Trincomalee

Like all the maritime settlements on the island , Trincomalee has passed in succession through the hands of the Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the British who came here in 1795 from their foothold in what is now Malaysia The old gate of Fort Federick built by the Dutch in 1676, it is now graced by the British lion and unicorn, added in 1803 when it was given its present name in honor of Duke of York.

Nilaweli used to be a dream seaside resort. The grand Koneswara temple stands on Swami Rock cliff, a popular vantage point for Blue Whale watching. Near by Gokanna temple has panoramic view over the city and the coastline. With a population of 99,000 , the city is built on a peninsula of the same name, which divides its inner and outer harbors. The recorded history spans over more than 2500 years and is one of the oldest cities in Asia. The Trincomalee Bay bridged by Mahaveli ganga river to the south, the historical Gokanna in Sanskrit , means Cow’s Ear akin to other sites of Shiva worship. Popular tourist destinations include its beaches, at Uppuveli, salli and Nilaveli surfing ,scuba diving , fishing and whale watching and the kanniya Hot Springs.