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Access to Trincomalee on the
Sri Lanka Eastern coast was earlier limited
because of LTTE terrorism issues, which
mercifully are over. After the end of the war
locals started going there in droves and now
Trincomalee is again turning out to be major tourist attraction. There are many places to visit near Trincomalee
which boasts some of the best white sand beaches in Asia and one of the few places in Sri Lanka for dolphin and whale spotting.
It has some religious destinations as well such as the
Koneswarm,
kovil,Girihadu
seya(one of the oldest stupa in Sri
Lanka).
Air: Sri Lanka Air Force operated flights
from Ratmalana Airport in the Southern suburbs
of Colombo to China Bay Airport, the former
RAF base, some 35 kms from Trincomalee. A
bargain for the one way airfare of US$40
Road: Trincomalee on the East Coast is quite a distance from Colombo
but the trans island journey through
Kurunegela and Habarana by hired van takes
around 8 hours. Alternatively take the
comfortable Avro Tours AC Video Coach, leaving
Colombo at 21.00 hours and arriving in Trinco
at 05.30 am in the morning. A 3 wheeler from
where the coach stops to
Chaaya Blu should
set you back no more than LKR 300 or US$3
Rail: The Rail Service in Sri Lanka has
failed to keep up with the times. Overnight Mail express from Colombo
Fort Railway Station departs in the evenings to Trincomalee arriving early morning, or from
Trincomalee leaving 19.30 and arriving Fort at
05.30. Choice of 1st class fully flat sleeper with
lockable cabin sleeping two in upper and lower
bunks, 2nd class sleeperets, 3rd
class sleepfully sleeperets, ordinary 2nd class and
ordinary third class. No cabin is
air conditioned. The noise is enough to cause
damage to the ear drums, The toilets can be
smelt a carriage away. The 1st class sleeper
cabins need to be booked well in advance. Not
for the faint hearted. We tried it once. Never
never again. |
