Top Places to Visit in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: A Complete Travel Guide

Trincomalee, a stunning coastal city in Sri Lanka, is a treasure trove of natural beauty and rich history. With its pristine beaches, vibrant marine life, and significant cultural landmarks, it offers a unique blend of relaxation and adventure. If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Trincomalee, you’re in for a treat. This guide will take you through some of the must-see attractions and experiences that make Trincomalee a perfect getaway.

If you are in Trincomalee, you must visit this place. The sea view from the top is amazingly beautiful. You can also see monkeys and Deers hanging around the area. Small shops and juice bars are available on the way.

Sri Pathrakali Amman Temple

The Sri Pathrakali Amman Temple is a Hindu temple that’s dedicated to the Goddess Kali, specifically the form of Bhadrakali. It is found within the famous Trincomalee Koneswaram Temple Complex which contains a large number of connected Hindu shrines and temples.

Lovers Leap – Ravana’s Cut

A beautiful natural site near the famous Thirukoneswaram Kovil in Trincomalee. This place has a bad reputation for several suicides and suicide attempts. Indeed this place has got its name after the daughter of a Dutch commander committed suicide by jumping off the cliff.

Gokanna Raja Maha Viharaya

While visiting Fort Frederick, stopping at Gokanna Raja Viharaya and the viewpoint is well worth it. Here you hike up a few stairs to a large viewing platform located at the base of a tall white Buddha. The views of Trincomalee and Uppuveli Beach are incredible from here.

Museums in Trincomalee

The Maritime and Naval History Museum is a Maritime museum located at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. It was established near Fort Fredrick where the Dutch first landed on the island in the 16th century. The museum was declared open on 3 February 2013 to coincide with the country’s 65th Independence Day celebrations.

The Museum has important marine artifacts on the history of Britain comprising a myriad of items including maritime art, both British and 17th-century Dutch cartography, manuscripts including official public records, ship models and plans, and scientific and navigational instruments.

The Naval Museum, a comprehensive guide to studying the glory of maritime power that flourished along the margins of the Indian Ocean, is situated inside the historic Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee. It is also believed that King Parakramabahu 1(reigned 1153 – 1186) had used this place as a garrison to send his armies to invade the Pandyan state in India and set out a naval force to retaliate against the Burmese. Besides having a rich treasure of artifacts and antiques, nature has endowed the Naval Museum with enchanting scenic beauty too.

Army Museum Orr’s Hill

The Orr’s Hill Army Museum is a military museum established at Plantain Point, inside 22 Army Division Headquarters in Trincomalee. It is a well-maintained outdoor museum. This military museum has a large collection of war memorials and related exhibits including tanks that were used during the war. The guides give you very detailed descriptions of exhibits with a bit of history of the past war.

Visitors to the museum can go inside some of these tanks and there is also a place to try rifle shooting for an additional cost.

Trincomalee Lagoon Park, also known as Orr’s Hill Lagoon Park, is a serene destination in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, ideal for family and friends to enjoy leisurely evenings.
The park features comfortable seating and a refreshing atmosphere, making it a pleasant spot to experience the natural beauty of the lagoon.

Trincomalee Harbour

Trincomalee Harbour is the 3rd largest natural harbor in the world and was truly a legend in the past. Located by Trincomalee, Ceylon, in the heart of the Indian Ocean, its strategic importance has shaped its history. There have been many sea battles to control the  Harbour. The Portuguese, Dutch, French, and the English have each held it in turn. In 1942 the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Trincomalee harbour and sank three British warships anchored there.

Trincomalee is famous for its three bays, Back Bay, Dutch Bay, and the Inner  Harbour. The  Harbour consists of 1630 hectares of water and 5261 hectares of land. The entrance channel to the Port is 500 meters wide.

Trincomalee Town Beach

Trincomalee Town Beach, situated in the heart of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, is a popular destination known for its expansive stretches of golden sand and clear blue waters. The beach is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and leisurely beach walks. Its proximity to the town makes it easily accessible for both locals and tourists.

Commonwealth War Cemetery

The Commonwealth War Cemetery is well-kept about six kilometers north of Trincomalee town, built and constructed in remembrance of troops who perished in the Second World War between 1939 and 1945. The Commonwealth War Cemetery is one of Sri Lanka’s six war cemeteries, and it holds the graves of 364 troops who died in 1942 during Japanese aerial attacks.

Buddhist Temples in Trincomalee

Vilgam Wehera Maha Seya

Naval Headworks Sanctuary is a large national park located about 15 miles west of the city of Trincomalee (near Kandy Road) in Sri Lanka. The park was established over a century ago by local naval forces, which becomes obvious from its name. The park occupies the territory of close to 70 square miles and is one of the largest in the country. It is an important tourist attraction visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

The beach is generally clean, thanks to regular maintenance by fishermen and volunteers. Visitors can enjoy the sight of fishermen with their nets and catch, adding to the local charm. The area is also known for its safety, making it a favored spot for families.

