//
Photo: Chamara Madhusankha, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The sleepy village of Nilaveli is 16 km north of Trincomalee. Because of the beach there are many hotels there. This is also the jumping-off point for day-trips to Pigeon Island.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
A snorkelling trip to Pigeon Island is a must. There are local boats that will take you to this island for a fee of about US$30 (return). Snorkelling is a great way to see the abundant sea life. Sadly the coral is not respected by the locals.
The final resting place of over 600 Allied soldiers and sailors who died in Trincomalee during World War II. You will be asked for a donation upon entering. The best time to visit is at sunset when the light shines directly on the gravestones.
temple
This is a beautiful Hindu kovil that provides a good view of Trincomalee town, and of the fishing boats in front of it. It is an important temple to the local Hindus, who regularly visit it for prayers and festivals. During festivals, it is common to see drummers, dancers, men with pierced tongues and women holding pots of milk.
An unusual spring with seven hot wells, popular among locals who use the hot spring water in the various "wells" for bucket showers. The facilities are badly maintained though, so bring a large towel to change your clothes as the change rooms are very dirty. Do not wear only a swimsuit as this will cause offence. Your accommodation will probably be able to lend you a bucket to take. The bathing area is very small and it gets crowded especially on the weekends. Hundreds of stalls line the road at the entrance.
Uppuveli beach is about 3 km north of town. Restaurants and hotels are mostly gathered around Sarvodaya Rd. There is litter on the beach but the area around Fernando's bar is usually the cleanest.
Fort Fredrick is an old Dutch fort dating back to 1665 located on a peninsula North East of the town center. It has a long and storied history and was the site of battles involving (at different times) the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English navies. It is still actively garrisoned, but is open to visitors and is a great place to explore, especially for history buffs. There is a nice Hindu temple atop the cliff at the end of the peninsula with spectacular views. There are also kiosks where you can relax with a cold coconut. Friendly spotted deer roam the fort's forested areas, apparently descendents of a pair kept as pets by an English family in the 1800s.