Fort Frederik

Fort Frederick is one of the main tourist attractions of Trincomalee as it has a history of mixed cultures of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Hindu, and Buddhist. The fort Frederik is famous as the Fort of Trincomalee or during the Dutch time as the Fort of Triquilimale.

The Fort which was built by the Portuguese during the year 1624 AD, was then later subjected to many invasions from Dutch and British. The Fort was built on the debris of the ancient Hindu Kovil Koneshwaram, which was destroyed by the Portuguese colonial Constantino de Sá de Noronha under Phillip III, the occupier of the Jaffna kingdom and Malabar country on the island. The Portuguese fort was later dismantled and rebuilt by the Dutch and was renamed as Fort Frederik in the year 1665.

Fort Frederik, also, serves as the gateway to the Koneswaram temple. As you enter through the gates of the Fort Frederick, you will be welcomed by the two big trees either sides of the entrance, giving you shade and a refreshing wind captured from the sea. As you walk up towards the Kovil, you will see an active military base positioned as a tradition for the safety of the kovil and for the pilgrims who visit the kovil.