Sri Lanka
Trincomalee
Trincomalee district and
major resort port city of Eastern Province in Sri Lanka is located on the east coast of the island overlooking
the Trincomalee Harbour, 237 km North-East of Colombo.
Trincomalee has been one
of the main centers of Sri Lankan
Tamil language-speaking culture on the island.
History
The recorded history of Trincomalee spans more
than two and half thousand yearbeginningng with the civilian
settlement associated with the Koneswaran Temple in pre
modern era. One of the oldest cities in Asia. It has served as a major maritime
seaport in the international trading history of the island with southeast Asia.
Trincomalee urbanization
continued when made into a fortified port town following the Portuguese
conquest of the Jaffna Kingdom, changing hands between Danish in 1620, the
Dutch, the French following a battle in American Revolutionary War, and the
British in 1795, being absorbed into the British Ceylon state in 1815. The city
architecture shows some of the best examples of interaction between native and
European styles. The city also has the largest Dutch fort on the island Fort
Fredrick, Trincomalee.
(extract from Wikipedia)
The Tourist Attractions
Popular tourist destinations include its beaches at Uppuveli, Nilaveli, and Marble beach. Surfing, diving, snorkeling, whale watching, etc.,
Pigeon island is situated half an hour boat ride from Nilaveli Beach, with white sand volcanic rock, and a lush thicket, desert island. It contains some of the world's best coral reefs. The island also has a good marine population of marine eels and fish of vibrant colors. It is also home to over 100 species of corals and 300 types of reef fishes and sea turtles.
Snorkel in crystal clear water,
watch blue whales or dive into a coral reef teeming with tropical fish at the
explosion of color hidden beneath the sea.
The natural noise of crashing
waves. Where you can walk leisurely along the beach at sunset. The restaurants at
the sea have varieties of deliciously spicy food, seafood, and fresh beverages to
explore your taste buds at your request.
culture
Koneswaran
Hindu Temple lies on a high rocky promontory
surrounded by sea. It bears a history of over three millennia with its records
indicating its roots in 1580 BC.
Konswaran
Temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It's at the head of Kolesar
Malai
(Swami Rock) on the dramatic Gokarna
bay.
Women,
men, and children visit the temple with
bright colorful
costumes for special prayer.
Offering plates of fruits with flowers and sweets to gods by devotees were accepted by priests of
the temple and presented these offerings to gods. Sacred ash or saffron powder is
often distributed after puja and smeared on the foreheads of devotees.
The fragrance of scented smoke, music with horns like flutes and drums, and chanting of Mantras add a spiritual atmosphere
to the surrounding.
Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of linga (a
symbol of divine generative energy) fertility symbols and fertility rituals
dominate Hindu religious practices.
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