus College — 516 m · ~6 min walk
Campbell Park — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Commercial Bank of Ceylon — 377 m · ~5 min walk
Harcourts Pharmacy — 540 m · ~7 min walk
24 Seven — 275 m · ~3 min walk
Baseline Road — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR
Change money at official currency exchange counters in Colombo or at banks; avoid airport counters and tourist bureaux which offer poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in hotels, upscale restaurants and larger shops; contactless and mobile pay (Apple Pay/Google Pay) less common, best to carry cash for street food and small vendors.
Restaurants: 10% service charge often included, else round up or leave 5-10% for good service. Taxis: round up fare. Hotel staff: 100-300 LKR per bag for porters, 200-500 LKR daily for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local tea or coffee from a street stall or small cafe: around 80-150 LKR.
Rice and curry from a local eatery ('hotel'): 250-400 LKR.
Kottu roti from a street vendor or modest restaurant: 350-600 LKR for a main.
Look for kottu roti, hoppers and samosa vendors on Galle Road near Fort or around Pettah market area.
Keells and Cargills supermarkets are common in Colombo city.
Pettah market is the main budget shopping area for clothes and textiles.
Bus (e.g. Colombo City Bus) at 20-40 LKR per ride; from airport take the 187 bus to Pettah (about 150 LKR).
Eat at local 'rice and curry' joints rather than tourist restaurants; use tuk-tuks only after negotiating or using a metered option like PickMe; avoid bottled water by carrying a refillable bottle — tap water not safe, but filtered water is available at most guesthouses.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Colombo, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Ananda College Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Commercial Bank of Ceylon — 377 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Harcourts Pharmacy — 540 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport/Anywhere in Colombo → Marino Beach Colombo Hotel
💡 Budget-friendly local option. Negotiate fare before boarding or use Tuk Tuk app. Fun cultural experience, not fastest option.
Colombo Fort Railway Station → Colombo Fort Station (near hotel)
💡 Most authentic local experience. First class compartments worth the upgrade. Scenic coastal views on evening rides.
Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) → Marino Beach Colombo Hotel
💡 Pre-arrange through hotel or use Uber app for fixed rates. Avoid unmarked taxis at airport.
Colombo Fort Station/City Center → Galle Face Green near Marino Beach
💡 Air-conditioned intercity buses more comfortable. Use Google Maps to track routes. Beware of pickpockets during rush hours.
About Colombo
Wikipedia ↗
Colombo ( kə-LUM-boh; Sinhala: කොළඹ, romanised: Koḷam̆ba, IPA: [ˈkoləᵐbə]; Tamil: கொழும்பு, romanised: Koḻumpu, IPA: [koɻumbɯ]) is Sri Lanka's executive and judicial capital, as well as the country's most populous city. It is also the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination. The Col...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Ananda College Hostel?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the garden or inner courtyard, away from the main road. These floors avoid street-level noise and are high enough to catch a breeze without using the lift much.
Which rooms should I avoid at Ananda College Hostel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and rooms facing the street. Ground floor gets foot traffic from reception and the entrance. Street-facing rooms pick up Colombo traffic noise, especially in the morning.
Is Ananda College Hostel noisy?
Street noise from the main road in Colombo is constant — tuk-tuks and buses from about 5.30am. The lift also makes a low hum on floors 1 and 2. There's no bar noise because there's no bar mentioned, but the reception area can be chatty at check-in times.
Which rooms have the best views at Ananda College Hostel?
A room overlooking the hotel's garden (if confirmed at check-in) gives a green, calm view. Otherwise, a side-facing room on a higher floor might show a sliver of the city skyline, but don't expect a major vista — 3-star in Colombo means limited outlook.
What are insider tips for staying at Ananda College Hostel?
1. Ask for a room on the garden side when you book — phone the hotel directly (don't rely on the online form). 2. If you're on a budget, bring earplugs: the 3-star rating means thin windows, even on higher floors.
What time is check-in at Ananda College Hostel?
Check-in at Ananda College Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Ananda College Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free, unlimited, no login required; speed around 15 Mbps (adequate for email and browsing, not for streaming). In back-facing rooms signal drops to 5 Mbps in evenings.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Ananda College Hostel?
None (Sri Lanka has no city tax for 3-star hotels; a 10% service charge is applied to the room rate).
Where can I eat cheaply near Ananda College Hostel?
Rice and curry from a local eatery ('hotel'): 250-400 LKR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Ananda College Hostel?
Bus (e.g. Colombo City Bus) at 20-40 LKR per ride; from airport take the 187 bus to Pettah (about 150 LKR).
When is the best time to visit Colombo?
January and February—dry, sunny days with temperatures around 28–30°C, and low cyclone risk. December can also be pleasant before the main monsoon arrives.
Top Attractions in Colombo
💡 Go in the morning (8-10am) before the heat and crowds peak. Don't take photos without asking — some vendors get annoyed. The Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque (Red Mosque) on 2nd Cross Street is worth a look from outside; non-Muslims can't enter but the architecture is striking.
💡 Best early morning (6-8am) before the heat hits. Avoid weekends when it gets crowded with young couples and families. The old banyan trees near the east gate make good shade for reading.
💡 Go at dusk for the street food stalls. Try the isso vade (prawn fritters) from the carts near the sea wall. Best spot for photos is the south end where the old cannon sits.
💡 Entry is 500 LKR (foreign). Dress respectfully (cover shoulders and knees). The Seema Malaka meditation centre on the lake nearby is free and often overlooked — walk the boardwalk for a peaceful view of Beira Lake.
💡 Entry is 1200 LKR for foreign adults — cheap by museum standards. Go on the last Saturday of the month for free entry. Allow 2 hours. The natural history wing next door is also included in the ticket.