11 Best Things to do in Trincomalee: Exploring The Most Underrated Place In Sri Lanka.

Introduction

Trincomalee is the perfect combination for a beach holiday. White sand beaches, clear water, Hindu Culture and delicious food, what more do they want for their holiday? No matter what you love – adventure activities or a laid-back day at the beach bar, there are plenty of things to do in Sri Lanka, especially Trincomalee. 

Trincomalee is the perfect place to relax, swim, enjoy and explore the Hindu temples. There Are many things to do in Trincomalee and enjoy with your friends and family. It is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

11 Best Things to Do in Trincomalee

• Snorkelling Trip to Pigeon Island

Trinco is one of the best places in Sri Lanka for diving and snorkelling. The beautiful coral reef and the sea full of animals make Pigeon Island a great place for water activities.

You can also take a boat ride to Uppuveli or Nilaveli and spend a couple of hours snorkelling or diving. 

• Explore Fort Frederick

This 17th-century structure built by the Portuguese is a great place to visit when exploring the east coast of Trincomalee. This fort was later taken over by the Dutch and then British, currently it is occupied by Sri Lankan military forces. 

The fort has well-preserved walls and some ruins of the former outposts. You can wander around the fort and look for deer. Sri Lanka has some great temples to visit like the very famous Koneswaram Temple located at the end of the fort. 

• Koneswaram Temple

At the end of Fort Frederick, a very famous Hindu temple is located called Koneswaram Temple. This beautiful temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and dates back to 400 BC. 

The temple has multiple shrines and a prayer hall with a large Shiva statue at the site. Look around the temple and experience the breathtaking view of the temple. 

• Uppuveli Beach or Nilaveli Beach

If you decide to stay near Uppuveli Beach, the best part will be the short drive to the beach. Few properties open their doors directly to the beach. The beach has clear waters and is a great place to relax. 

The Uppuveli beach is not very crowded like the other beaches on the south coast but it is a great place to soak in some sun and go snorkelling. Add snorkelling to your “Things to do in Trincomalee” list and enjoy the experience of a lifetime.  If you are not in the mood for anything you can just buy yourself a drink and enjoy the beach.

You can also head to Nilaveli Beach if you want to have the beach to yourself. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka. The white stretch of sand and the palm trees make a great place to visit in Sri Lanka.

• Sunset Drinks on the Beach

Enjoy a drink by the beach enjoying the sunset. Most of the beach bars here serve amazing drinks and snacks. 

• Go Whale watching

Trincomalee is famous as the home for blue whales during a certain season. The blue whale being the largest mammal on earth serves as a great attraction for tourists. You can go whale watching and swimming with them. April to September are the best months for whale watching. 

The only difficulty of whale watching is that you need to be on the boat for a day as you have to travel 30 to 40 kilometres offshore.

• Learn Scuba Diving 

With plenty of dive schools and beautiful diving sites around the coast, Trenco is the perfect place to learn diving. Several diving schools around Trenco offer certified courses from beginners to Advanced divers. Learn scuba diving in Sri Lanka to have memorable experiences under the water and to the things to do in Trincomalee list.

• Sri Bhadrakali Amman Temple

Sri Bhadrakali Amman is located near the central bus station near Trincomalee’s main town. The temple is dedicated to Hindu goddess Kali. The temple is painted with colourful images of Hindu Gods. 

• Hot Springs

The Hot Springs in Trincomalee are considered a sacred bathing site as it has medicinal properties, and it is a must thing to do in Trincomalee. With a tiled floor and seven men made well-shaped like a square, the spring water can be used for bathing with the help of a bucket.

• Visit the Trincomalee British War Cemetery 

The history of Trincomalee is diverse like any other British colony. If you wish to take a look at the history then don’t forget to visit the British Cemetery dedicated to the dead British soldiers who were killed during World War II.

• Visit the cultural dream of Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the most visited places in Sri Lanka, and it’s just a two-hour drive from Trincomalee. At Anuradhapura, there are quite several UNESCO heritage sites for visitors to explore.

Places To Shop In Trincomalee

The shops quote high prices for the product so do forget to bargain with them. Nawamila’s is one of the oldest textile stores and has a wide range of products to cater to the needs of the customer. If you wish to buy souvenirs for your loved one then these shops can be an ideal choice.

History of Trincomalee

Trincomalee suffered a great loss after the onset of the Civil War in 1983. Though much damage did not occur during the bomb damage, it was the centre for refugees. There has always been a rift between the Tamils, Muslim and Sinhalese communities but after the expulsion of the LTTE from the east, things have been pretty much quiet. 

The location of the city makes it a natural harbour, very crucial for the well-being of the country. 

