What hotels in Trincomalee have nice views? Holidays in Trincomalee from A to Z How to get from Colombo to Trincomalee.

Trincomalee, one of the best natural deep-water harbors in the world, is located 257 km northeast of Colombo. The Trincomalee region is home to beautiful beaches such as Nilaveli and Uppuveli. In addition, not far from Trincomalee is the coastal island of Pigeon. Let us also add that Trincomalee has recently become a popular place for whale watching.

The Trincomalee region, called Gokanna or Gokarna in historical records and inscriptions, is strewn with many ruins of ancient Buddhist temples and is considered the main Buddhist cultural and archaeological site of Sri Lanka. The seven hot springs at Kannia, located just 8 km from the city of Trincomalee, attract constant crowds of tourists and locals throughout the year thanks to the therapeutic properties of the water, as well as varying temperatures from one well to another.

Trincomalee on the map of Sri Lanka

Attractions Trincomalee

Koneswaram Temple

If you only have time to visit one place in Trincomalee, we recommend heading to the colorful Koneswaram Temple. In a classic medieval complex surrounded by dramatic cliffs and Gokarna Bay, you will find Trinco's greatest wealth. The temple is a major center of Hindu pilgrimage.

Fort Frederick

Like many fortifications in Sri Lanka (such as Fort Galle), Fort Frederick was built by the Portuguese, rebuilt by the Dutch and then administered by the British. Today the fortress is occupied by Sri Lankan troops, but visitors can explore several areas of it.

Fish market

British War Cemetery

After Singapore fell to the Japanese during World War II, Trincomalee became the main naval and air base for the British and Allied powers in South Asia. The cemetery contains the graves of 364 British Empire soldiers who were killed or died during the Second World War. Moreover, we are not just talking about the British - citizens of Sri Lanka, India, Canada, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Italy, Myanmar and Pakistan are buried in the cemetery.

St Mary's Cathedral

Cania Hot Springs

The seven geothermal wells in Cannia are a popular holiday destination for tourists and locals. You are also likely to see crowds of Sri Lankan schoolchildren having fun here, who often visit this place in groups. If you want to go swimming, there are separate changing rooms for men and women. Please note that the use of soap is prohibited.

Uppuveli and Nilaveli beaches

The attractive coastal communities of Uppuveli and Nilaveli offer beautiful beaches. Uppuveli Beach, which is more developed, has calmer water and is therefore better for swimming. Nilaveli Beach is a longer beach (about 4 km), but there are fewer hotels here than on Uppuveli. In addition, the waters here are less calm than at Uppuveli.

Pigeon Island National Park

With powdery white sand, volcanic rocks and lush vegetation, Pigeon Island certainly looks like an idyllic island. However, the recent surge in tourism means you'll have to work hard to find a quiet spot. In addition, the island's growing popularity means that the once pristine reef is clearly degrading. To combat this, many areas around the island have been cordoned off.
Pigeon Island is located near Nilaveli. Tourists are usually brought to this island for only two hours. The tour can be arranged through your hotel.

Pigeon Island National Park is a small island and one of two marine national parks in Sri Lanka, which contains the best coral reefs of the Indian Ocean. The waters are crystal clear and ideal for snorkeling and diving.

How to get to the island - take an excursion to Nilaveli Beach, which is located on the mainland 1 km from the island or on Uppuveli Beach. The cost of an excursion to Pigeon Island is 6,200 rupees for two people, including round-trip transfer and tickets to the reserve. We wanted to find some simple boats that would take us to the island, but it turned out that one company completely monopolized the market and set high prices for its services, so we had to buy tickets from them. Their stalls are located at Nilaveli and Uppuveli. If you want to save money, then go with a large group, since the boat is paid for, and it doesn’t matter how many people there are - 1 or 6. We saw how the Chinese crammed 8 people into one boat.

Pigeon Island got its name from the rock pigeon colony that nests here. Now there are more Sri Lankans here than pigeons, and this is not easy - the cost of a ticket for locals is 50 (!) times less than for foreigners.

It is best to go in the morning, when the sun is not too hot; the first boats start operating at approximately 8:30. There is no schedule, just buy tickets and you will be taken. Be sure to take sun cream with you and agree with the boatman what time to pick you back. Usually 1.5 - 2 hours is enough to snorkel. There is nothing else to do on the island (unless, of course, you booked diving, which is paid separately).

Don't forget to return the tickets you bought on the beach to the ticket office.

We climbed onto the rocks to take in the horizon, but then they started whistling and gesturing for us to get down. But we managed to take a photo.

There are no cafes, restaurants, showers. There is only a ticket office and a canopy under which we hid during a prolonged downpour. If you don’t want to get caught in the rain, go to Trincomalee in a good season - from March to June. Here I am, frozen and chilled due to the cold downpour, sawing back to the meter.

