What is the meaning of Trincomalee?

The name Trincomalee is an anglicised version of the old Tamil phrase "Thiru-kona-malai", and it comes through as “Lord of the Sacred Hill” in a fairly direct way. This particular name points to the historic Koneswaram Temple that sits on the town’s well-known cliff.

The oldest mentions of "Thiru-kona-malai" appear in the 7th-century Tevaram hymns, which were sung by the Tamil saint Sambandhar. In this usage, the “Sacred Hill” means Swami Rock, the striking outcrop that rises above the Indian Ocean. On that promontory, the Koneswaram Temple was raised for the purpose of worshipping Lord Shiva. Nowadays, Trincomalee still counts as a culturally important coastal city, mixing its deep spiritual past with its standing as one of the world’s most profound and strategically essential natural harbours.