One of Sri Lanka’s five sacred Pancha Ishwaram Shaivite temples, Koneswaram Kovil sits atop Swami Rock, a sheer cliff rising 130 metres above Trincomalee Bay’s crashing surf. With origins stretching over two thousand years, the temple carries immense religious and historical significance. A legendary underwater Shiva lingam rests on the seabed below. The sweeping Indian Ocean sunset views from Swami Rock rank among the most breathtaking natural vistas in Sri Lanka.