Trincomalee is a famous port city situated on the east coast of Sri Lanka. It boasts one of the largest natural harbours in the world which has long been of major strategic importance throughout the islands history, being held by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the British.
The port city of Trincomalee is one of the oldest known cities in Asia and has a recorded history spanning more than two and a half thousand years.
We get lots requests from our travellers who would like to visit Trincomalee during their Sri Lankan holiday– many of which had parents who were stationed here. We specialise in tailor-made holidays to Sri Lankaso please get in touch if you’d like to visit Trincomalee or any other Sri Lankan locations.
The main attraction of Yapahuwa is the steep ornamental staircase, flanked by sculptures of lions and the ancient walls with their sculptured female figurines.
During the 13th century, when Bhuvanekabahu was king, Yapahuwa was the capital of the island and home to the sacred tooth relic. The formidable rock fortress sits on a granite outcrop that raises high above the surrounding plains forming an impressive defence for its ruler.
Yapahuwa was eventually captured by the Indians in the last 13th century who took the tooth relic to South India (the relic was recaptured just four years later and brought back to Sri Lanka).
The city of Panduwasnuwara is an ancient capital of Sri Lanka and has a rich collection of historic ruins that spread out over 20 hectares.
Situated in the Kurunegala area of Sri Lanka, North West of Kandy, Panduwasnuwara was the capital of the island during the 12th century when King Parakramabahu ruled the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. The ancient capital was the home of the sacred Buddha tooth relic during this time.
While it is true that Panduwasnuwara doesn’t match the historic ruins and cultural gems found at Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura City, it is still a worthwhile place to visit if you have time during your Sri Lankan tour.
Unquestionably the cultural capital of the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Galle Fort is a World Heritage Site steeped in history dating back to the 16th century that is a must see when visiting the island.
The fort at Galle was first constructed by the Portuguese in 1588 and was then extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century. Its colourful history portrays the major role Galle played in Sri Lanka’s past, being the main port on the island and as extension the main trading post for international merchants.
Today, Galle is the largest remaining fortress in the whole of Asia that was built by Europeans. Thanks to continuous reconstruction and restoration work by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka Galle Fort remains a magnificent example of European architecture fused with South Asian traditions and maintains its polished appearance.
The stunning Temple of the Tooth in the ancient capital Kandy is a magnet for pilgrims and tourists alike. It is the most visited temple in the whole of Sri Lanka and is the only temple in the world with a tooth relic of Buddha himself.
Believed to house the tooth of the Buddha which was taken from him on his funeral pyre, the relic is of great importance to the many pilgrims who come to visit the shrine and has played a big role in the politics of the region with it being believed that those who hold the relic holds the governance.
When visiting Sri Lanka it is advised you take some time to sightsee in Kandy which is the ancient capital of the country, and take a Temple of the Tooth tour. The temple complex is one of the main reasons Kandy was awarded with World Heritage status.
A World Heritage site and treasure trove of historic relics, the ancient City of Polonnaruwa is among the best planned archaeological sites in Sri Lanka and is not to be missed during your Sri Lankan tour.
Polonnaruwa was declared the first city by King Vijayabahu in the 11th century, replacing Anuradhapurawhich had been left abandoned to the invading armies from India. The city reached its golden age during the reign of King Parakramabahu during the 12th century and much of the grandeur and awe-inspiring monuments erected during this time are still present to this day.
