A comfortable two-hour drive from the Cultural Triangle takes you to Trincomalee. Locals generally refer to this coastal town as ‘Trinco’, a fishing town that is blessed with one of the finest natural deep-water harbours. As a result, this harbour town was sought after by merchants for docking during the times of spice trade for centuries. It was also a popular military stronghold throughout history. Colourful streets, colonial forts, temples, and small-to-large fishing boats dominate Trincomalee’s landscape. Amongst these, Koneswaram Hindu Temple stands out as an iconic landmark of the town. This is a classical medieval temple and a popular pilgrimage site of majority Hindus who reside in and around this area. Trincomalee Fort, also referred to as Fort Fedrick, reminds travellers of Trincomalee’s colonial heritage. This fort was built by the Portuguese in 1624 CE. Later it was captured by the Dutch, renewed and renamed as Fort Fedrick only to be later captured by the British.

Today it is manned by the Sri Lankan army. The Fort is open for visitors and must be visited to understand the history that framed Trincomalee. Just outside Trincomalee are the quiet and beautiful beaches surrounding Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Kuchchaveli. These beaches are tranquil and inviting for travellers and best explored when the waters are at its best from May and October. This area has also built up a reputation for sightings of marine life. It is one of the best places to view blue whales and sperm whales during the season. The sea is great for scuba diving, snorkelling and surfing. Pigeon Island National Park, just 1km off the coast of Trincomalee, is also worth exploring either on foot or on diving and snorkelling expeditions which provide a wonderful opportunity to get up close to marine life including reef sharks.

One of our favourite things about Trincomalee is the abundant fresh seafood that’s available. This is the home to some of Sri Lanka’s finest collection of freshly caught seafood including lobsters, crabs, tuna, and snapper to name a few. Beachfront restaurants offer localised dishes for an authentic Sri Lankan experience. The tranquil shores of Trincomalee offer a number of upmarket luxury accommodation which are scattered along the coast lines. These accommodations are a wonderful way to relax in between activities and explorations. If you are keen to experience barefoot luxury, there is a handful of such accommodation available although not plenty.