Notes On Trincomalee by Elephant Island Holidays

Notes On Trincomalee by Elephant Island Holidays


The best thing about Sri Lanka in my opinion are the beaches and there is a beach to suite every fancy in the tropical Island. The most popular ones being Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Mirissa, which are at its best from December to end March but the rest of the year it’s tad too rough to swim in.

What about the rest of the year and what if we want tovisit Sri Lanka in summer with our kids? Would be your next question right? The best thing about the end of the war in Sri Lankan is the island is accessible to all! The Elephant Island team decided to take trip to the Eastern coastal town of Trincomalee in the weekend of 20th February and check out the famous Nilaveli Beach resort and surroundings to see if it’s a place actually worth seeing and recommending to you to spend your summer beach break.

Following would be our comments

Town of Trincomalee
Frankly the town of Trincomalee is a beaten up dusty shanty town with a labyrinth of small alleys and rows of small shops. But the strangest thing about this town worth mentioning is the population of deer that roams the streets like stray cattle would in any other town in Sri Lanka entertaining to watch yet a bit queer.











Fort Frederic and Swarmy Rock

The only historical and cultural site worth visiting in the town of Trincomalee is the Koneswaram Temple inside Fort Frederic. Built by the Dutch as all the other Forts built around the island the Galle Fort being the most significant one. An interesting fun fact about this place is at the time of the British rule the Swarmy Rock was considered as a ‘Lover’s Leap’ The so called Sri Lankan mistresses would watch the ships set sail with their lovers and jump of the cliff and commit suicide. Rather macabre I do agree! However the view from the top of Swarmy rock of the Trincomalee habour is fabulous.







Place To Stay at Trincomalee


There’re a string of guest houses located on the Orr’s hill road over looking the Harbour but the only place worth mentioning would be the Welcombe Hotel considered as the oldest hotel in Trincomalee has a fantastic view of the Habour and clean comfortable rooms.

Nilaveli Beach

Our stop for the night was the Nilaveli Beach hotel 12 Kms from Trinco pasing fields of onions and palm groves. After getting completely destroyed by the Tsunami 2004 is now rebuilt and recently opened was looking fantastic with a new interior and furniture. A good 3 star hotel that is value for money and the higher category rooms can be recommended if you are looking for a bit more luxury.






Pigeon Island

A small island of the coast of Nilaveli and a good snorkeling spot. Nilaveli Bach Hotel offers it’s guest boat rides to the island first one leaving at 7:30 in the morning and the last one to come back at 5 p.m. If you are there take a picnic basket and some snorkeling gear and spend the day!(The hotel provides snorkels for free but they are not the best of quality)











Website: http://www.holidaysinsrilanka.net/ for further information on touring Sri Lanka
Contact: 020 7100 2323
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elephant.island.lk