Pigeon Island

The Pigeon Island National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s two maritime national parks. The national park spans 471.429 hectares and is located 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a seaside town in Eastern Province. The name of the island comes from the rock pigeon that has colonized it.

Cod Bay Fisheries Harbor

Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation has the only natural harbour in the country, Cod Bay Fishery Harbour. The harbour was built as a deep-sea fishing port for trawlers operating in Pedro Bank as well as multi-day boats. From 1990 until 1998, the Harbour was not used.

One of the most amazing locations with a great viewpoint available at the Sampoor area. During the Elam war period, this lighthouse was attacked several times.it is a very attractive lighthouse in Sri Lanka.

Kantale Tank

Kantale is a town in the eastern Sri Lankan district of Trincomalee. The settlement is 38 kilometers (24 miles) south of Trincomalee.

Kantale Tank, also known as “Gangathala Vapi,” is said to have been erected by Aggabodhi the II (606-618) and then renovated and developed by Parakramabahu the Great, according to the ancient chronicle Mahavamsa (1153-1186). The total area is 3,750 hectares. It was built to irrigate agriculture in this arid region. The water supply for it is the Mahaweli River, the island’s longest, which runs out to sea near Trincomalee.

The Kantale Tank, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest reservoirs, provides water to a large region of Trincomalee and the surrounding areas for paddy and sugar cane fields, as well as human consumption.

Kanniya Hot Water Springs

The Kanniya Hot Water Springs is a site with hot wells located in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. There are seven wells in a square shape. Wells are only 3 – 4 feet deep and you can see the bottom. The temperature is considerably high but varies slightly from one spring to another. Wells run out of water when 10-15 buckets of water are taken out.

Beaches in Trincomalee

Trincomalee Town Beach

Trincomalee Town Beach, situated in the heart of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, is a popular destination known for its expansive stretches of golden sand and clear blue waters. The beach is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and leisurely beach walks. Its proximity to the town makes it easily accessible for both locals and tourists.

This is an amazing beach with a nice sea view and clean water. Marble Beach is like a pool where you can swim too far but it’s not too deep. The water is clean and you can see the bottom of the sea. Please when you are visiting here keep all polythene and natural harmful goods with you. This is a lovely place and we have to protect it.

Green Bay Beach

Green Bay Beach is a natural beach which is a heaven. The natural beauty of the place remains the same as it is not open to the general public. The water on the sea looks green since the beach is covered by jungle. But the water is crystal clear and clean.

It’s a wonderful hidden beach in Kuchaveli behind the base hospital. Not a suitable place for swimming. If you want to enjoy the early morning beach breeze and walk along the green forest of casuarina trees, it’s the perfect place.

Nilaveli Beach

A beach that has managed to attract tourist attractions. But it decreases during some periods of the year. Safe for bathing. It can be reached in about 30 minutes from Trincomalee city. Pigeon Island is also located near this beach. There are so many scuba diving places available here.

Uppuveli Beach

Just 6km from Trincomalee it draws a bigger tourist crowd and has a more vibrant scene than neighboring beaches such as Nilaveli. Uppuveli Beach is famous for its calm waters and suitable conditions for diving and snorkeling. The beach has clear white sand which adds to its overall beauty. Uppuveli beach is a great spot to enjoy some fresh seafood or drinks and music from a beachside bar.

You will find several restaurants that offer local cuisine, and they are all worth a try.

Dutch Bay Beach

Dutch Bay is a bay situated at the center of Trincomalee, with clean golden sand and turquoise water spread across several kilometres.
Swimming is possible despite sometimes dangerous undertows. You can go jogging, stroll the beach, ravish the tropics with ice cream or seafood like barbecued crabs and lobsters from vendors.

Arisimale Beach

Arisimale Beach lies off the beaten track about 50 km North of Trincomalee. This beach is deeply buried in the Sri Lankan history. The beach is clean and the water is crystal clear but due to extreme heat in this region, the ideal time to visit the beach may be morning or evening. Due to the distance from Trincomalee, this beach is bare and void of shops and hotels. Thapassu Balluka, the two merchants who received locks of hair from Buddha is said to have landed at Arisimale Beach where they travelled up to Tiriyaya to deposit it in a shrine.

Coral Cove Beach

Coral Cove Beach is a scenic beach located on the eastern coast, near Trincomalee. It is renowned for its coral formations and is a popular spot for snorkeling enthusiast
It is one of the most picturesque, tranquil and family-friendly beaches in Trincomalee.