TRINCOMALEE

Little visited in recent years, the atmospheric city of Trincomalee is set amongst miles of golden-sand beaches, where visitors are few and a warm welcome is assured. Located on one of the world’s best natural harbors, the city was disputed by Dutch, Portuguese and British powers, and was the headquarters for the Allied forces in World War II.

Now it is one of Sri Lanka’s most pristine tourist destinations, with Buddhist and Hindu Temples set alongside churches and mosques. In the agricultural hinterland rice is the major crop while around the coast undeveloped, palm-fringed beaches are perfect for swimming and scuba diving from May to October. Trincomalee can be reached in a few hours from the Cultural Triangle by road via Habarana.