Both Denis and I liked Pigeon Island, despite the fact that the cost of the excursion was 3 times too high. There is clear water, hundreds of beautiful exotic fish and gorgeous coral reefs. But you shouldn’t expect anything special from Pigeon Island; a walk along it should be taken as a short excursion and a way to diversify your holiday in Trincomalee. You can’t lie on the beaches all the time.

By the way, about the beaches.

5. Nilaveli and Uppuveli beaches

There is a nice, wide coastline here. More or less clean, comfortable, the entrance to the ocean is gentle, there are no algae and nasty small stones that are so painful to step on.

There's a ton of information here:

And here about the hotels that you can rent right on the shore:

6. Yoga

In Trincomalee, yoga is held both on the shore (for example, at the Aqua Hotel Trincomalee) and in the city itself. While walking around the city, look for signs like these.

7. Ruins of the Buddhist monastery Velgam Vihara

Velgam Vihara (Velgam Vehera / Welgam Viharaya) was built in the 2nd century AD. This is the oldest building in the entire area, but the average tourist knows nothing about it. Meanwhile, the place is excellent: calm, peaceful, and most importantly, there are a lot of ancient things all around that you can touch without anyone bothering you. Admission is free, there are no tourists. Beauty.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t take normal photos: the battery on the new phone ran out, so we had to take photos with an old Samsung.

The photo below shows a perfectly preserved staircase and a full-length stone statue of Buddha. For a moment, they are about 1800 years old.

There are inscriptions carved on the stones, which, I want to believe, someone will someday study, but now they are right on the floor, you can walk on them. But something is already known - there was a monastery here, Sinhalese and Tamil Buddhists lived in it. The monastery was located in the impenetrable jungle, next to a pond. The water from the reservoir, of course, had magical healing properties.

When we left, a gorgeous sunset began. If you're in Trincomalee, take the time to go here; it's a 20-minute bike ride from the city.

The monastery has a website www.welgamviharaya.org, there is more information about the place.

8. Seaport

When we entered the territory of the seaport, the guards tried to extract money from us for entry. We asked for a long time where these rules came from and whether they would give us tickets to confirm that this was a real rule and not an ordinary scam. As a result, the guards got tired and let us through just like that. The conclusion is that they simply tried to scam us. Naive, few people succeed in this.

The port is quite large, the most interesting thing about it is the cemetery of old, broken ships. Hulks with a hole in the side or upside-down tiny boats, broken beyond recognition, look creepy.

9. Crow Island

This is actually a very small peninsula and the only place in the area where benches are not located in the open air, but in the shade of trees. It's a good place to take a break from the heat and offers a good view of the ocean and neighboring islands.

10. Go to Pasikuda

110 km south of Trincomalee there is a little-known resort with excellent beaches - Pasikuda (or Kalkuda). You can get there by bus, train, motorbike or taxi.

More details here:

11. Take pictures with cows

Just imagine: you come back from vacation to your hometown, call your friends and loudly into the tube: “Masha, I took a picture with the cows in Trincomalee!” Masha, of course, immediately asks whether you were vacationing in Sri Lanka or in a cowshed in the city of Miass, and what’s going on. And you proudly answer: “But in Trincomalee there are unusual cows, they are not milked, they are not used at all, they roam around the city like stray dogs, eat from trash cans and in general they are sacred animals, they are revered and never offended. They are also very photogenic and don’t mind posing.” Masha will be surprised again and ask if you have been to India, because everyone knows that in India the cow is a sacred animal. And you will surprise Mashka again: “No, I was not in India, but on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, Indians live there, they raised hundreds of cows that feel great in freedom.”

Well, if you know that your friends won’t be surprised by stray cows, then see the next point. Nobody expects deer in Sri Lanka.

12. Take a photo with the deer

These cuties sit out in the jungle in the midday heat, and from 4 pm they graze in the dirtiest area of ​​the city - in the area of ​​the bus station (it is marked on the map at the beginning of the post). There are large fields near the bus station, where the wind blows garbage from the city and deer look for leftover fruits and vegetables there.

The bravest ones walk right through the streets.

Deer are wild, they have no owners, they live in the jungle, but they are already accustomed to people. Come visit the kids with a bunch of bananas, deer love bananas! They eat them instantly :))

Selfie with a deer. This is only possible in Trincomalee.

Other entertainment

Kanniya - 7 hot thermal springs. A very advertised place on the Internet, they write that this is an excellent place for relaxation and treatment, they write that these are hot springs. Everything seems to be so, but if you dig deeper, it turns out that here you cannot relax in pools with hot water (as is customary in other Asian countries), there are 7 wells, you scoop up water from there and pour it on yourself.

Trincomalee, or “Trinco” as the locals call it, is located in the northeast of Sri Lanka, 250 kilometers from the capital of Ceylon, Colombo. This is a port city, which since ancient times has been a pier for a huge number of merchant ships. The fact is that the harbor of Trincomalee Bay is very wide and deep. Ships can enter here in any weather.

