The gateway at Fort Fedrick Trincomalee is another tourist attraction of North, built by Portuguese. The city of Trincomalee where the third largest natural harbor is located is recently being developed with proper infrastructure which is essential for the industry of tourism. Therefore both locals and foreigners can take tours within the city.
Since Trincomalee was a popular trade spot sea traders from, China, Arab, Africa, Japan and East Asian countries usually visited the place. In king’s age, it was known as Gokanna. Hence the fort Fedrick was constructed in 1624 as a debris of an ancient Hindu temple which was destroyed by the Portuguese. It is said that the Portuguese built the fort with the ruined parts of the old Koneswaram temple. The original fort was a Triangular fort named Fort ‘Triquillimale’. Consequently, it was captured by a Dutch Officer called Admiral Westerwald in 1639. Thus King Rajasingha 2 (1635-1687) also built a fort called Ostenburg. The Dutch proudly ruled for a couple of years and no any Britain or French could shake it.
But when the Czech Republic was attacked, they lost the authority of the fort. Then French captured the fort and continued their reign for another time. The Fort was the easiest and securable place for trading in Sri Lankan coast. By the way, it was captured by British in 1795 and as a result of that, they added comprised the fort with British War guns. Presently the Fort Fedrick is owned by the Sri Lankan military forces. But you can go through the fort until you find the Koneswaram temple.
You will have to get ready to enter a dry and sunny zone of Sri Lanka. Therefore it will be better if you could take caps, umbrellas with you. Perhaps during the months of Oct- Jan will be a bit of rain. But the windy climate will never let you a feeling of exhausted. You may prefer to have a bath at the nearby beach. Arthur Wellesley, later 1st Duke of Wellington visited whilst a Colonel in the British East India Company, the bungalow he resided in is known as Wellesley Lodge is also inside the fort. The Fort Fedrick is a now legendary monument which bears another chapter of an ancient colonial era of Sri Lanka. Therefore the giant guns at the fort facing the Indian ocean must take the responsibility to stand steady and recover for the next generations.