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.

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 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, the 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.

And the administrative capital of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, is located on the east coast of the island, approximately 180 kilometers south of Jaffna. The population of the city is 99,135 people. The city is built on a peninsula that separates the inner and outer port. Trincomalee is one of the main centers of Tamil language culture on the island. The famous ancient temple of Koneswaram was built in the city, which is mentioned in the Tamil chronicle Thirukonamalai, from which its English name comes. The city was a seaport playing a major role in Sri Lanka's maritime and international trading history.

Trincomalee Port Harbor is known for its large size and safety; unlike all others in the Indian Ocean, it is accessible to all types of sea vessels and in all weathers. The port is considered the fifth largest natural port in the world.

The coastline is used for diving, fishing and whale watching. The city also has the largest Dutch fort in Sri Lanka. It is the main base of the Sri Lanka Navy and also an air force base.

Most people simply pass through the city on their way to the nearby beaches, but the city has its own charm and a lot of history.

Historical places of Trincomalee

Trincomalee is a sacred place for the Sri Lankan Tamils ​​and Sinhalese. There are many important Hindu historical sites in and around Trincomalee. These places are sacred to Hindus and also some Buddhists worship at these Hindu places.

Despite the fact that Mahasena once destroyed the Sivan temple and built a Mahayana Buddhist temple on the top of the mountain, Hindus maintain peaceful relations with the minority of Sinhala Buddhists living here.

Hindu historical places

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The resort is attractive for its relaxing holiday, wide beaches located in a closed cove. This article is about the features of recreation, attractions and entertainment in Trincomalee.

The climate on the island is tropical, with sunny weather all year round. But there is a rainy season, which lasts from September to February. The rains at this time are short, and the air temperature is about +26. The best time for a holiday is March-July, at this time the ocean is calm and there is no rain. At the end of September-October you can meet jellyfish in the sea.

For party lovers, you need to choose the West Coast.

In 2004, the resort was hit by a devastating tsunami. His traces still remain in some places, and local residents, in case of danger, know where to run and hide. This is a high mountain nearby.

Trincomalee on the map:

From the capital's airport in Colombo you can get to Trimkomale by bus for 345 rupees, the journey takes 7 hours. There are more comfortable buses with air conditioning, the ticket price is 600 rupees and the journey takes 6 hours. The bus station is a 20-minute walk from the airport. If you get to the capital late in the evening, you can take the train. It leaves from the railway station at 21:00.

Trincomalee is a small town, you can get around by tuk-tuk or bus. From the bus station you can go to the beach for 20-30 rupees. Renting a vehicle is not as popular here as in other resorts.

Feel the atmosphere of eastern Sri Lanka

Trincomalee is the center of the province of the same name; the largest and main port of the island is located here. The bay accepts any ships, regardless of the weather. This is due to its large natural size. Sri Lanka's naval and air force bases are located in Trincomalee.

At different times Trincomalee was under the patronage of the British, French and Dutch. The influence of the cultures of these peoples can be found in the surviving buildings.

Choosing a beach

The West Coast is considered by many to be the best on the island. The beaches here are clean, wide, and there are usually few tourists on them. Upuveli is a small settlement near the center of Trincomalee. The beach is comfortable and convenient. Here you will find bungalows and small budget hotels. Upuveli is home to a memorial and cemetery where residents who died during the Japanese attack in 1942 are buried.

The beach is clean and comfortable and offers excellent snorkeling and diving. Those who wish will be able to quietly retire among pristine nature. Nearby there is a diving center, one of the best on the island. If you are planning a holiday in Trincomalee with children, then this is a very suitable place.

It's a relaxing holiday on the coast; there are no noisy parties here. You will find coziness, comfort and clean sand on Nilaveli Beach. It is also suitable for relaxing time with children. Both beaches can be reached by bus. It runs every half hour from Trincomalee, the ticket price to Upuveli is about 26 rupees, to Niaveli 30 rupees, you can take a tuk-tuk for 250 rupees.

Exploring the underwater world

Fans of diving and snorkeling are recommended to visit Pigeon Island, located near Niaveli. Its length is only 0.5 km, but it has its own clean coral beach; amazing nature gives true pleasure from staying on the island.

Translated, Pigeon means pigeon island. You can get there by boat. The island is considered a national park, so there is an entrance fee of $10.

Parents with children will be able to stay in a hotel near the beach, the room rate is $80-100 per night. The hotel restaurant has a children's menu.

You should definitely visit Somawathie Chaitiya, a national park where you can watch the life of elephants and see exotic animals. This will be an interesting walk for children.

What to see in the city and its surroundings?

Trincomalee belonged to the French, British, and Dutch at different periods. Different religions thrive in the city.

In the vicinity of the resort you can find Hindu and Buddhist temples. Koneswaram is a temple from the 3rd century BC. It is also called the Temple of 1000 Columns. The road that leads to it is the ancient Dutch fort Frederick. At the top of the fort, on the mountain, there is an ancient temple. From here you can admire the most beautiful views of the sea coast.

To the east of it is Fort Ostenberg, which now houses a naval base and museum. Near Nilaveli Beach there is a 2nd century BC temple with a Buddha statue in good condition.