Trincomalee Bay is windless, dry and warm throughout the year. That is why tourists from all over the world are drawn here. Few people can be indifferent to the beautiful beaches here. These are real bounties with lush tropical greenery on one side and calm turquoise ocean water on the other. Be prepared that on the way from the hotel to the beach you will meet slow and harmless monitor lizards, and every now and then a pair of curious eyes of lemurs will watch from the trees. People come here for a calm, relaxed holiday away from noise, parties and crowds of tourists.

In addition, the city is known as a health resort. Not far from Trincomalee there are the famous Sri Lankan hot springs, which the locals attribute to miraculous powers. People line up to collect water from one of the seven dousing wells. Tours to Trincomalee will be of interest to lovers of a relaxing beach holiday, families with children, as well as fans of diving and fishing.

Climate and weather

The resort has a pleasant warm climate throughout the year. Unlike other cities in Sri Lanka, on the northeast coast there is practically no difference between the “high” and “low” seasons. When the rainy season begins in Ceylon in May, Trincomalee is also dry and warm. Precipitation is possible, but very short-lived. It rains mainly in the evening and at night. If you don’t want to see clouds in the sky at all, go to Trincomalee between January and April. The air will warm up to +30, the water in the ocean to +29. At this time, the resort is dry, warm and comfortable.

Beaches

The Trincomalee coastline, 30 kilometers long, is divided between three beaches: Upuveli, Nilaveli and Trincomalee city beach. The latter is filled with locals throughout the day. It is not very comfortable to relax here due to the close attention of Sri Lankans to “white” tourists in swimsuits and swimming trunks.

Upuveli Beach is located near the city center and is also more developed. In Upuveli you will find villas, small hotels, as well as guesthouses and bungalows. You can have a snack in one of the simple coastal cafes, as well as rent a sun lounger and diving equipment. The beach here is wide, uncrowded, and covered with fine yellow sand. The entrance to the water is gentle.

The nearby Nilaveli Beach is even more secluded. There are an order of magnitude fewer hotels here and the accompanying infrastructure too. But the place is very picturesque. And considering that there are very few tourists here, on Nilaveli you can feel like a real Robinson on a desert island. The ocean water in this area is surprisingly clear, the beach is covered with beige sand. Sitting on the shore, you can often see whales in the ocean.

Hotels and inns

Finding a trip to Trincomalee is quite simple, since the choice of hotels at the resort is still very modest. There are only a few five-star hotels, a little more than four-star and three-ruble hotels. In the city, it is also common to stay in mini-hotels with 5-10 rooms and in guest houses, which serve as a home for local residents and at the same time a modest haven for tourists.

All inclusive in Trincomalee is becoming increasingly popular. You can easily find a hotel with full board and good service. But keep in mind that the beaches at the resort are public, which means that local residents can also relax here. The level of housing prices in Trincomalee is slightly higher than in other resorts in Sri Lanka. The service staff is humble, friendly and helpful.

Attractions

One day is enough for you to see all the sights of the city. First of all, tourists strive to get to Pigeon Island, which is two kilometers from Trincomalee. This is a tiny piece of land in the middle of the ocean. Its length is only 500 meters, however, it even has its own beach. Fans of diving love to come here, because after relaxing on the picturesque beach and walking around the surrounding area, you can take an exciting dive to a beautiful coral reef. The island is part of the Sri Lanka National Park and there is an entrance fee.

In the center of the city is the ancient Fort Frederick, which is still a military base for Ceylon. Despite this, the fortress walls are open to everyone. The fort was built in the 17th century by Portuguese colonialists. The building material for it was the ruins of the oldest temple in Sri Lanka - the Canned Temple or the Temple of a Thousand Columns. It is located a little further, on a rock. The grandiose religious building is dedicated to the god Shiva. For local residents this is a sacred place. Here you can see many of the famous sacrificial baskets of fruits and flowers brought by the Sri Lankans, as well as admire the panoramic view of the city from Swami Rock. Walk a few hundred meters more and you will find yourself in a picturesque place with the romantic name “Lover's Leap”. This is the cliff from which, according to legend, the daughter of a Dutch military officer threw herself from unrequited love.

Walking around the city, you will probably notice that Trincomalee is multi-religious. There are churches, mosques and Buddhist temples here. The Hindu temple of Sri Pathrakali, in the city center, stands out from the crowd. Its facade is decorated with many sculptures and bas-reliefs personifying deities. The temple is small but impressive. It was his photo that was replicated on postcards and calendars about Trincomalee.

