Fort Frederick from the Air; Drone Views of Trincomalee's Spectacular Landscape

Trincomalee is a sweeping seascape of age-old legend and kaleidoscopic festivals that centre a very strategic seaport that has witnessed significant world events for centuries. From the arrival of Lord Buddha in the 6th century BC to the Indian princesses who arrived to become brides to Sri Lankan princes and even Indian kings who expanded their territory to Sri Lanka, Gokana as it was known back then, was a place of great activity, both spiritual and earthly. The strategic significance of such a deep natural harbour also attracted Western invaders who broke down temples with thousands of pillars and built forts from its ruins. Remnants of the forts still stand and the colonial footprint lives on in Trinco Bay’s powerful naval, maritime and army presence. In contrast, in Trinco town this colonial chapter has faded into the history books with the locals living peacefully under the protection of Lord Shiva and Ravana.

Fort Frederick from above

Fort Frederick on the rocky peninsula of Trinco Bay is still used as a military ground, giving the spectacular landscape a somewhat desolate and eerie vibe. At the same time, the Koneswaram temple perched at the tip of the peninsula is a place of legends and a huge pilgrimage destination, attracting thousands of Tamil worshippers who walk barefoot in their colourful saris across the marching grounds. A giant Lord Shiva statue sits on top of a mountain overlooking the dramatic cliffs while waves crash against the rocks below, with deer roaming around. It's a magical place where nature, religion, spirituality and military precision seamlessly intertwine.

We were privileged to get permission to fly a drone around Trinco Fort and this is what we saw:

Fort Frederick is strategically located at the spectacular rocky peninsula.

The Lover's Leap, where once the heartbroken daughter of a Dutch navy commander jumped to her death.

The popular Dutch Bay Beach and the entrance to Fort Frederick.

The Portuguese destroyed the original 1000-pillar temple and threw the ruins in the ocean, so buried underwater is a deeply spiritual place.

Trinco Town Beach, with the fishing boats ready to go out and catch fresh prawns.

A giant Lord Shiva statue sits on top of a mountain overlooking the dramatic cliffs.

Words by Nadeesha

A weaver of words and a lover of getting lost in a jungle or in her own mind, Nadeesha believes that genuine connections within us, being one with nature and dance can heal everyone. Nadeesha not only taught the students how to play with words to best get a message across, she was also the group's spiritual leader and facilitator of important conversations.

Find Nadeesha @nadeepaws

Photos by Atheeq

A black sheep who broke a family rhythm of five generations, Atheeq found his own in deciphering life through a ‘pause-click-resume’ state which uncovered more to life than he could ever imagine. In the Trinco workshop, Atheeq was the go-to person for tips and tricks on photography and filmmaking. That is if he was not out in town on his motorbike to find the best spots to fly the drone.

Find Atheeq @CeylonSoul

Discover Trincomalee

The new map of Trincomalee suggests three walking trails featuring the local's favourite places in town.

In Sri Lanka, iDiscover has now covered Colombo, Galle, Matara and Trincomalee. All these urban story walks are available on easily downloadable illustrated maps and a digital map that can be viewed on mobile, so you can get lost without getting lost.

The youth-led mapping project in 9 Fort Cities along the Sri Lankan coast was funded by the Netherlands Embassy in Sri Lanka and executed by iDiscover Academy with special thanks to the Department of Archeology and the Civil Aviation Authority for allowing us to fly over this special place.

Sri Lanka and the Netherlands have a long-standing history. Through this project, we highlight the many marks of a rich past that survived into the present; structures, people, livelihoods, food and the stories that embody the spirit of this place. Unravelling history through the lens of youth is more than just a reminder of our rich heritage, but a vision for the future of Trincomalee.