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Trincomalee & Nilaveli

Natural Harbour, Koneswaram Temple and White Beaches

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2 daysIdeal stay₹2,300From / night₹860Food / day₹2,370Entry

A port on one of the world's great natural harbours, with Koneswaram temple, one of the five ancient Ishwarams of Shiva, on Swami Rock above the sea and Fort Frederick round it. North of town, Uppuveli and Nilaveli have long white beaches, and boats go out to Pigeon Island's reef for snorkelling with reef sharks and turtles. The east coast's season is April/May to September; whale and dolphin trips run roughly March to August.

Highlights

  • Koneswaram temple on Swami Rock
  • Snorkelling at Pigeon Island
  • Nilaveli and Uppuveli beaches
  • Whale and dolphin trip (Mar–Aug)
  • Fort Frederick and its deer
  • Kanniya hot springs
  • Marble Beach

Things to do

  • Koneswaram temple and Fort FrederickMorning · 2h 30m
  • Pigeon Island snorkellingMar–OctMorning · 4h
  • Whale and dolphin watchingMar–AugMorning · 4h
  • Kanniya hot springs and Marble BeachAfternoon · 3h

Tours & tickets

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When to go

Best time: May – September

Worth knowing

North-East Monsoon: East Coast Off Season

From about November to February the north-east monsoon brings heavy rain and rough seas to the east coast: snorkelling and boat trips stop, Arugam Bay's surf season is over and many guesthouses close. Spend these months on the south and west coasts and in the hills instead.

Heads up

Pigeon Island and Whale Boats Off Season

In the north-east monsoon the boats to Pigeon Island and the whale and dolphin trips do not run, and the reef water is murky. Whale trips run roughly March to August.

  • Thai Pongal — The Tamil harvest festival on 14 or 15 January: pots of milk rice boiled over at dawn in front of homes and temples, kolam patterns at doorways. Biggest in Jaffna and the Tamil east.
  • Deepavali — A public holiday in Sri Lanka, celebrated by Tamil Hindus in Jaffna, Colombo's Wellawatte, Trincomalee and the tea-estate towns of the hills with lamps, temple pujas and sweets.