How to Reach Trincomalee

By Air:

Sigiriya Airport is the nearest airport to Trincomalee, it is located at a distance of 81 kilometres from the airport. You can easily take a direct flight from Colombo’s domestic airport. The duration of the journey is about half an hour by air. It is one of the most expensive ways to reach Trincomalee.

By Train:

You can reach Trincomalee from Colombo Fort Station within three and a half hours and is one of the cheapest means of transport. 

By Road:

Trincomalee is very well connected to the different parts of the country through great roads. Common Roadways to reach Trincomalee are: 

1. From Dambulla: Several buses are commuting from Dambulla to Trincomalee regularly. The whole journey will take about 3.5 hours and will cost around 600 LKR.
2. From Sigriya: From Sigriya take a local bus to Inamaluwa Junction for 80 LKR and from there take a bus to Trincomalee. The whole journey will take about 3 and a half hours i.e 30 minutes to reach Inamaluwa and from there it will take around 3 hours.
3. From Colombo: Colombo is the country’s capital and it will take around 7 to 8 hours to reach Trincomalee. You can opt for private bus services for better services.
4. From Anuradhapura: Bus to Anuradhapura will take about 3 to 4 hours to reach Trinco.
5. From Jaffna: Daily bus commute from Jaffna and takes about 5 hours to reach Trinco.

Days You Need To Explore Trincomalee

Trincomalee is still developing and not known much to many tourists and for that reason, Trincomalee is less crowded. The lesser number of tourists allows peace and serenity and gives the tourist a much-needed relaxing holiday.

Weather of Trincomalee

• Spring (March to May)

The humidity level is high in this season and the temperature is also high which is between 35.7  degrees to 40 degrees. The amount of rainfall is also less in this season, that is two to three times every month. This season has the slowest period of tourism.

• Summer (June to August)

June to August is usually warm with 1 to 4 days of rainfall every month, making summer the best season to visit Trincomalee.

• Monsoon (September to November)

The weather is pleasant with average rainfall of 4 to 16 days a month. Due to the rain, the footfall of tourists is also low.

• Winter (December to February)

Though the temperature is really pleasant and ideal to enjoy Trincomalee, the high rainfall makes it inconvenient for the travellers.

Best Time To Visit Trincomalee

The dry season is also the best season to watch the whale and most whales prefer coming to the south coast. Two climates mainly dominate Sri Lanka, while April to September is the dry season, the rest of the months are wet seasons with regular rainfall.

Where To Stay In Trincomalee

• The White House

This place is great especially if you are travelling solo and are on a budget. It’s a homestay with two private rooms, a dormitory and a beautiful garden. The food served here is delicious and has one of the best views.

• Golden Beach Gate

The Golden Beach Gate is located right on the beach and the budget is a bit high. These stays offer double-bed cottages and have sea-facing rooms. The onsite restaurant serves great food and the best part is that it gets served right on the beach providing a unique experience.

• Oceanic White House, Nilaveli

If you wish to stay further away and nearer to Pigeon Island, we have got just the place for you. This oceanic white house offers a quiet place to its visitors with some of the greatest views. You can easily find these double-bed villas at a reasonable price

Where To Eat In Trincomalee

When in Trincomalee there are two options to eat, one is from the beachfront shacks and the other is from affordable local restaurants. The shacks and the restaurants in Sri Lanka especially in Trincomalee have great ambience which offers great sunset and some great local Sri Lankan and western food as well. 

The restaurants are located along Sarvodaya Road just back side of the beach, you can easily walk through the road and you will have innumerable options available to satisfy your hunger. 

• Rice ‘n’ Curry

This is one of the best places to eat when in town. The restaurant served a Rice and Curry buffet for dinner. They are known for their delicious and fresh seafood at a reasonable price. 

• Nina’s Restaurant 

This is a family-run restaurant that serves delicious rice, curry and other Sri Lankan food at a very reasonable price. The food is exquisite and is a must-try things to do in Trincomalee.

• Be Cool Juice Bar and Seafood Restaurant 

This is a small cafe known for its great breakfast spread. This place serves a great breakfast with a large selection of smoothies and juices to choose from. If you visit this place for dinner don’t forget to try the very famous Sri Lankan classic – Kottu

• Cafe on the 18th

If you want to take a break after eating all the Sri Lankan food you have just come to the right place. Cafe on the 18th serves great Western-style food in a great setting. It is one of the most visited places if you are looking for some great breakfast and coffee. It is located on Uppuveli Beach next to Fernando’s Bar. 

Other Places To Visit After Trincomalee

Other things to do in Trincomalee and around it 

• You can take a 2-day road trip along the east coast of Sri Lanka. 
• Visit Surfers Paradise, Arugam Bay
• Rock climbing in Sigiriya’s Lion Rock
• You can also visit the northernmost province of Sri Lanka, Jaffna.

Conclusion