Things to Do in Trincomalee Sri Lanka – A Captivating Port City

The striking Koneswaram Temple is one of Trincomalee's significant sightseeing attractions. This colourful shrine will undoubtedly capture the interest of visitors who are interested in visiting engrossing religious attractions. In fact, this important Hindu temple attracts a steady stream of devotees as well as sightseers drawn by its mystical aura. Hindu pilgrims regularly visit this temple as it is considered to be a Pancha Ishwaram, or one of Shiva's five abodes.

In recent years Sri Lanka has acquired a strong reputation as an excellent destination for whale watching. In this regard, Trincomalee has become known as a good locality for this pursuit, with many foreign visitors opting to observe these giant marine mammals in the waters off this town. You will have the opportunity to observe whales from various points at Koneswaram, or alternatively choose to head out in a boat on a whale watching excursion. The period extending from the month of May through October is considered to be optimal for watching whales.

For an authentic insight into the way of life of the locals, make it a point to drop in at Trincomalee's bustling fish market. This raucous marketplace will enable you to gain a first-hand glimpse into the lives of those who earn a living through fishing. If you visit this fish market you will find a remarkable selection of sea creatures including tuna, squid and barracuda that are caught within the nearby waters. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe the manner in which the fish and other sea creatures are bought and sold here.

Sightseers in Trincomalee who desire to relax and some time leisure time unwinding on a beach can take the opportunity to take a pleasant stroll on the stretch of sand to be found at Manayaweli Bay. In fact, this stretch of beach is the location at which the majority of the local fishermen disembark before taking their hard-won catch to the fish market. At the nearby tank, you will also notice the women of the area washing their laundry.

In common with many other Sri Lankan fortifications, such as Galle Fort, Fort Frederick was initially built by the Portuguese colonialists, then refurbished by the Dutch and later taken control of by the British. Today you will see that the military of Sri Lanka occupies this fort, but visitors will still have the opportunity to explore some of the fort's ramparts. A choice of accommodation to consider from which this fort would be within easy reach would be boutique hotels in Sri Lanka belonging to key hotel chains the likes of Uga Escapes.

Following the loss of Singapore to Japanese forces during World War II, it was Trincomalee that became the principal air and naval base for the Allied forces in the region of South Asia. You will see that the British War Cemetery holds the graves of no less than 364 combatants hailing from various parts of the British Empire and other nations that lost their lives during this war. These fallen soldiers came from nations such as Sri Lanka, Canada, India, Netherlands, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, East Africa, Pakistan and Myanmar.