Kanniya Hot Springs

A cluster of seven square wells of naturally warm mineral water enclosed in a walled bathing complex west of town.

Overview

At Kanniya, seven shallow wells hold naturally heated water at slightly different temperatures, each enclosed within a walled courtyard. Visitors draw water in buckets to pour over themselves, a refreshing ritual said to have therapeutic properties. It is a quick, curious stop on the way in or out of Trincomalee.

History

Local legend links the springs to the Ramayana king Ravana, who is said to have created them; the surrounding site includes the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple and remains a place of pilgrimage.