Cuisine and restaurants

Trincomalee cuisine is primarily Ayurvedic dishes, that is, aimed at preserving human health. Vegetarian cafes are very common here. And even in ordinary restaurants, meat is not the main component of the dishes. The base of it all is rice and curry seasoning. These ingredients are found almost everywhere. If you decide to get to know the local cuisine better, order a salad of fresh pineapple and avocado as a light snack. The fruits are cut into cubes, seasoned with vegetable oil and sprinkled with curry. Here it is, a striking example of the phenomenon of Sri Lankan cuisine: a skillful combination of incongruous things can be very tasty.

Residents of Trincomalee love and cook seafood well. Don't deny yourself the pleasure of ordering tuna stewed in coconut milk. This is the favorite national dish of local residents. The fish simmers for a long time in the whitish juice of coconuts and is served with vegetables and rice. In local cafes you can also try the freshest crabs, lobsters and giant shrimps.

At the end of the meal, you can enjoy exotic fruits, which in Trincomalee restaurants are served on a large plate. There will be ripe bananas, papayas, passion fruits, sapodillas and rambutans. All in all, a real tropical paradise. For dessert, you can also order the national dish, Hakura Appa. This is a fried rice cake coated in coconut.

What to bring

In addition to tourism, Trincomalee residents are actively involved in fishing. But because of this, you shouldn’t bring shells as a souvenir. Let's remember that we are in Ceylon! Be sure to buy jars and boxes with different types of tea. A great gift and just a nice souvenir for your loved one. In addition to tea, purchase homemade honey at the market or store in Trincomalee. In Sri Lanka it is of plant origin. Dark brown honey is not at all similar to ours. The barely perceptible aroma of pine cones and coconut gives it a unique taste.

Ayurveda is an integral part of Sri Lanka. Local residents prefer to take care of their health with the help of herbs and plants. So, when you are in Trincomalee, buy a “starter set” of Ayurveda as a souvenir: toothpaste with dark brown pepper, face cream from a mixture of several dozen herbs and coconut-based shampoo. At home you can enjoy all this, enjoying the familiar aromas of Sri Lanka and remembering your vacation in a distant country. And, of course, you cannot leave Trincomalee without the famous Sri Lankan seasonings and wonderful elephants, which are the symbol of Sri Lanka.

Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: beaches, weather, attractions, how to get there

The major port city of Trincomalee is located on the east coast of the island and is 240 km from the international airport, 232 km from Jaffna and 415 km from Matara. The city is the administrative capital of the Trincomalee district of the same name in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Thanks to the absence of strong waves in the ocean, snow-white sand and a rich underwater world, the city is the most famous beach resort on the east coast of the island.

Trincomalee is a beautiful coastal city, surrounded by greenery, with many colorful ancient Hindu temples, located on the rocky shores of a huge deep-water bay. Since ancient times, this city has amazed arriving sailors with its beauty.

Modern Trincomalee is a large coastal city with a developed infrastructure, it has hotels, shops, numerous shops and travel companies, a post office, as well as a bus station and a railway station connecting it with Colombo and other major cities in Sri Lanka.

Trincomalee Map

Trincomalee city on the east coast of Sri Lanka

The modern name of the city of Trincomalee comes from the Tamil word "Tirukonamalai", translated meaning " lord of the sacred hill"The city of Trincomalee was first documented in connection with the settlement of the Koneshwaram temple dispute more than 2,500 years ago.

The port city of Trincomalee has long been known to seafarers due to its unique conditions that allow it to receive ships throughout the year. Trincomalee was also a city that connected Ceylon with Southeast Asia.

In ancient times, the city was dominated by dynasties: Pallava, Chola, Pandyan, Jaffna kingdom. After this, starting from the 17th century, Trincomalee was successively ruled by European colonialists: the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British until the mid-20th century, when Sri Lanka gained independence.

The city suffered greatly during the civil war that directly affected these territories, which lasted until 2009, as well as from the terrible tsunami of 2004, when damage was caused to the entire east coast: underwater gardens were partially destroyed, the beaches, previously considered one of the best in Sri Lanka.

How to get to Trincomalee from Colombo airport

By taxi

The airport's official prepaid taxi counter is located at the exit of the arrivals terminal. Taxi ordering at the airport is open daily, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Taxi travel time to Trincomalee is about 5-6 hours.

By bus

To get to Trincomalee you can use public transport. To do this, you need to take bus No. 187, 187-1, 187-3 at the airport, which goes to the Pettah bus station or the Central Bus Station. If the bus arrives at CAS, then you need to walk to the Pettah bus station. There you need to find bus number 49, it goes to Trincomalee, buses leave every hour from 5:00 to 17:00. Travel time is 7 hours.

By train

Alternatively, take the daily overnight train, leaving Colombo Fort at 21:30. The train arrives in Trincomalee at 5:30, a 1st class ticket with air conditioning costs 1250 rupees. There is no need to reserve tickets in advance; they can be purchased at the station ticket office on the day of departure.

