Kanniya Hot Springs is a group of seven small stone-lined wells with warm to hot water, on the edge of Trincomalee beside the road towards Anuradhapura. They are short on size and long on story: Ravana legend, ruins of an old Buddhist monastery, and Hindu rites for the dead.
Is it worth visiting?
Go if you like places with layers of history and can spare 30 to 45 minutes on the way to or from Trincomalee’s beaches. It is easy to combine with Koneswaram Temple and Fort Frederick.
Think twice if you want a soak. The wells are shallow, and recent visitors (2025–26) report crowds and a bucket-by-bucket system rather than a pool.
The seven wells
The wells sit in a square. Each is only about a metre deep, and you can see the bottom. The water is hot, and the temperature differs a little from one well to the next. Visitors scoop water with a bucket and pour it over themselves.
Recent visitors (2025–26) report that you can only use a limited number of buckets per person, because the wells run low when crowds arrive. Reports also say soap and shampoo are not allowed, and that the crowd is thickest on weekends and holidays. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon if you can.
History and legend
The site is better known for its stories than for its facts. Local tradition says that Ravana, the demon king of the Ramayana, struck the ground seven times to make water for his mother’s funeral rites. In some versions the water was hot until his anger cooled.
Archaeology tells a different story. Excavations found the mound of an early Anuradhapura-period stupa and other building remains, which suggest the wells belonged to a Buddhist monastery. The Ceylon Gazetteer of 1834 mentions a temple of Ganesha at the wells, and a 1955 traveller’s handbook calls the springs sacred to Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims alike. The seven wells, the stupa mound and other ruins were declared archaeological protected monuments on 9 September 2011. Today Sri Lankan Tamils still hold rituals for dead relatives here.
Practical tips
- Fees and hours: sources disagree on the ticket price and we found no official figure, so ask at the gate. Visitors report a small charge for foreigners and hours from about 8 am to 6 pm.
- Monkeys: recent visitors report monkeys near the wells, so keep food and bags close.
- Clothes: bring a change of clothes and a towel.
- Respect: it is a religious site for several communities. Keep voices low and dress modestly.
Getting there
Kanniya is a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride from Trincomalee town, beside the main road towards Anuradhapura. Distances vary between sources, so don’t rely on a figure. See Trincomalee for where to stay, and Pigeon Island National Park or Nilaveli for beach days.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where are the Kanniya Hot Springs?
On the edge of Trincomalee in the Eastern Province, beside the road towards Anuradhapura.
How many wells are there?
Seven, arranged in a square. Each is roughly 0.9 to 1.2 metres deep.
Is it a protected monument?
Yes. The seven wells, the stupa mound and other ruins were declared archaeological protected monuments on 9 September 2011.
Can you swim in the Kanniya Hot Springs?
Not really. The wells are small, so visitors report pouring buckets of water over themselves rather than soaking.
How much is the ticket?
Sources disagree and we found no official figure, so ask at the entrance.
Header photo: Pierre André Leclercq / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
