Koddiyar Bay

Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

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Koddiyar Bay, also called Trincomalee Bay, is a large natural harbour and crescent‑shaped bay on Sri Lanka’s northeastern coast, lying just north and east of the town of Trincomalee in the Eastern Province.

The bay is about 13 km long and 10 km wide, with a 5 km‑wide entrance guarded by two headlands, and it is divided into three main parts: the deep, enclosed main bay (Koddiyar Bay) in the south‑east, the shallower northern indentation known as China Bay (which hosts the commercial harbour and China Bay Airport), and the mostly shallow western indentation called Tambalagam Bay.

Historically, its strategic position made it a key naval base for the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British, and it was a major British naval harbour until 1956, when it was handed over to the Sri Lankan government and developed as a commercial port. Koddiyar Bay is noted as one of the world’s finest deep‑sea harbours, with a submarine canyon near its mouth and 1,630 hectares of water, and it is sometimes described as the second‑largest natural harbour in the world.

The bay is surrounded by terraced hills, sandy beaches and small islands such as Round Island, Elephant Island, Clappenburg Island and the Sober Islands (designated wildlife sanctuaries), and it supports a rich marine ecosystem with fish, turtles, dolphins and occasional whales. Today, the area around Koddiyar Bay is a popular destination for boat tours, snorkeling, diving and nature visits, and it also serves as access to nearby attractions such as the historic Fort Frederick, the Koneswaram Temple, Pigeon Island National Park and the town of Trincomalee.