Sri Lanka
Trincomalee is a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka. Set on a peninsula, Fort Frederick was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century. Within its grounds, the grand Koneswaram Temple stands on Swami Rock cliff, a popular vantage point for blue-whale watching. The holy complex contains ornate shrines and a massive statue of Shiva. Nearby Gokanna Temple has panoramic views over the city and the coastline.
Trincomalee is famous for its sandy beaches and calm waters. The beaches are safe and have powdery sand grains which are quite different from other beaches in Sri Lanka.
Also known as the British War Cemetery, the Trincomalee Commonwealth War Cemetery is a resting place of the British soldiers during the World War II. Three Hundred and Fourteen soldiers have been identified as casualties in the cemetery. The Trincomalee Commonwealth cemetery is one of the six British War Cemeteries in Sri Lanka. After the independence, the place is maintained by the Sri Lanka Defense Ministry. The place is located at around 6 kms from the A6 main road towards Nilaveli - just south of the Trincomalee Municipality limits. You can find the names of the lost soldiers in the www.cwcg.org website.
Whale watching season starts from July to September in Trincomalee. Trincomalee is the most famous beach - after Mirissa for Whale & Dolphin Watching. The splendid beach and clear waters gives you a chance to watch the giants in their own habitat. Some of the famous dolphin species that you would be able to see are the bottlenose, spinner and fraser dolphins. Blue whales are killer whales are also a common sight during the season. You can watch the dolphins and whales swimming in close proximity - as close as it can be.
Fort Frederick or Fort of Triqillimale is a Portuguese fort built in 1600s. During the colonial rule, the Koneswaram Temple (or Koneswaram Kovil) was destroyed by the Portuguese and the Fort of Triqillimale was built upon it. Later after the capture of Sri Lanka by the Dutch, the Fort was reconstructed and renamed as the Fort of Frederick. Currently, the place is under the control of the Sri Lankan Army. The place has historical evidences of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British Rules. When you walk through the fort, you will be able to visit the Gokana Temple and the Koneswaram Temple. The Fort Frederick is one of the most loved Forts in Sri Lanka by Tourists.
Hoods Tower is a naval museum in Trincomalee at the Fort of Ostenburg. The museum showcases all historical evidences of the Sri Lanka Navy from inception to the defeat of LTTE. The museum also has a collection of functional guns maintained by the Sri Lankan Navy. Much of the artefacts are located in the ground and underground levels and the artefacts are mostly recollection of items during the civil war, used by the Sea Tigers - the Navy branch of the LTTE. If you want to know more about the Civil War and the LTTE, do talk to a local soldier standing by.
The Kanniya Hot Springs is a site with hot wells located in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. There are seven wells in a square shape. Wells are only 3–4 feet deep and you can clearly see the bottom.
Koneswaram temple is a classical-medieval Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Trincomalee, Eastern Sri Lanka.
Pathirakali Amman Temple – Pathirakali Ambal Kovil – or the Kali Kovil, Trincomalee is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of the goddess Kali Amman in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.
