A colonial-era fort guarding the Trincomalee headland, its wooded grounds roamed by wild spotted deer and leading up to Koneswaram Temple.

Overview

Fort Frederick occupies the neck of the Swami Rock peninsula, its ramparts and old military buildings shaded by huge trees. Herds of tame spotted deer wander the road inside, and the fort makes a leafy, atmospheric approach to the Koneswaram Temple at the headland's tip. Wellington House, where the future Duke of Wellington once stayed, stands within the grounds.

History

The Portuguese first built a fort here in 1624 using stones from the demolished Koneswaram Temple; the Dutch rebuilt it, and the British took it and renamed it Fort Frederick in 1803. It remained an active military site and today is still partly used by the Sri Lankan armed forces.