Trincomalee
is acclaimed to have the finest deep water harbour in the world,
a fact first acknowledged by Admiral Lord Nelson from the deck
of HMS Seahorse in 1770. Located at the mouth of the Mahaweli
Ganga, Sri Lanka’s longest river, 257 km from Colombo, Trincomalee
has first class beaches offering all kinds of water sports including
fishing .
There is
also Fort Fredrick, the old Dutch Fort which is still the administrative
center of the town and a mini storehouse of interesting sights
like the 300 feet drop into the ocean known as ‘Lovers Leap’ and
‘Swami Rock’ on the eastern precipice where the Hindu temple of
Koneswara stands. Hot water springs at Kaniyai, a whale santuary
and 'Pigeon Island, a breeding ground of the Blue Rock Pigeon
off the coast.