Fort Fredrick

Fort Frederick, which was constructed by the Portuguese, played an important strategic role throughout its existence and continues to be a military structure even at present

The history behind this fort is an interesting one as it was constructed from the remains of a Hindu temple that was destroyed in the area when the Portuguese invaded, thus showcasing an odd transformation of a holy site in to a military one. The purpose of its construction was to defend against the invading English and French armies.

Above the gate, which visitors must pass to enter, are the numbers “1676”, which is the year the fort was actually constructed. The fort is still today a military base and so permission has to be obtained in order to climb the summit of the hill behind the Fort. From here visitors will be privy to expansive views of the surround area and the natural harbour that is present here. Additionally another attraction Konesvaram Temple can be accessed from here.

Another point of interest that shouldn’t be skipped over is Lovers Leap which is where a Dutch girl supposedly threw herself off the rock after her lover sailed out to sea. The actual rock face provides a beautiful view over the surrounding landscape that is a sight that should not be missed when visiting Fort Frederick and the surrounding city.

Any visit to Trincomalee would be incomplete without stopping by Fort Frederick, and guests to the Island should ensure that they pay a visit.

Forts in Sri Lanka