| Koneswaram Temple is an important Hindu centre of | | | | of the five age-old temples of Sri Lanka devoted to |
| worship located on Swami Rock by the shores of | | | | the Hindu god Shiva and accordingly is revered by |
| Trincomalee, a town in the north of Sri Lanka. The | | | | Saivites of the area. |
| temple dates back to 300 CE and at the pinnacle of | | | | The temple is shrouded in legend, and has been |
| its glory was recognized as one of the most | | | | associated with the Hindu epic Ramayana and its |
| magnificent temples in the whole of Asia. | | | | protagonist the heroic god-king Rama. Ancient records |
| Koneswaram Temple has experienced a turbulent | | | | suggest that the temple was maintained by the Chola |
| history, having been alternately destroyed, rebuilt and | | | | and Pandyan Tamil kings in the ancient period while in |
| expanded by successive rulers and devotees. The | | | | the 17th century the Tamil kings of the medieval era |
| Koneswaram Temple has the distinction of being one | | | | were also involved in the expansion of the temple. |