01
Koneswaram Temple
A vivid Hindu temple perched on the sea cliffs of Swami Rock above the harbour.
Trincomalee
A great natural harbour with temples and blue water.
What makes Trincomalee.
Trincomalee commands one of the finest natural deep-water harbours in the world, and its long history layers Tamil temples, a Dutch-British fort and a celebrated cliff-top shrine over a strategic port fought over for centuries. The vivid Koneswaram temple stands dramatically above the sea on Swami Rock at the edge of Fort Frederick, whose grounds are roamed by spotted deer. The town is the gateway to the calm sands of Uppuveli and Nilaveli just north and to the coral of Pigeon Island offshore. From the cliffs and on boat trips, blue and sperm whales are sighted in the eastern season, and the hot springs at Kanniya add an unusual stop inland.
A great natural harbour with temples and blue water.
- May – September (north-east dry season)Best time
- 6Spots to see
- ~450KVisitors / year
What to see
Where to explore in Trincomalee.
The landmarks and corners worth carving out time for. Each one a reason this place earns its place on the route.
02Fort Frederick
A colonial fort on the headland, its grounds roamed by spotted deer.
03Marble Beach
A glassy, sheltered bay of clear shallow water near the town.
04Uppuveli Beach
A long, calm beach just north of town, the closest swimming strip to Trincomalee.
05Kanniya Hot Springs
A set of seven walled hot-water wells inland, a long-standing local bathing site.
06Whale watching
Seasonal boat trips offshore in search of blue and sperm whales and dolphins.
Find Trincomalee on the map.
Where Trincomalee lies within the East Coast, and the landmarks clustered around it, so you can picture how it threads into the rest of a tour.
Make Trincomalee yours.
We weave it into a private, tailored trip around how you want to travel.