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Trincomalee has a reputation as being one of the main centres of Tamil language speaking culture in Sri Lanka. The city has about of 100,000 inhabitants. The centre is situated on a small peninsula, which divides the outer fishing port from the huge inner harbour, which according to Lord Nelson is the best natural shelters in the entire world.
The Koneshwaram Temple, one of the most sacred Tamil sanctuaries in Sri Lanka, was constructed by King Kulokoddan in the 3rd Kaliyugaya, similar to Dravidian temples in South India it had 1000 columns hall, but it was destroyed by Portuguese fanatics and the columns thrown into the sea. Three bronze statues found among the columns in the sea by diving expiditions in the 20th century. On the way to Koneshvaram you will see the Dutch Fort of Trincomalee on the foundations of a first colonial fort built by the Portuguese in 1624. After being captured by the Dutch it was abandoned for some decades and then newly erected in 1675. Finally, in 1975 the British seized the fort. Best accommodation for visits of Trincomalee is provided at Nilaveli, which is a more than 10 kilometres long stretch of white sandy beach. |
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trincomalee
the capital of the Eastern Province has a wide harbour, which is one of the best natural shelters in the world, and has one of the most sacred Tamil temples
