Rangiri Ulpotha Rajamaha Viharaya is in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Gomarankadawala of the Trincomalee District. To reach this site one has to turn off at Pankulam Junction on Anuradhapura – Trincomalee Road and turn to the right passing Gomarankadawala.
Ridikanda Rajamaha Viharaya lies at a hill by the same name in the village of Kandamalawa in Gomarankadawala. This archaeological site consists of over 15 drip ledge caves, granite Buddha statues and many other artifacts.
Arisimale is a coastal site near Trincomalee famous for unique sand resembling rice grains. Traditionally believed to be the landing site for the Buddha’s hair relic, the nearby Arisimale Raja Maha Viharaya remains a prominent archaeological and post-war heritage area.
Arisimale Beach lies off the beaten track about 50 kms North of Trincomalee in the town of Pulmude. In Tamil arisi means rice and malai means mountain. Thus this is the ‘Mountain of Rice’ in Tamil.
Samudragiri Pichchamal Viharaya is an ancient archaeological site on the sea coast lying on the small coastal town of Kuchchaveli, 32 kms to the North of Tricomalee.
The new Gokanna Viharaya now lies inside the Fort Fredrick on the North of the point close to the fort entrance of the fort. Few Buddhist artifacts which has been unearthed at various times has found home in this new temple.
Robert Knox (8 February 1641 – 19 June 1720) was an English sea captain who was a prisoner of Kandy for 19 years. The Tamarind Tree in Muttur under which the Knox was captured in 1660 is preserved today as a reminder to a man who wrote one of the most popular books about Sri Lanka in that era.
The picturesque Kantale Wewa ( tank) is the largest contribution of King Agbo II (608-618) who ruled only for 10 years. Renovation of the Kantale Wewa was carried out by Parakramabahu the Great (1153 – 1186) and has been not short of attention from the colonial times.
Perched on a rocky hill in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, Pashana Pabbatha Rajamaha Viharaya hides 2,000 years of history within its weathered stones. Once a thriving monastic and trade center, this forgotten temple now stands as a silent witness to ancient glory and modern struggle.
When it comes to great beaches, you will be spoiled for choice along the east coast of Sri Lanka. Trincomalee is also no different with Uppuveli, Nilaveli, Marble and Trincomalee town beach in its vicinity.
Controversy surrounds the origins of the temples at Trincomalee where today a modern Hindu Kovil, popularly called Koneswaram has been set up.
Trincomalee is one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world. There are only four or five others comparable to Trincomalee, among them Sydney Harbour and Buenos Aires Harbour in Argentina. Trinco today is the fifth largest natural harbour. The name comes from Trikona/likoona (triangle) and malai (hill or rock in Tamil). The rock…
A greater part of the Dhatuvansa is devoted to the history of the relics deposited in the Seruwawila Dagaba, and to an account of its erection, and the ceremonies held in connection with it. It was constructed by King Kavantissa in the 2nd century BCE enshrining the forehead bone relic (lalata dhatu) and a hair relic of Buddha.
Lankapatuna Samudragiri Viharaya at Trincomalee is said to be lieing in the exact location where the Prince Dantha and Princess Hemamala landed in Sri Lanka with the tooth relic of the Buddha.
Trincomalee’s ancient history is more mystery and legend and sometimes highly debated. On the eastern promontory is the famous Swami rock on which stands the celebrated Koneswaram temple.
The oldest incident connected with the site is etched in an 8th century Sanskrit epigraph found at the site which refers to a shrine named Girikandicaitya being established on the hill-top by a company of merchants headed by Tapassu and Bhallika.
Sampur, which has been liberated by the Security Forces from the LTTE terrorists (in 2007) , is home to one of the most famous lighthouses in the country. The Foul Point Lighthouse (aka Sampur Lighthouse) has been guiding seafarers safely to their destinations for decades.
The Chapel Hill lighthouse lies on the North of the Trincomalee harbour. This lighthouse is currently operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The lighthouse lies on a small island in the bay and is accessible only by boat.
Situated in Trincomalee, Koddiyar was historically controlled by Kandyan kings. In 1622, the Dutch built a fort with permission from King Senarat to expel the Portuguese, who destroyed it. The Dutch later rebuilt and reinforced the outpost in 1658.
Fort Ostenburg, hidden within Trincomalee’s forested ridge, is a little-known stronghold shaped by Portuguese, Dutch, and British power struggles. Once a strategic lookout commanding the inner harbour, it now lies largely forgotten, its ruins echoing centuries of conflict, alliances, and shifting colonial ambitions.
