Best 8 Amazing Things to Do in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
#1 Snorkeling at Pigeon Island in Trincomalee
Pigeon Island in Trincomalee is one of the most famous for the visitors with its powdery white sands and glittering coral gardens. It’s a renowned snorkel spot on the East coast of Sri Lanka. It offers visitors the chance to snorkel with many corals, thousands of Colourful reef fish (including blacktip reef sharks), and turtles.
Pigeon Island is about 2.5 kilometers away from the Trincomalee shore, which can be reached only by boat. When you get to Trincomalee beach areas, their people will ask you about going to Pigeon Island.
Going there is an ideal half or full-day trip from Trincomalee. You have to get a boat to the island from Nilaveli Beach, and you have to pay an entrance to enter the Pigeon Island, National Park.
#2 Fort Fredrick at Trincomalee
Fort Frederik is an old fort built by the Portuguese in the 1600s in Trincomalee. The Fort was rebuilt by the Dutch and then commanded by the British. Today, the Sri Lankan military occupies the fort but opens for the visitors to explore inside.
You can see many deer hidden inside the fort because trees cover most of the fort. The Fort is well known to the house within it, the Koneswaram Temple, yet another famous attraction you will have to drive through fort Fredrick.
#3 Koneshwaram Temple at Trincomalee
The Koneshwaram temple (Ramayana Related Temple) is an iconic and beautiful place that adorns Trincomalee. The temple sits on a scenic location surrounded by the blue waters of the ocean. Renowned as the temple of 1000 pillars, the temple overlooks the dramatic Swami Rock, Gokarna Bay, and fort Fedrick.
This is a significant temple for Hindu pilgrims (Ramayana) and known to be one of the Pancha Ishwarams (five abodes of Shiva) built in Sri Lanka in dedication to one of the main Hindu deities. The inner space of the temple filled with different artwork and statues; you can walk around and witness.
The visiting of the temple adds no charge, but you must remove the shoes before entering the temple and pay 50 rupees to the man who stores them. The disciplinary code requires you to cover your knees, and if you were wearing shorts, you are given a large piece of cloth for free to tie around your waist.
#4 Nilaveli Beach in Trincomalee
Nilaveli Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka, which situated approximately 16 kilometers North of Trincomalee. It’s the starting point for Pigeon island boat trips, but it’s also the perfect spot for watersports, relaxing, and beautiful beach area where you can chill for the day.
Rent a motorbike or Tuk-Tuk for your whole stay and drive there and explore the nearby beaches. If you are going to Nilaveli in the weekend, locals from all over the country also like to visit Nilaveli Beach, because of its white sand.
#5 Whale Watching at Trincomalee
Trincomalee is famous for Whale Watching and also one of the most popular things to do in Mirissa in the opposite season. From May to October, whale watching on the east coast is the most popular activity.
Boat Trips generally leave early in the morning and return a couple of hours later. You can get on a boat and hope to see plenty of whales along with dolphins.
#6 British War Cemetery in Trincomalee
When you visit Trincomalee, British War Cemetery is a unique place that should be visited. After the Japanese won over Singapore in World War II, the British made Trincomalee the leading naval and airbase for the allied powers in South Asia.
This cemetery was established in 1948, and one of the six commonwealth war cemeteries in Sri Lanka. Graves of 364 soldiers of the British Empire who died or executed during world war II included in this cemetery.
This Cemetery belongs to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission while it now maintained by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense. Visitors are allowed to visit the site between 07:00 to 16:00 every day.
#7 Sri Bhadrakali Amman Temple
The temple is one of the Colourful Hindu temples dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali. It built in the 11th century and located in Trincomalee town and easy to visit during your stay.
If you are driving through the city, or even walk along the beach, don’t miss this unique and Colourful temples to visit, it’s easy to discover your own.
#8 Kanniya Hot Water Spring
A journey to Kanniya hot springs would surely leave you a distinct experience while your stay at Trincomalee, I recommend you to go earlier if you want to have a bath there free of the crowd.
The separate changing rooms for males and females are provided there and be advised not to use soap as it is prohibited. Also, Sri Lankan and Indian people believe that this is one of the Ramayana Places.