Attractions Trincomalee

Fort Frederick
(Fort Fredrick)

Fort Frederick, also known as Trincomalee Fort, was built by the Portuguese in 1624 on the site of part of the remains of an ancient Hindu temple they destroyed in 1622. After the destruction of the Koneswaram temple by the Portuguese, a settlement was built at Cape Konamalai.

The fort was a fortified fortress with four bastions equipped with a dozen cannons, inside the fort there was a Catholic church and a garrison of 50 soldiers.

The Portuguese named the fort Triquillimale. The name "Trincomalee" was originally derived from the transliterated version of the Tamil word "Thirukonamalai".

In 1639, Ceylon came under the rule of the Dutch and in 1665 they erected their Fort on the site of the Portuguese, after which it was renamed Fort Frederick. On the territory of the fort there is a temple, restored from the looted and destroyed by the Portuguese, Koneshwaram temple, built on the Swami rock.

Hindu temple Thiru Koneswaram
(Thiru Koneswaram Temple)

The date of foundation of the temple is unknown; it was first mentioned in the 6th century. BC The temple was destroyed in 1622 by the Portuguese, who ordered the temple to be razed to the ground. Since the Portuguese invasion, the Koneshwaram temple is called " temple of a thousand pillars".

In 1632, the temple was partially restored; most of the original idols were preserved, because Previously, local residents buried them, but did not destroy them, while the main shrines were secretly transported to another temple and subsequently returned.

The name "Thiru Koneswaram Kovil" in Tamil means: Thiru - sacred, kone - deity, Eiswara - supreme god, kovil - temple. Also earlier the temple was called "Thiru-Kona-Malai", malai - mountain. There is a scientific hypothesis that the worship of the god Kona - Eisvara on the ledge is the oldest existing form of worship.

Koneshwaram Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and is one of his five abodes in Sri Lanka(Naguleswaran in Jaffna, Ketheeswaram in Mannar, Muneswaram in Puttalam, Tondeswaram in Mathara). An emblem in the form of two fish and a prophecy were found on the ruins of the temple that, starting in the 16th century, people with different eye colors would rule the country for the next five hundred years.

Kanniya Hot Springs
(Kanniya Hot Springs)

Kanniya Hot Springs consists of 7 shallow wells designed in the form of square wells. The depth of the wells is very small - about 1 m. Among Hindus, the temple complex is called Nathanar Kovil.

The springs are part of the ancient Buddhist temple complex of Velgam Vehera / Vilgam Rajamaha Viharaya, dating back to the era of King Devanampiyatissa.

The first mention of the Velgam Vehera temple dates back to the 3rd century. BC, however, the existence of sources in Cannia is mentioned in ancient Indian literature - in the Ramyan and Mahabharata.

Port of Trincomalee
(Trincomalee Harbor)

Trincomalee Port is a former British military base handed over to the Sri Lankan government in 1956. After the transfer, the port was converted into a commercial one. The Port of Trincomalee is located on an area of ​​5,260 hectares.

The Port of Trincomalee consists of two parts: the inner harbor and the outer port. The outer port consists of Trincomalee Bay, which has approaches to the harbor and bays at Koddiyar, to which the Mahaweli descends. At the place where the Mahaweli River flows into the bay, there is a deep underwater canyon more than 1.2 km long, 400 m deep. Literally 10 meters from the shore, the depth reaches 300 m.

The inner harbor is located close to high rocky cliffs and is therefore not affected by monsoon winds. The sheltered water area of ​​the harbor can accommodate a large number of ships, the day depth is suitable for the movement and mooring of small, medium and large cargo ships, oil tankers and supertankers. Trincomalee Harbor is the second largest natural harbor in the world. Unlike any other port in the Indian Ocean, Trincomalee is accessible to all types of ships in all weather conditions.

Pigeon Island National Park
(Pigeon Island National Park)

Pigeon Island, or Pigeon Island, is one of two marine national parks in Sri Lanka. Pigeon was declared a nature reserve in 1963 and was later upgraded to national park status in 2003, a year before the deadly tsunami.

Pigeon Island is called because it is a breeding ground for the rock pigeon. Uncontrolled tourism, coupled with the tsunami, has led to the degradation of reefs and a decline in marine life.

Pigeon includes two islands: Large and Small Pigeons. Great Pigeon is a huge coral reef measuring 100*200 m above the surface. The highest point of the national park is 45 meters above sea level. Little Pigeon consists of a reef surrounded by rocky islets.

The reserve is home to about 100 species of corals, 300 species of reef fish can be observed there, including the blacktip reef shark, as well as many sea turtles, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, green and other marine life.

Naval Headworks Nature Reserve
(Naval Headworks Sanctuary)

Naval Headworks Game Reserve is located 10 km from Trincomalee. The territory of the reserve is located in a dry climatic zone where evergreen forests grow (Dry-Zone Evergreen Forests).

