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Trincomalee Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 3 - 4 Days

Best Time: May to June Read More

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Also Refered As:

Gokanna

"Overwhelming beaches, temples and ports"

Trincomalee Tourism

The quaint city of Trincomalee also famously known as ‘Gokarna’ is an essential fragment of the country, contributing towards the betterment and development of the district and in a nutshell, Sri Lanka. Trincomalee is a port city famous for its white sand beaches and most beautiful harbours. The locals here predominantly speak Tamil.

Owing to its long history of civilian settlements, the town is quite prominent for its culture, tradition, and its well known historical sites. The city is situated on the east coast of the island and is almost 237 kms north-east of Colombo, the capital of the country. The Trincomalee or Gokarna Bay and the ‘Then Kailayam’ (also known as Kailash of the South/Koneswaram) temple are some of the most famous spots in the city.

These attractions bind the history, ancient traditions, and the faith of Shiva to form the ‘Pancha Ishwaram’, meaning five coastal temples or ‘kovils’ in Tamil language. A population of around 99135, the city is based on a peninsula and supposedly was an important seaport in the international trading history. Trincomalee is also the administrative headquarters of the district. Besides these factual points, Trincomalee is well known for its beautiful beaches such as Nilaveli, Uppuveli and the off-shore Pigeon Island. The city is developing as an upcoming tourist destination due to the exciting whale watching point and because of its historical relevance.

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History of Trincomalee

The history of Trincomalee is quite vast and rich having layers of ancient pilgrimage, the British arrival, and the post Independence period. It is said that the past does define your present and also anticipates the future. The port city of Trincomalee or Gokanna/Gokarna and Dambakolapattuna in Jaffna have been some of the great seaports of ancient Sri Lanka since 543 B.C. These ports have attracted pilgrims and traders from different parts of the world. The history of Trincomalee goes as it is believed to be the harbour where Prince Panduvasudeva sailed into Sri Lanka from Sinhapura, India. After the ancient kings and rulers of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the civilian settlements, the Tamilian dynasties arrived along with Jacob Burnand, a Swiss soldier’s memoirs discovery, it was long established that the city of Trincomalee would play an essential role in the progression of the country. Along with some highs and lows during the British Raj, Post Independence saw Trincomalee’s history prevailing with its ancient temples, texts, and its ports.

Historical Sites of Trincomalee

With a mixed up and vast history of the city, Trincomalee occupies some incredible historical sites with a faithful background of worship and obedience for Lord Shiva. Along with Shiva, the earliest ancient texts were found in Trincomalee city written in the Tamil language along with an inscription discovered by archaeologists among its Hindu archaeological remains revealed that worship of deities from Hindu, Catholic, and Buddhist Vihara had taken place during the earlier times. Significant historical sites include the Bhadrakali temple on Konesar road, artefacts of the Koneswaram temple compound (3rd Century/demolished in 1622), and the Dutch Fort built in 1623(entrance to the Koneswaram temple, captured by Portuguese).

Harbours in Trincomalee

The fifth largest natural harbour in the world, the port has been held by the Dutch, the Portuguese, French, and finally the British. However, Trincomalee harbours have smartly adapted their techniques and have formed new strategies to shape their trading. Also, the entrance of the port is held by two headlands. A tropical climate also offers the tourists to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka.

Local Foods and Restaurants in Trincomalee

Trincomalee serves the best of food in their local fancy cafes and restaurants ranging from Asian to Italian cuisines, moreover their Sri Lankan kitchen tops the menu list. One can also find their good old fast food options at almost any restaurant. Seafood is a speciality which is deliciously combined with such herbs and flavours that will leave your taste buds wanting more. Some of the restaurants serving fantastic seafood include Gaga Restaurant, Rice ‘N’ curry, and Sana Palace.

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Trincomalee Photos

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Scuba Diving in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

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FAQs on Trincomalee

What is the best time to visit Trincomalee?

Considering the country’s humidity, the annual temperature within the city is warm throughout the year with average rainfall. The best months to visit this historical city is within the warm months during May to early June, where the temperature usually varies around 39.1 degree Celsius to dropping down at 26.4 degree Celsius during the night. The winter months (December to February) are also an enjoyable time for the travellers as the temperature is pleasant with a low chance of rainfall. The temperature within this period ranges from 30.4 degree Celsius to 28 degrees with a slight chance of snowfall during this period. The city also witnesses massive tourism during this season. Thus, one can enjoy either the hot summers or experience the chills during the winter months of this serene city!
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What are the things to do in Trincomalee?

The top things to do in Trincomalee are Fort Frederick, Trincomalee, Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple (Koneswaram Temple), Trincomalee, Pathirakali Amman Temple, Kanniya Hot Springs, Swami Rock, Marble Beach. You can see all the places to visit in Trincomalee here

What are the places near Trincomalee?

The top places near to Trincomalee are Anuradhapura which is 94 km from Trincomalee, Sigiriya which is located 86 km from Trincomalee, Kandy which is located 157 km from Trincomalee, Nuwara eliya which is located 188 km from Trincomalee, Galle which is located 302 km from Trincomalee

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