Trincomalee – Out in the east explored by least
Why call it Trincomalee ?? Let’s call it by its nickname “Trinco” like many who fell in love with the town pronounce it. Approximately five hours long ride from Bandaranaike International Airport will take you to Trincomalee seated on the eastern coast of the island. Adding a definition to the town with an island insider’s perspective, can introduce it as the place where the heart of the Sri Lankan Tamil culture beats. You can experience it yourself amidst the Ghanta sound of Hindu Kovils perched everywhere in the town specially the Koneswaram Temple which is always filled and revered by pious pilgrims from all over India.
Once you reach Trinco, there’s a high possibility of you being surrounded by a gang of amicable Tamil kids who want to know your biography from home country to your next dream journey and never hesitate to ask them to help you in finding the closest kiosk to buy a king coconut to quench the thirst. Discovering local lifestyles with Trinco is a vivid journey, specially daily fish market, restaurants with so many dining options and catering mouthwatering veggies, early morning poojas in kovils and more and more. Rustic local experience is just a leisure time bustle recommended for you while you venture deep in to a hydrophilic experience amidst a luxury tour in Sri Lanka.
There’s an island cosists of two islets, one small and the other one much bigger yet together they are called the Pigeon Island which is named to be a Marine National Park in Sri Lanka. You might be surprised to hear who lives there. Families of blue rock pigeons have colonized both the islets making it their breeding and feeding ground. Despite of the possibility of an old sea turtle crawling out of the sea waves to meet a neighboring family of pigeons, the Island can be called exclusively for pigeons as they have invaded it. Yet you are always welcome to visit the island located 1 km off the shore distance from Nilaveli beach with a short speedboat ride. At first the boat might stumble a bit struggling with tough waves till the ride gets closer to Islands where the sea is much calmer and serene. Do you wish black tipped reef sharks to be waiting there to greet and meet you upon your arrival ?
The reason for Pigeon Island being a great tourist magnet is not only the residing blue pigeons and swimming schools of tiny fish but the large islet which features a fringing coral reef which is about 200m long and 100m wide. Snorkel in the crystal clear water with shoals of rainbow colored fish trying to pass you and sometimes a secluded tiny one will guide you to its home reef where its friends live. Even after a long time snorkeling in the warm water you might want more and every time there will be a lot of marvels beneath the waves and above the sea floor awaiting for you.
Never let the adventure to cease with snorkeling and diving in Pigeon Island when there are lot more splendours to behold in Trinco that could definitely add memories to a Sri Lanka Holiday package. For a great trip we wanted to share some thoughts about whale watching escapades in Trincomalee and what to expect. It is magnificent how they smoothly sub merge their colossal torpedo shaped body beneath the surface of water while keeping the huge tail up towards the sky just like to let you know their presence. Blue whales, Sperm Whales, Brydes Whales, Cuvier’s beaked whale and sometimes Killer whales also can be spotted in Trincomalee waters and the sighting rate can be rated from 85 – 90 %. Sleepy heads need a little early rise and shine to go on a whale watching cruise with a departure towards whales scheduled at 6.30 a.m. No worries about breakfast as everything from dine to wine will be laid on a table in the cruise and all you have to do is leisurely relishing the meal till the guide calls you out to deck shouting “ Look, there they are!!”. Sometimes it might be a pod of blue whales performing a surface move or may be a single giant lob tailing as a preparation for a sounding dive. If it’s your fortune day you might get to see a super pod. Best season of the year is from April to October for an ocean hop to join whale watching Trincomalee and the dolphin sightings are an extra bonus tagged to voyage. Spinner dolphins, Spotted dolphins, Bottle nose dolphins, Striped dolphins, Fracer’s dolphins and Risso’s Dolphins are some of the dolphin species out in the waves of Indian Ocean. After whale watching it’s not just a travel back to beach. The cruise will be anchored in the bay close to Koneswaram temple for you to snorkel and swim in the mighty blue ocean. At around 1 p.m. after a hearty lunch you will be heading back to Dutch bay where you initially started the journey. Goodbye giants!!!
July 10, 2017
Editorial Team – Travel Design by CDC
