Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
Pettah: The Stories Between The Shops
4.98Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 71 min 1.8 km Colombo App-guided
Play in
English
The experience
About this quest
Colombo's most chaotic neighbourhood has been hiding its stories for 12 centuries beneath the shouts of merchants and rumble of hand-pulled carts. Find a bell that outlived three empires, a forgotten British milestone and a Civil War veteran who changed Ceylon forever.
Pettah is loud, crowded and gloriously chaotic. Listen at each stop. Washrooms and vegetarian meals are available at Sri Suryas on Sea Street (10-minute walk or short tuk tuk ride from the final stop).
Pettah is loud, crowded and gloriously chaotic. Listen at each stop. Washrooms and vegetarian meals are available at Sri Suryas on Sea Street (10-minute walk or short tuk tuk ride from the final stop).
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Adult travellers and curious locals who want Pettah's bazaar explained, not just endured, get around 90 minutes of audio stories and easy puzzles, from Khan Clock Tower past temples, a mosque and a bell that outlived three empires. If heat and crowds drain you fast, or you are bringing young children or older relatives, pick something cooler: the 1.8 km route is hot, loud and packed.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Discover stories at a candy-striped mosque, dodge Nattami carts, explore a 200-year-old temple and a council chamber frozen in 1906. End at a coffee factory on an ancient street. Listen to the audio stories at every stop.Washrooms and vegetarian meals are available at Sri Suryas on Sea Street (10-min walk or short tuk tuk ride away).
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.98 / 5
45 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
Colombo
A · Start
136 Main St, Colombo, Sri Lanka
B · Finish
24 Old Moor St, Colombo 01000, Sri Lanka
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Ahila Thillainathan.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Ahila Thillainathan
WHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
Good to know before you play
- Hidden History
- Difficulty level: Easy 🟢😊
- Audio Stories
- The last part of the game might not be available after 4PM.
- Best in the morning to avoid the heat and see lively market, local shrines and temples.
- Ensure your phone is fully charged or bring along your trusty power bank
- Not suitable for young children or elderly people, due to the heat
- Wear a hat and sunscreen, have enough water
- Best in the morning to avoid the heat
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Pettah walking tour start and finish?
It starts at Khan Clock Tower and finishes at The Beans Coffee Factory, so it is a one-way walk, not a loop. Along the way you pass the Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, the Dutch Museum and Kayman's Gate Bell Tower. Sri Suryas on Sea Street, with washrooms and vegetarian meals, is about a 10-minute walk from the end.
How long does the walk take and how far is it?
Most players take around 90 minutes, including walking, listening to the audio stories and solving the puzzles. The route covers about 1.8 km through Pettah's busy market streets, with 11 stops between Khan Clock Tower and The Beans Coffee Factory. The difficulty level is easy.
When is the best time to go, and do we need to book a slot?
There is no time slot to book, so you start whenever you like. Morning is best, both to avoid the worst of the heat and to see the market, shrines and temples at their liveliest. The last part of the game might not be available after 4PM, so avoid starting late in the day.
Is it suitable for children or older relatives?
The puzzles are rated easy, but the walk is not suitable for young children or elderly people because of the heat. Pettah is crowded and loud, so it suits older teens and adults best. Everyone should wear a hat and sunscreen, carry enough water and bring a charged phone or power bank.
Can we play as a group and take breaks?
Yes. One ticket covers the whole group playing together on the same route. There is no guide to keep up with, so you can pause the game for a drink or a rest in the shade and continue later from where you stopped.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
Explore Questo giftsKeep exploring Colombo
