Trincomalee (or Trinco as it's called) is a port city on the east coast of Sri Lanka, about 177Km northeast of Kandy. The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. It is one of the main centers of Tamil speaking culture on the island. Historically referred to as Gokanna, or Gokarna it has been a sea port that has played a major role in maritime and international trading history of Sri Lanka.
The Bay of Trincomalee's harbour is renowned for its large size and security; unlike every other in the Indian Sea, it is accessible to all types of craft in all weathers. The beaches are used for surfing, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching. The city also has the largest Dutch Fort in Sri Lanka. It is home to major Sri Lankan Naval bases and a Sri Lankan Air Force base.
The 2001-2002 season attracted more than the usual numbers of travellers, although it was a relative trickle compared with tourism before the troubles began (between the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE), and nearly all were merely passing through town en route to the beach at Nilaveli.
History
Trinco has the most convoluted colonial history any place in Sri Lanka. The Dutch (or rather the Danes because the Dutch-sponsored visit actually used Danish ships!) first turned up here in 1617, but their visit was brief one. At the time the Portuguese were the dominant European power in Ceylon but they did not arrive in Trinco until 1624, when they built a small fort. The Dutch took it from them in 1639, but promptly handed it over to the King of Kandy with who they had a treaty. In 1655, treaties conveniently forgotten, they took it back, but in 1672 they abandoned it to the French who promptly handed it back to them. Finally it was the turn of the British, who took it from the Dutch in 1782 but promptly lost it to the French who gave it back to the Dutch a year later.
Much of this back-and-forth trading was a result of wars and political events in Europe, of course. In 1975 the British were back again and the Dutch, months away from the latest news in Europe, were totally uncertain whether to welcome them as allies in their struggles with the French or to fend them off as enemies of themselves and their friends, the French. After a bombardment lasting four days the British kicked the Dutch out and Trincomalee was once again the first British possession in Sri Lanka.
Historical Sites
Much of this back-and-forth trading was a result of wars and political events in Europe, of course. In 1975 the British were back again and the Dutch, months away from the latest news in Europe, were totally uncertain whether to welcome them as allies in their struggles with the French or to fend them off as enemies of themselves and their friends, the French. After a bombardment lasting four days the British kicked the Dutch out and Trincomalee was once again the first British possession in Sri Lanka.
Historical Sites
Most of the Tamils and Sinhalese believe that this place is sacred to them and they are the indigenous people of the area. Trincomalee and its environs have both Hindu and Buddhist sites of historical importance. These sites are sacred to the Hindus and Buddhists.
Even though King Mahasena demolished the Sivan Temple and built a Mahayana Buddhist temple on the hilltop the Sinhala Buddhists maintained good peaceful relationships as Theravada Buddhism does not advocate any conflicts with Hinduism and maintained excellent relationships.
Buddhist Historical Sites
There are several Buddhist historical sites around the Trincomalee, meaning that there had been a Buddhist inhabitance in the area for many centuries. These include the famous Seruwila Mangala Raja Maha Vihara (Seruwila Temple), south of the trico town, which is under consideration to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to 2nd century B.C.the Sri Gajaba Len Vihara (Sri Gajaba Cave Temple), Tiriyaya temple and the Welgam temple.
Hindu Historical Sites
The
Koṇēsvaram
temple attracted pilgrims from all parts of India. The Koṇēsvaram shrine itself was demolished in 1622 by the Portuguese (who called it the Temple of a Thousand Columns), and who fortified the heights with the materials derived from its destruction. Some of the artefacts from the demolished temple were kept in the Lisbon Museum including the stone inscription by Kulakottan (Kunakottan). It has an emblem including two fish and is engraved with a prophesy stating that, after the 16th century, westerners with different eye colours will rule the country for 500 years and, at the end of it, rule will revert back to Vadugus. The Hindu Temple was also documented in several late medieval texts such as the Konesar Kalvettu and the Dakshina Kailasa Puranam.
The Dutch FortThe entrance to the roadway leading to Koneswaram is actually the entrance to what used to be Fort Fredrick. The fort was built in 1623 by the Portuguese and captured in 1639 by the Dutch. It then went through a phase of dismantling and reconstruction and was attacked and captured by the French in 1672. Finally British captured the fort in 1795.
Swami Rock
At the end of the road through the fort is Swami Rock. The end of the spit is occupied by the
Koṇēsvaram Hindu Temple. Swami Rock is also known as 'lover's leap', from the story of a Dutch official's daughter who, watching her faithless lover sail away, decided to make the fatal leap. In fact, eight years after her supposed romantic demise. she married for the second time. Her father erected a pillar at the time simply because he was rather fond of her.
Koddiyar Bay
The Mahaweli Ganga, Sri Lanka's larget river, which starts near Sri Padha Peak and flows through Kandy, reaches the sea on the south side of Koddiyar Bay, about 12Km south of Trinco. Near Mutur, which stands beside one of the Mahaweli's mouths, a stone at the foot of an old tree announces:
This is the White man's tree, under which Robert Knox, Captain of the ship Ann was captured AD 1660. Knox
was held captive by the Kandyan king for 19 years. This stone was placed here in 1893.
Other Attractions
St. Stephen's Cemetery on Dockyard Road.
Dutch Bay at Trinco can suffer from a very dangerous undertow, so take great care if swimming there.
At Kinniya, 8Km north-west of Trinco, are some hot water wells which legend relates were created by Vishnu to distract the demon King Rawana, who named them after his mother, thinking that she had died.
The Commonwealth War Cemetery about 4.5Km north of Trincomalee on the Nilaveli road is the last resting place for many servicemen who died at Trinco during WWII.
Places to Stay & Eat
7 Islands Hotel & Park
Votre Maison
The Rest House
King's Hotel & Restaurant
Parrot Restaurant
