Colombo Trip Overview
Travel these 4 days to the Northern Part of Sri Lanka with its colorful history and culture starting off from Trincomalee. Coveted for centuries for its strategic importance as one of the world’s deepest natural harbors, Trincomalee was once heralded as the ‘Rome of the Pagans of the Orient’. Characterized by the distinctive Swami Rock and its pristine beaches, the city of Trincomalee offers travelers a rare glimpse into a bygone era shrouded in mystery and folklore, ancient ruins and temples, towering colonial forts, and underwater worlds waiting to be discovered. Then spend your second day touring in Jaffna. Jaffna would be one of the longest journeys a person could travel in Sri Lanka. It is considered as a cultural capital of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The locals of Jaffna are indeed wonderful and friendly people and making a trip to this beautiful part of Sri Lanka should be a priority on anyone’s travel plan!
Additional Info
Duration: 4 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Travel these 4 days to the Northern Part of Sri Lanka with its colorful history and culture starting off from Trincomalee. Coveted for centuries for its strategic importance as one of the world’s deepest natural harbors, Trincomalee was once heralded as the ‘Rome of the Pagans of the Orient’. Characterized by the distinctive Swami Rock and its pristine beaches, the city of Trincomalee offers travelers a rare glimpse into a bygone era shrouded in mystery and folklore, ancient ruins and temples, towering colonial forts, and underwater worlds waiting to be discovered. Then spend your second day touring in Jaffna. Jaffna would be one of the longest journeys a person could travel in Sri Lanka. It is considered as a cultural capital of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The locals of Jaffna are indeed wonderful and friendly people and making a trip to this beautiful part of Sri Lanka should be a priority on anyone’s travel plan!
Itinerary
Day 1: Negombo – Trincomalee
Stop At: Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee Sri Lanka
Koneswaram temple of Trincomalee is a classical-medieval Hindu temple complex in Trincomalee, a Hindu religious pilgrimage centre in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The most sacred of the Pancha Ishwarams of Sri Lanka, it was built significantly during the reign of the early Cholas and the Five Dravidians of the Early Pandyan Kingdom atop Konesar Malai, a promontory overlooking Trincomalee District, Gokarna bay and the Indian Ocean. Deity of this temple is Konanatha Swami, Mathumai and it is built on Swami Rock also known as Koṇamalai. Completion of the construction of the Koneswaram Temple is believed to have been during the 6th Century and later restored in 1952. The Koneswarama Temple is well known for the celebration of the traditional Ther Chariot Festival, Navaratri and Sivarathri.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Fort Frederick, Trincomalee Town, Trincomalee 31000 Sri Lanka
Hidden within the essence of Trinco, Fort Fredrick brings out the old world charm of the pleasant city, although colonial times were long gone. Built in the 1600s, Ford Frederick is a colonial fort by the Portuguese in the Trincomalee Town. The Fort is well known to house within it, the Koneswaram Temple, yet another attraction in this area. Captured by a Dutch fleet, the Fort was re-created, to defend against any threats from the British and the French. Inside, you will also stumble across the Gokana Temple and the Wellesley Lodge, among other historical imprints. The remarkable landmark offers an unparalleled experience, taking you on a journey back in time.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Trincomalee Harbour, Trincomalee 31000 Sri Lanka
Trincomalee harbor is the second best natural harbor in the world and the available water and land area is about 10 times as much as the Port of Colombo. The entrance channel to the Port is 500m wide. Many local and international traders and explorers have travelled through this harbour. The harbour was of significant importance during the colonial era, in which there were many sea battles fought for control of the harbour, in which each colonial rule had their own turn. Being a pioneer of the trade industry the Port Authority is currently maintaining and administrating the harbour making the harbour, an important commercial sea port of Sri Lanka today.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a 3 star hotel in Trincomalee
Day 2: Trincomalee – Jaffna
Stop At: Pigeon Island National Park, Public Beach Road, Nilaveli 31010 Sri Lanka
Located about 1km off the Nilaveli coast in Trincomalee District, Pigeon Island is a treat for visitors with its stunning landscapes. Pigeon Island National Park, which consists of two islands, is one of Sri Lanka’s two marine national parks. Hundreds of pigeons inhabit the island creating a wonderful sight. The islands were declared a sanctuary in 1963 for the purpose of protecting these birds. In 2003, this area was upgraded to the status of a National Park and the boundaries were extended to include coral reef around them. Pigeon Island National Park has one of the best remaining coral reefs in the country which is 200m long and 100m wide, with over 100 species of exquisite corals, making it a uniquely-beautiful live coral reef, unlike any other in Sri Lanka.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Nilaveli Beach, Sri Lanka
