Trincomalee is a harbour city on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. The Bay of Trincomalee's dock is famous for its massive size and safety; unlike everything in the Indian ocean, The shores are accepted for surfing, scuba diving, whale watching and fishing. The town also has the most comprehensive Dutch fort in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, Most of the Tamils and Sinhalese assume that this area is divine to the Trincomalee and its neighbourhoods have both Hindu and Buddhist sites of historical significance.
The Pigeon Island National park, fringed by a coral reef near Nilaveli beach, was named as a National Park under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance in 2003. It is unique because the only national park in the nation to harbour a colony of the gorgeous Blue Rock pigeons and contains some of the best surviving coral reefs in the country. Over 100 varieties of corals and more than 300 reef fish species have been recognised from the Trincomalee region. Many of these species are found within the Pigeon Islands National Park, consisting of about five hectares of land. About 1000 meters range into the sea with the coral reef as the national park border. The island is toured by boat, and it was launched for tourism in 2002.
The Trincomalee War Cemetery is a British war cemetery located along the Trincomalee-Nilaveli Road. It can be both a tremendous and sobering experience to take a tour through the cemetery areas. The pristine landscapes here provide a stark difference to the loss and grief that has been laid to rest here.
The cemetery itself was built in 1948 following the conclusion of the Second World War. It is one of six Commonwealth war cemeteries that have been made here in Sri Lanka. You’ll find a total of 303 graves here at the Trincomalee War Cemetery – all of which belong to soldiers of the British Empire that lost their lives fighting against the tyranny of the Axis powers in World War II. Soldiers of varying stations were laid to rest here. This included heroic members of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Owned by the Commonwealth War Games Commission, it is maintained by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence.
Thiru koneswaram Temple is one of the ancient temples in Sri Lanka. In the 16th century, it had one thousand pillars and was esteemed as one of the wealthiest temples in South East Asia. It had large amounts of gold, pearls, precious stones, and silk in its possession, endowed over one thousand years. But, unfortunately, the Temple was demolished by the Portuguese Commander of Army Constantine de Sa de Menzies in 1624 and used the rubbles to build a well-fortified Fort to prevent the Port of Trincomalee from falling to the rivals.
Uppuveli Beach has located only 3km from Trincomalee town. Uppuveli offers an outstanding balance between the palm tree-laden sandy beach and waterfront bars and an array of accommodation options.
Uppuveli looks straight East onto the Indian Ocean, making it another perfect location on the East to view an oceanfront sunrise.
Best season February – November
Pathrakali Amman Kovil in Trincomalee is one of the most magnificent Hindu temples you will witness in Sri Lanka. It’s a vast complex of associated shrines located in the Trincomalee Konesar Malai area.
The kovil is very majestic with its colourful look and plenty of novels imagined in the sculptures. Not only does the temple have such a fantastic interior design, but it is also a place with an impressive history.
It’s a spectacular experience for visitors, following devotees to pray for their requirements by cracking coconuts in front of the temple. Then, at 11.30 am, they have prayers, and yet non-Hindus will respond quite pleasant. You will be blessed with dots on your forehead, an extraordinary experience you will never forget.
Emerging from the water, a tiny island, a short distance away from the Trincomalee harbour, is the beautiful . Sober Island is steeped in antiquity and has been a well-kept secret away from prying eyes for many decades.
Unavailable to the public throughout the war, the Government has made Sober Island a holiday retreat that the Navy very capably runs as part of its development drive.
The history of Sober Island is fascinating and dates far back in time. In 1775 a teenage Midshipman name Horatio Nelson arrived in Trincomalee aboard the HMS Sea Horse.
Kanniya Hot Water Springs is an archaeologically shielded place with hot wells located in Kanniya in Trincomalee. It consists of seven wells that form a rectangular shape. The wells are only 3-4 feet deep with obviously visible bottoms. However, the water temperature of the wells is known to differ gradually from one to another. The place is popular amongst Sri Lankan Tamils for performing religious Hindhu rituals blessed and assumed to have started by Ravana of the epic Ramayana.
The myth behind the Girihadu Seya is interesting; Thapussu and Balluka, two traders from North India, created the stupa after meeting with the Buddha himself more than 2,500 years ago. It is said that this was the initial stupa in Sri Lanka. Up to the modern time, located atop a 212ft stone, near the Yan Oya water, the Girihadu Seya tranquil holds noble and pride.
Panoramic views of the picturesque haven surround the sacred place of worship and wonder. Climbing your way up towards the rock, you would come across stone slab inscriptions called the ‘Thiriyaya stone inscriptions’, dictating the origins of the stupa.
A peaceful and spiritual environment unfolds as you finally see the ‘vatadage’ and the remains of the ‘Buddhu gey’ (image house) and its stone pillars and bricks with its reclining Buddha statue.
Nilaveli beach is counted as one of the brightest white sand beaches in Aisa, and the beach is comparatively less crowded than most beaches in Sri Lanka. Nilaveli beach is located approximately 10-15 km from the town of Trincomalee in the north-eastern part of Sri Lanka. You will find many small shops or several other traders. Although this gives it excellent to rest and beach hotel, it is the oldest and most prominent hotel near the area. Most people who can’t afford a stay in a luxury hotel prefer to stay in tiny houses and small hotels nearby. There are lots of these around, so you won’t have trouble finding the best place set for you.
Holding the collar of a slender point, Fort Frederick has been a suspiciously suitable place for centenaries. A fort has initially been constructed here by the Portuguese in 1623 and was rebuilt by the Dutch. Eventually, the British took over in 1782. The Sri Lankan defence is used today, but you're capable of travelling most utmost of the fort.
Article by
Ravindu Dilshan Illangakoon
As co-founder and Head of Content at Sri Lanka Travel Pages, I ensure that every blog post we publish is AMAZING.