Colombo Trip Overview
Sitting prettily on a remarkable natural harbour on the north-east coast of Sri Lanka, this charming town with oodles of history and interesting sites is a great escape from the touristy south. From ancient temples & forts to breathtaking beaches, coves and a maritime museum, Trincomalee has lots to offer to the discerning travellers. Whether you seek solace at the tranquil Buddhist viharas & Hindu temples or unravel marine mysteries at the fascinating Pigeon Island, there is no dearth of places to visit in Trincomalee. So, put on your travelling boots, sprinkle some wanderlust and join us on a sojourn to explore the best places to visit in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-offs
• Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with a travel guide driver
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Sitting prettily on a remarkable natural harbour on the north-east coast of Sri Lanka, this charming town with oodles of history and interesting sites is a great escape from the touristy south. From ancient temples & forts to breathtaking beaches, coves and a maritime museum, Trincomalee has lots to offer to the discerning travellers. Whether you seek solace at the tranquil Buddhist viharas & Hindu temples or unravel marine mysteries at the fascinating Pigeon Island, there is no dearth of places to visit in Trincomalee. So, put on your travelling boots, sprinkle some wanderlust and join us on a sojourn to explore the best places to visit in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-offs
• Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle with a travel guide driver
Itinerary
Day 1: Negombo/Colombo – Trincomalee
Stop At: Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee Sri Lanka
400 feet above the sea, at the southern extremity of the peninsula that separates the inner from the outer Trincomalee harbor, lies a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Referred to by European writers of the 18th and 19th centuries as the ‘Temple of a Thousand Pillars’, it is a site revered by Hindu pilgrims. According to legend, a Hindu Prince sailed to Sri Lanka to erect a temple to Shiva on Swami Rock, after he learnt from the Puranas that it was a fragment of the holy Mount Meru. The temple became popularly known as Koneswaram Temple Trincomalee. Once one of the most frequented places of worship in the region, in 1622, the Portuguese General Constantine de Saa razed the temple to the ground and used its hallowed stones to build Fort Frederick, which still stands today. Since then, a temple was built within the fort walls and is highly venerated by Hindus and Buddhist pilgrims alike.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Fort Frederick, Trincomalee Town, Trincomalee 31000 Sri Lanka
Built in the 1600s, Ford Frederick is a colonial fort by the Portuguese in the Trincomalee Town. The Fort is well known to house within it, the Koneswaram Temple, yet another attraction in this area. Captured by a Dutch fleet, the Fort was re-created, to defend against any threats from the British and the French. Currently, it is manned by the Sri Lankan Army and is an alluring tourist destination depicting the footprints left behind by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. Inside, you will also stumble across the Gokana Temple and the Wellesley Lodge, among other historical imprints. The remarkable landmark offers an unparalleled experience, taking you on a journey back in time.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Maritime And Naval History Museum, Lavender Ln, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Maritime and Naval History Museum is a maritime museum which is located in Lavender Lane Trincomalee. This maritime museum was established on 3rd February 2013 and is located close to Fort Frederick where the Dutch first landed to the island back in the 16th century. The museum display’s the maritime history of Sri Lanka, marine biodiversity and information of the history of the local naval affairs. This beautiful colonial building of immaculate white dates back to 1602. It is the fromer residence of the police chief of Dutch navy.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Puliyanthivu, Trincomalee Sri Lanka
Built in 1852 St. Mary’s Cathedral is a Unique place of worship in the coastal town of trincomalee as it is a kaleidoscope of blue and white that is the hall mark if ethnic diversity that dwells with the boundaries of Trincomalee. One of the main highlights of the cathedral are the neo-baroque frontage that is a great example of the early colonizers. The intriguing tall staues of Saints also becomes a highlight to anyone who visit this Holy shrine. Make sure you make this particular religious complex one place to visit, as it is a unique piece of architecture and a vestige that reverberates the intriguing identity of the city.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Stay in a 3 Star Hotel In Trincomalee
Day 2: Trincomalee – Negombo/Colombo
Stop At: Trincomalee War Cemetery, Nilaveli Road, Trincomalee 31000 Sri Lanka
The Trincomalee British war Cemetery is one of the Commonwealth war cemeteries in Sri Lanka located in the Trincomalee-Nilaweli road as a tribute to all the soldiers of the British Empire who died fighting in the World War II. There are more than 300 cemetries in here and a special memorial commemorates a naval man buried in Trincomalee (St. Stephen’s) Cemetery whose grave could not be found.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Velgam Vehera, Vilgam Vihara Road, Trincomalee 31000 Sri Lanka
Velgam Vehera is a historical Buddhist temple situated n Velgam Vihara Road in Kanniya, Trincomalee. It is also known as Natanar Kovil to the Hindus and is located at the Velgam Vehera Archaeological Site protected by the Sri Lanka Archaeological Department. Hence it is worshiped by both the Sinhalese and the Tamils. The temple is believed to have been built during the reign of King Devanampiyathissa and later renovated by Kings Bathiya I, Agkbo II, Vijayabahu I and Parakramabahu I.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nilaveli Beach, Nilaveli Sri Lanka
Nilaveli Beach is a stretch of beach which is situated approximately 16 kilometres North of Trincomalle, passing a thriving lagoon on either side and lush coconut palm groves and hordes of cattle, note that the people in the area are predominantly Hindu and consider the cows sacred. Arriving at the hamlet of “Errakkandy”, a sharp right turn will take you down a gravel road to Nilaweli beach, almost a kilometre of in length, white sandy beach with gentle surf. Across the beach about two kilometres into the ocean you will see the famous pigeon island, named due to rock pigeons roosting on it by the hundreds and crystal clear water around it to snorkel on to the clear depths of a reef. Further up North you will see a cluster of reddish rocks which are referred to as the red rock beach.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pigeon Island National Park, Public Beach Road, Nilaveli 31010 Sri Lanka
The national park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka. This national park is the 17th in Sri Lanka. The island was used as a shooting range during the colonial era. Pigeon Island is one of the several protected areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.Pigeon Island consists of two islands; large pigeon island and small pigeon island. The large pigeon island is fringed by a coral reef, and is about 200 m long and 100 m wide. The national park is situated within the dry zone of Sri Lanka. You can see over 100 species of coral and 300 coral reef fish recorded in the area. Sea Turtles and Blacktip Reef Sharks are also commonly seen in the shallow coral areas.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
