Is Trincomalee worth the journey from the south or west coast? Honest assessment please.

I'm from Trincomalee. Here is the honest version:

Travel time from key points:
- From Colombo: 7–8 hours by train (Colombo Fort → Trincomalee, one daily train) or 6 hours by bus
- From Kandy: 5–6 hours by bus (scenic highland route)
- From Sigiriya/Dambulla: 3–4 hours by bus — this is the most logical routing if doing the Cultural Triangle

Beaches:
Nilaveli and Uppuveli beaches (15–20 minutes from Trinco town) are among the finest in Sri Lanka — calm, clear turquoise water, minimal development compared to the south coast. Pigeon Island (30-minute boat ride) has some of the best coral snorkelling on the island. The south coast beaches are more established tourism infrastructure; Trinco beaches are cleaner and less crowded.

What to do for 3–4 days:
1. Koneswaram Temple on the headland — ancient Hindu temple with dramatic cliff views
2. Fort Frederick — Dutch colonial fort, now a military base but partially open
3. Pigeon Island snorkelling day trip
4. Uppuveli and Nilaveli beach days
5. Whale watching from Trincomalee (sperm whales and blue whales — less reliable than Mirissa but possible May–October when Mirissa is off-season)

Best time to visit: May to September (the east coast dry season — opposite to the south coast). The southwest monsoon hits the south coast in this period, making Trincomalee the weather alternative.

Journey as experience: The train from Colombo through the interior is genuinely scenic and a long ride in the best sense. The landscape of the north-central province is flat and ancient-feeling — different from hill country or coast.