Famous for its deep, sapphire-blue harbour, its powdery beaches and charming Hindu culture, Trincomalee has always been one of Sri Lanka’s most captivating destinations. Located along the far-flung north eastern coast of Sri Lanka, it is easy to reach from the Cultural Triangle, and can be accessed via air from a handful of locations in Sri Lanka. Any introduction to Trincomalee begins at its magnificent natural harbour, considered for millennia to be one of the finest in Asia. It was used as a trading port throughout the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, and was later the focus of battles during the colonial period when succeeding European nations vied for control of the island. When it was the turn of the British to colonise the island, then known as Ceylon, the Royal Navy established a naval base at Trincomalee which was later attacked by Japanese fighter pilots during World War II. At the Trincomalee War Cemetery, you can wander between rows of white gravestones belonging to soldiers of the British Empire killed during the war.

Trincomalee is located on Sri Lanka’s north eastern coast. Stretching either side of a narrow peninsular, it is flanked by some of the most idyllic white-sand beaches in Sri Lanka. Trincomalee is a two-hour drive from Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, and 265-kilometres from Colombo. You can also fly into Trincomalee’s domestic airport.