Naval Headworks Wildlife Sanctuary is home to wild elephants, leopards, bears, deer, Bengal monitor lizards and many other animals, including endemic bird species.

The reserve was founded in 1963. There are two large reservoirs on the territory of the reserve. The total area of ​​Naval Headworks is 18,130 hectares.

Hindu temple Pathirakali Amman
(Pathirakali Amman Temple)

The ancient Hindu temple was built in honor of Goddess Bhadrakali, a form of the deity Kali Amman. The temple is designed in the classical style of Dravidian architecture.

The time of construction of the temple is unknown; the first mention of this place dates back to the 11th century. The temple is located on New Moor St., near the Trincomalee bus stop.

Pathakali Amman Temple is also called Sri Pathrakali Temple, Pathirakali Ambal Kovil and Kali Kovil.

Buddhist temple Seruvavila Rajamaha Viharaya
(Seruwawila Rajamaha Viharaya)

The territory of the temple complex is located on an area of ​​35 hectares and also includes a Bo tree, a stupa, a pond, and monastic hermitages. Seruvavila Temple was built in the 2nd century. BC, in the era of King Kavantissa. When the stupa was created, a Buddhist shrine was placed in it - the frontal bone of Buddha.

Over the years, the Seruvavila temple fell into disrepair under pressure from Tamil invasions from the north. Subsequently, the temple began to collapse and was forgotten over time until its discovery in the 1920s.

The modern temple was restored by archaeologists in 1931. In 1962, the territory of the complex was declared an archaeological reserve, after which a phased restoration of the complex began. Due to unrest in the north and east of the island over the past two decades, restoration work at the temple has slowed down significantly. The site is now under the control of the Sri Lanka Department of Archeology.

Buddhist temple Lankapatuna Samudragiri Viharaya
(Lankapatuna Samudragiri Viharaya)

The Lankapatuna Temple was erected at the site of the arrival of Prince Danta and Princess Hemamala in Sri Lanka, who brought one of the main relics of Buddhism to the island - buddha tooth, which is currently located in Kandy.

Lankapatuna Temple is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka, the complex is located on an area of ​​50 hectares. The port of Lankapattana, where the royal couple first landed on the island, is now called Lanka Patuna.

The ruins of an ancient Buddhist temple were destroyed in the mid-1990s by the terrorist organization LTTE and a Hindu temple was erected in its place in 2003. After the defeat of the LTTE, the Buddhist temple was restored and the destroyed dagobah was excavated. From the territory of the temple on the rock there is an amazing panorama of the surrounding beaches and bays.

Bridge at Kinniya
(Kinniya bridge)

The town of Kinniya is located 20 km from Trincomalee; its main attraction is the longest bridge in Sri Lanka. Qinnia is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Muslims.

The city is also home to the Great Mosque (Grand masjid), restored in 2002 by the Saudi Arabian government. The age of the mosque is more than 400 years.

The name of the city "Kinniyya" comes from the name of the local tree species "kinni", with which the local residents - the Kinniya people - were identified.

Trincomalee beaches: Marble Beach, Uppuveli and Nilaveli

One of the reasons for the growing popularity of Trincomalee as a beach resort is the comfortable wide and long beaches with white sand, clear water and beautiful underwater fauna.

These beaches are a real find not only for lovers of diving and snorkeling, of which there are a huge number, but also for tourists who prefer a classic, peaceful beach holiday.

Trincomalee has three major beaches:

• Marble Beach(Marble beach)
  A relatively small but clean beach located in Koddiyar Bay. Lots of locals, especially crowded on weekends.
• Uppuveli(Uppuweli beach)
  Located in Trincomalee itself, in the Back Bay, 4 km from the city center. The beach is clean, the infrastructure is well developed: there are many hotels, cafes and shops on the beach.
• Nilaveli(Nilaveli beach)
  Located 12 km from Trincomalee, it is a long sandy beach with white fine sand. Considered the best beach in Trincomalee, the infrastructure is under development.

Beach holidays in Trincomalee with children

The beaches of the east coast, Trincomalee and Batticaloa, are ideal for families with children: in addition to the fact that the shore and water are clean, the sand is fine and non-prickly, the entrance to the water is very gentle for a long distance from the shore, there are practically no waves.

Things to do in Trincomalee

Trincomalee is a beach resort; lovers of nightlife may find it boring here, because relaxation here does not imply noisy parties until dawn. But for lovers of a relaxing holiday in nature and water sports, Tririnko has a real treat:

• Diving
• Snorkeling
• Swimming with whales and dolphins
• Fishing in the open ocean, etc.

At the popular tourist beaches of Nilaveli and Uppuveli, training services are offered in large quantities for different skill levels.

