Fort Frederick

Fort Frederick occupies the entire Swami Rock promontory in Trincomalee, and its stone ramparts enclose both the fort buildings and the Koneswaram Temple on the same cliff. The Portuguese built the original fort in 1624 after destroying the ancient Koneswaram Temple; the Dutch captured and expanded it in 1639, and the British held it from 1795 until Sri Lanka's independence in 1948. A pair of deer still roam freely inside the fort grounds, a remnant of an older wildlife tradition at the site. The fort entrance is guarded by Sri Lanka Army personnel and visitors must sign a register; photography of military installations is prohibited. The walk along the outer ramparts to the cliff edge offers the best free viewpoint over Trincomalee Harbour.