I traveled to Trincomalee first, as a child with my family back in 1991/1992 during the civil war period. My uncle, then an officer in the Navy, arranged my family a trip to the Navy camp to spend time. Although we did not leave the camp, I have vague memories of visiting ships in the harbour, dining in the ship's mess, and seeing loads monkeys passing our quarters in the evenings.
In 2015 December, I traveled once again with my family. This time it was by train which my father booked using his retiree status. We left Colombo at night and the train did not stop very much except for a few stations where passengers can grab a hot cup of tea and snacks. One such station is the Gal oya Junction train station which is close to Kaudulla National Park.
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| Galoya Junction train station |
By the time we reached Trinco it was already morning and the first thing we did was to have breakfast from a local shop. Thereafter we took a Tuk-Tuk to the accommodation which we had already booked. After taking some rest, we went for some sightseeing.
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| Trincomalee Station |
While walking in the town limits one cannot miss the wildlife such as monkeys and spotted deer roaming the streets.
A deer calf
There are more than a few attractions in and around Trinco. However, due to various limitations, we were only managed to visit some of them.
Marble beach
This is a beautiful beach that is located south of the Trinco town. The beach has a resort maintained by the Airforce and the beach itself is open to the public. There is lush green vegetation on either side of the beach adding to its beauty. Unfortunately on the day of our visit, it was cloudy and the sky was dull, somewhat dampening the whole experience.
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| Panoramic view of Marble beach |
Trincomalee British War Cemetery
Due to its natural harbour, the British Naval base and the oil storage tanks, Trincomalee was a strategically significant asset to the Allied war effort during WW2. Many British soldiers died due to Japanese air raids during the war. The fallen are now resing in this cemetery which is easily accessible from the main road a few minutes drive from the town center.
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| A tombstone |
Our Lady Of Guadalupe Church
Back Bay beach
Back Bay is the smaller bay just north of the main bay in Trincomalee. It is located behind the Our Lady Of Guadalupe Church. However, at the time of our visit, the beach was now very well maintained and was littered with rubbish.
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| Panoramic view of the Back Bay beach |
Kinniya Bridge
At 396m length, this is the longest bridge in Sri Lanka that connects Trinco to Kinniya.
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| Koddiyar Bay to the left and Tambalagam Bay to the right |
Koneswaram Temple
This is an ancient Hindu temple located on the "Swami rock". To reach this temple one has to go past the Fort Fedrick and walk up on foot. The main attraction for a non-pilgrim is the big colorful statue of Lord Shiva.
Hot water springs
This is another popular tourist attraction. The site consists of seven hot water wells. They are surrounded by bricks and visitors can use the water to bathe or wash. The water temperature varies from one well to another.
Nilaveli Beach
Nilaveli beach is one of the top beaches in Sri Lanka. Located after a short drive from Trincomalee, this beach is also close to Pigeon Island and Uppuveli beach.
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| Panoramic view of Nilaveli beach |
(Note all images are taken by me and are not to be used without consent)
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