• Whale and Dolphin Watching

Weather in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

The temperature throughout the year, due to the proximity of the island to the equator, varies little: during the day +28C - +30C, at night +24C - +26C. The water temperature in the ocean also does not change much and is +28C. The best time to visit Trincomalee is during the tourist season, which runs from April to October. At this time, the driest weather sets in and the ocean is not stormy.

In the off-season, since Trincomalee is a deep-water bay, on this section of the coast, where the water is usually calm, there can be very strong waves, the ocean is stormy, and it rains.

Hello friends. In this article we will tell you what happens on the beaches of Trincomalee during the high season and when the monsoon blows. We were at Nilaveli beach. It is located 12 km from the city of Trincomalee. December-January is not the season here, but we decided to visit here to see what one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka looks like during the monsoon period.

Trincomalee is sometimes called Trincomalee or Trinco. Located in a bay of the Indian Ocean, on the shore of a deep-water harbor. Northeast coast of the island of Sri Lanka.

Despite its distance from (about 260 kilometers and about 12 hours’ drive), Trincomalee is loved by tourists from all over the world. There are advantages here, especially from May to October.

The shores of the bay protect the area from strong winds. The climate here is drier and warmer than in other resort areas of Sri Lanka. Trincomalee has two famous beaches: Nilaveli and Uppuveli.

You can go to Sri Lanka all year round, but remember that it is an island and the beach weather depends on the monsoons. Therefore, pay special attention to the location.

Before the trip, we studied beach and cultural places, organized and thought about what to do with winter things. We left a suitcase with winter clothes in , a medium backpack in , and decided to do part of the route lightly with small backpacks.

We calculated the time strictly, but we realized that we really wanted to see the famous beach (at least one) in the off-season, when the winds blow from the ocean and, as they say, swimming is not allowed.

We were there in December-January and traveled around the central and western parts of the island. It's really cool there in the winter.

But in the Trincomalee area at this time, it’s just not the season. So after , the northwestern point of the island, we returned to and on January 1, in the afternoon, we left in the opposite - eastern direction to Trinco.

The hotel on Nilaveli beach was booked in advance from home.

We first got there by bus. We arrived in Trincomalee around 6 pm, when it was about to start getting dark. We made arrangements with a tuk-tuker who took us straight to the hotel. We arrived in the dark.

A port city with a convenient large quiet harbor, known since prehistoric times. An important point in the Kingdom of Siam, from which trade routes went, including to China.

There are cultural and historical monuments, despite the fact that for a long time the city was under the rule of Portugal, France, Holland, and Great Britain.

So, for the needs of the fort, the Portuguese destroyed the ancient temple, taking away the columns to strengthen the garrison. Now these columns are in the Lisbon Museum.

In addition, the city lies on the border of Sinhala and Tamil territories. There was a war here for a long time. Therefore, or because there was a naval base in the fort city until 1957, but along the beach there are towers on which soldiers stand with machine guns.

They don’t shoot, they don’t declare a curfew, they just guard and watch. It looks a little strange.

Sometimes you can see destroyed houses - the consequences of the 2004 tsunami.

What to see in Trincomalee

First of all, these are religious buildings and temples of various faiths:

• Hindu
• Buddhist
• Muslim
• Christian

These are the famous Buddhist stupas. In Anuradhapura they are gigantic and preserved.

Attractions Trincomalee

• Koneswaram Kovil Temple

Near the temple there is another attraction - Swami rock.

Here you can do scuba diving and snorkeling.

• Kanniyai Hot Wells is a sacred place for Hindus. It is believed that the springs were created by the god Vishnu to fight the demon. You won't be able to swim in them - only ablutions. These are seven small square wells with thermal water, in the open air. Pilgrims and tourists collect water in buckets and douse themselves with it.

• near the wells there are the ruins of an ancient city
• Kinniya Bridge, the largest in Sri Lanka

• reservoir of the 7th century AD Kantale

• fort frederick

• ruins of British military bases from World War II. Now they are favored by colonies of bats.

These attractions are accessible at any time of the year.

Beaches of Trincomalee

The city itself has a fairly clean, wide city beach. Locals usually swim here.

Near Trincomalee, a wide sandy area stretches along the coast. You can swim almost everywhere, but the best beaches are Upuveli and Nilaveli.

Wide beach, but not in season

There are no noisy nightlife attractions, expensive restaurants or developed tourist infrastructure here. For parties and nightlife, you should go to the south of the island.

The beaches of Trinco are suitable for those who are looking for peace, quiet life and water sports: diving, surfing, windsurfing and snorkeling on the islands.

High season in Trincomalee is from April to October.

From May to August, marine lovers come to watch whales and dolphins.

Uppuweli

This is a small resort village with inexpensive housing. Mostly bungalows, guesthouses and quiet mini hotels.

Stop at Nilaveli village

• Located 6 kilometers from the city center.
• The beaches are deserted, long, wide, with soft yellowish sand and calm sea. The sea is warm and clean.