Not far from Trincomalee there are hot springs surrounded by a wall, and a temple to the god Cherry was built here. The springs are considered his creation. All 7 sources of healing water are connected at depth, but the water temperature in each is different. The springs are small and impossible to swim in; visitors douse themselves with water from buckets. People come here to be treated for rheumatism and skin diseases. Velgam Vihara is an archaeological reserve. In us you can see the remains of a large mausoleum and two Buddha statues.

A little about different things

Money, communication, Internet

What do you need to know before traveling to Sri Lanka? The local currency is the Sri Lankan rupee LKR. It is better to exchange currency immediately at the airport and keep the receipt until the end of the trip. The remaining rupees must be exchanged before departure, as... It is prohibited to export local currency. It is recommended to take dollars with you; in the resort area you can pay with them anywhere.

Bank cards are accepted in large shopping centers and hotels. Before leaving, just in case, inform your bank staff about your visit to Sri Lanka. There are times when your credit card may be blocked the first time you use it.

How about mobile communications? There are 4 mobile operators here, the leaders are Dialog, Mobitel. You can buy a SIM card immediately at the airport. The cost is 1000-1350 LKR, almost the entire amount is credited to the card. Dialog operator has tariffs with free international calls and prepaid Internet.

The resorts also have payphones where you can call home. The card costs 100LKR and is sold at gas stations, press kiosks, and shops. A minute of conversation with Russia costs 5-6 rupees. Free Wi-Fi is provided in shopping centers and internet cafes.

What and where to eat and buy

If you are a lover of good restaurants, look no further than Trincomalee. All food establishments are located in the tourist area, in the Dutch Bay area. Most tourists live near the beach and visit food establishments there. Prices here are higher than in the city.

In the beach area there are mainly small bars and cafes where you can have a snack. For 500-600 rupees you can have a very hearty lunch. Local fast foods:

• rotti - thin dough pancakes with different fillings from sweet (chocolate with bananas) to seafood and chicken. Triangular in shape - usually with vegetables and spicy;
• kotti is the same pancake, finely chopped with vegetables, seafood, etc.

Be sure to try the freshly squeezed tropical fruit juices. The price is low - 1600 rupees. A traditional local dish, rice with curry, costs from $1.5 to $4.5. Lunch for two in an inexpensive establishment costs $10-15. The Rice ‘n’ Curry restaurant serves local cuisine. This unprepossessing establishment offers very tasty food and friendly service.

To try real local food at a low price, you need to go to the Europe Asian Cafe. It is visited mainly by local residents. The city has restaurants and cafes with European cuisine, a pizzeria. If you eat on the street where locals eat, the prices will be 2-3 times lower. It is not recommended to order pizza; in the local understanding, it is a sweet flatbread spread on top with cheese and onions.

A short observation about local traditions and prices

Each food establishment has a sink to wash your hands. If you don't know that Sri Lankans eat with their hands, now you will. Of course, no one will force Europeans to eat without cutlery; they will give you a spoon, a fork, and a knife. Don’t forget that the local food is spicy, you can’t go without water.

Each package of product or alcohol has a state price. Knowing this, you can buy the product at the same price as the locals. You can bring spices from Sri Lanka; they are sold in supermarkets, but on the street they cost three times less.

Alcohol products can be purchased in special alcohol markets. You shouldn't expect special shopping in Trinco. To do this you need to go to Colombo. In local shops you can buy inexpensive children's clothing. Price from 250 to 1000 LKR.

To avoid contracting an infectious disease, you need to wash your hands more often. Drink water only from bottles. In the evenings and when visiting parks and reserves, it is necessary to use repellents.

Visiting local temples involves following some recommendations:

• You cannot wear shorts and T-shirts with bare shoulders;
• take off your shoes before entering;
• you cannot stand with your back to the Buddha statue;
• Take photos and videos only with permission.

Smoking is prohibited in public places, fine 4000LKR.

Sri Lankans, for the most part, are very friendly and shy. Those locals who work with tourists are already bolder. They can deceive and impose some unnecessary service. You can only bargain in small retail outlets, where they can reduce the price by up to 30%.

You can stay in hotels of varying comfort. Room prices start from $24 to $100.

In Trincomalee, relaxation is for those who do not need noisy night discos. This is a secluded, relaxing holiday in harmony with lush nature and the surf.

A little more of the Trincomalee atmosphere in the video:

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

The strong Dutch influence in the region is evident in places like Fort Frederick. The famous Koneswaram temple is also an interesting place. Dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, the temple is one of the main sites reflecting the historical significance of Trinco.
Adding to Trincomalee's distinctive natural beauty is Pigeon Island, which is a charming little rocky island off the coast of picturesque Nilaveli Beach. Famous for its blue rock pigeons, this place can be visited via a motorboat ride.
Another interesting attraction in the Trincomalee region is the group of seven hot water springs at Kannaya.
Below we will tell you about the main attractions of Trincomalee so that you can get an idea of ​​what you can see in the area.

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 (eg Galle Fort), 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

The daily fish market near the bus station gives a great insight into the lives of the local people who work in the city's thriving fishing industry. Fishermen catch a variety of fish, including tuna, barracuda, and various sea creatures, and sell them at the market. The Trincomalee fish market is crowded almost all the time, so it doesn't really matter when to visit this market. However, early mornings usually offer a wide variety of fresh seafood.

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

This is a Catholic church built in 1852 and is the most successful of all the churches in the city. With its neo-Baroque façade and tiled roof, the church attracts many tourists.

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.