Nilaveli is a scenic sandy beach featuring clear water with corals and marine life. For years Nilaveli has been considered one of Sri Lanka’s best beaches. It certainly has that feeling of paradise-island remoteness, with plenty of bending palms swaying over the golden sand. It’s about 4km long, with modest resorts dotted along the shore. Exuding a laid-back atmosphere and simple way of life, Nilaveli captures the essence of a paradise island, with endless possibilities for a relaxing holiday.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Trincomalee War Cemetery, Nilaveli Road, Trincomalee 31000 Sri Lanka
The Trincomalee British War Cemetery is a British military cemetery situated on the Trincomalee–Nilaveli Road. It is built for soldiers of the British Empire who were killed or died during World War II. The cemetery is one of the six Commonwealth war cemeteries in Sri Lanka. Established in 1948, the British War Cemetery is owned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and maintained by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense. There are 303 graves in the cemetery.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a 3 star hotel in Jaffna
Day 3: Jaffna
Stop At: Jaffna Fort, Jaffna Sri Lanka
Jaffna Fort is a fort built by the Portuguese at Jaffna, Sri Lanka in 1618 under Philip De Olivera following the Portuguese invasion of Jaffna. Sprawled over the southeastern edge of the northern capital, the Jaffna Fort owes much of its grandeur to the Dutch who captured it from the Portuguese, and later expanded it into the landmark we see today. Following the departure of the Dutch, the British also used the Jaffna Fort as a stronghold until Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948. Today, the Jaffna Fort is a popular attraction for all visitors to the city, with open grounds and century-old walls that can be scaled upon as you take in the views of Jaffna around you.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nallur Kovil, Jaffna Sri Lanka
The Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is one of Jaffna’s most significant Hindu temples and is the fourth re-built structure, since the original temple was built in 948. The Kovil is devoted to Hindu god Lord Murugan, is one of the most sacred places of worship for the Hindu community of Sri Lanka and is close to Jaffna town centre. The annual Nallur Kovil festival attracts thousands of devotees and visitors. The temple is filled with intricate artwork and statues of gods and deities of the Hindu culture. The daily pooja or ‘offerings’ of the Temple are from 6am to 5pm.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: St. Mary’s Cathedral, 8 Grusoult, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Built by the Dutch along classical lines in the 1790s, St Mary’s Cathedral is astonishingly large, but it’s curious to see corrugated-iron roofing held up by such a masterpiece of wooden vaulting. Construction of St. Mary’s Church began in 1789 and was completed in 1794. The first parish priest was Rev. Fr. Leonard Rebeiro. The church was built on the site of a thatched house that had previously served as a worshipping place for Jaffna’s Catholics. The church has a total of fourteen novenas. The ancestors of the 10th and 11th novenas gifted land for the church and the ancestors of the 12th and 13th novenas gifted land and also contributed with money for purchasing land for the church.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a 3 star hotel in Jaffna
Day 4: Jaffna – Negombo
Stop At: Nagadeepa Rajamaha Viharaya நயினை நாகதீப ரஜாமஹா விகாரை නාගදීප රජමහා විහාරය, Nainativu Centre, Sri Lanka
The Nagadeepa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya is one of the sixteen most sacred places of worship by the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Pilgrims have been coming to the Nagadeepa since about the 1st century AC to worship at its famous Rajayathana stupa. The Rajayathana stupa was constructed by two warring Naga kings, Chulodara and Mahodara, at the site where Lord Buddha during His second visit to the country on a Bak Maha Amawaka Poya Day, five years after attaining Enlightenment, intervened and mediated in settling a dispute over the possession of a gem-studded throne. The precious throne was offered to the lord Buddha, was returned to the Naga Kings and was later enshrined in this Rajayathana stupa. History records that the Nagadeepa Purana Rajamaha Vharaya was developed and reconstructed by pious kings, Devanampiyatissa, Dutugemunu and converted into a fully accomplished sacred place.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Jaffna Market, Jaffna Sri Lanka
The market spreads along the roads, yet there is also a maze of shops to discover within. Vendors sell fruits, sweet treats and traditional utensils on open-sided pavilions. A great mix of goods can be found here, from apparel, to gold, to food and utensils. Among the produce are dried fish in all sizes, various products made from the endemic thal or palmyrah and condiments such as sun-dried red chillies in spicy buttermilk. There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables such as the mangoes, grapes, bananas, capsicums, brinjals and onions that Jaffna is quite well known for. The large jackfruits and karthacolomban, a variety of mango native to Jaffna, cannot be missed.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