• Rest without fuss and noise. Everything is simple, but colorful, allowing you to understand the life of local residents.

• There is a memorial and cemetery for those killed during the Japanese air attack in April 1942.

Nilaveli

The village of Nilaveli is located about 5 km from Upuveli.

Before the terrible tsunami wave passed here in 2004, Nilaveli Beach was considered almost the best in Sri Lanka.

Now part of the tourist structure has been restored and continues to be restored. The place is still attractive to tourists. There are cafes, guesthouses, mini-hotels.

A secluded, beautiful place with wide, long beaches. Almost deserted.

Tourists even come here from America, which has plenty of its own beaches.

In Nilaveli you can rent a boat and go to Pigeon Island.

Nilaveli in winter

Pigeon Island

Pigeon is a small, green, uninhabited island. On one side of the island there is a gently sloping sandy beach with fine, almost white sand, and on the other there is a coral reserve.

In the morning and evening, the island is at the complete disposal of flocks of pigeons. Hence the name.

Nilaveli Pigeon. Season

The island is popular with divers. Snorkelers are also happy with it.

A few kilometers north of Pigeon there is another island - Coral Island.

There are no boats heading to this island, but you can swim. This is one of the best dive sites in Sri Lanka.

How to get to the beaches

Buses run from Trincomalee to the beaches every 30 minutes.

To Uppuveli

• Travel time is 20 minutes.
• The fare is 26 LKR.
• You can take a tuk-tuk. It is approximately 250 LKR during the day and 300 LKR at night and evening.

To Nilaveli

• by bus 45 minutes. Cost 30 LKR
• tuk-tuk costs about 250 LKR

Off season in Nilaveli

Besides us, there were three other people staying at the hotel. So the hotel was deserted.

In the evening it was warm, dry and not at all stuffy.

At about 11 am the air temperature was 26-27 degrees, and by the middle of the day it was 30. There was no rain.

We found the beach completely empty, except for cows lying on the sand and a couple of local residents. Soon three groups of schoolchildren arrived. They had something like "Joy Starts" involving tasks on shore and at sea.

The waves are quite high; we wanted to swim, but we didn’t dare go into the water. There are no buoys or designated swimming area.

And then we noticed a man in the water. He swam calmly, but did not go far from the shore.

Then we also decided. The water is pleasant, the sand is quite fine without stones and shells. The depth increases quite quickly, so we also stayed closer to the shore. The wave felt oceanic, not sea.

When we came out of the sea, we saw a man doing yoga. It turned out to be a local resident. His house was located here, in the jungle. He spoke English very well, so we didn't understand everything.

Word for word, he seduced us into visiting him to look at the peacocks walking in the yard.

See the photo report about this.

Conclusion: during the monsoon season from November to February there is absolutely nothing to do here, especially with children.

By the way, the next morning we were completely alone at the hotel. The rest left.

During the high season, from April to October, this is an excellent place for a relaxing and sporty holiday.

How to get to Trincomalee

The most convenient way to come is from Anuradhapura. We traveled by bus and tuk-tuk.

From Colombo

There are many ways to get to Trincomalee and transport links are very good. Prices are any, but travel times vary little.

By plane

You can fly to Trincomalee by local airlines. The airport in Trinco is called Trincomalee Airport, or China Bay Airport. Flights arrive here several times a week from Ratmalana Airport, which is located in the south of Colombo.

If you have money, you can rent a regular propeller plane or helicopter, or even book a charter flight.

Airlines:

• HeliTours - regular flights three times a week, order charters
• FirstAir - charters only
• SimplyFly (Millenium Airlines) - charters only

From Bandaranaike Airport (Colombo), charter can be ordered from the following airlines:

• Cinnamon Air
• SimplyFly (Millennium Airlines)

By taxi

You can take a taxi from Bandaranaike International Airport to Trincomalee. Approximately 120 dollars.

By train

The train leaves Colombo at 21:00. Arrives Trincomalee at 05:10 am.

• Travel time 7 aces.
• Ticket price 15$

There is a daily night train from Trincomalee to Colombo

• travel time 9 hours.
• The train departs from Trincomalee at 20:00

By regular bus

There are regular buses to Trincomalee

• travel time 7 hours
• cost 345 LKR

The bus station is located next to the railway station.

On a comfortable air-conditioned bus

• travel time 6 hours
• cost 600 LKR
• run every 45 minutes

On a scooter

Rent a scooter and travel. Driving in Sri Lanka is on the left.

We covered part of the route by car. In Kandy we rented a car with a driver. Very convenient and not expensive.

From Kandy to Trincomalee

You can get there by bus. Travel time is approximately 6 hours.

From Trincomalee to Kandy the bus leaves at 14:30

Trincomalee, Nilaveli, Upaveli on the map

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