Life in a 2500-Year-Old Port City

On the east coast of Sri Lanka, about 270 kilometers from the capital Colombo, lies a small town whose history dates back 2,500 years: Trincomalee, formerly known as Gokanna. This town was once one of the most important ports of the ancient Sinhalese kingdom and is home to one of the deepest natural harbors in the world – a true jewel on the beautiful coast.

During the last school holidays, we had the opportunity to visit Trincomalee and the surrounding region. Believe me, this video is not enough to showcase all the attractions or the historical significance of this area. Trincomalee is definitely worth a visit!

Trincomalee is a fishing town. Early in the morning, right in front of our beach resort, I watched the local fishermen at work. They pushed their small motorized boats into the vast, deep blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Using fishing nets, they catch their prey, and we also saw some fishermen with cages – how exactly they work remains a mystery to me, but you’ll see them in this video.

Just a few kilometers from our beach resort is Fort Fredrick, built by the Portuguese in 1675. The old cannons are still there, a testament to the many battles fought over the strategic importance of this harbor.

Inside the fort, we came across a group of deer being fed baked goods by locals. These animals are protected and live right in the middle of the city – something I’ve never seen before!

Another highlight was the legendary "Thirukoneswaram Kovil," one of the oldest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia. The temple is beautiful, with many statues of Hindu gods. It’s located on a hill, and as you can imagine, the view of the deep blue ocean from up there is simply breathtaking.