Fort Frederick

Since Trincomalee was a popular trade spot and was frequently visited by sea traders from all over the world. Therefore the Portuguese constructed a fort with remnants of an ancient Hindu Temple which was the original ‘Koneswaram Temple’, that was destroyed. The original fort was a triangular fort named Fort ‘Triquillimale”. Eventually, the fort was captured by the Dutch in 1639, who then dismantled and rebuilt the fort, renaming it, Fort Frederick. Ultimately, the fort was taken over by the British in 1795 and they had added British War Guns to the fort.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington had visited Trincomalee whilst being Colonel in the British East India Company, the bungalow he had resided in is known as Wellesley Lodge which is also inside the fort.
The fort presently serves as a detachment of the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lankan Army. A premise, that allows interested visitors to explore the two temples it houses – Koneswaram Kovil and Gokana Temple, exudes a resplendent charm of its own. The Fort Frederick is now a legendary monument which boasts another chapter of the colonial era of Sri Lanka.