Jaffna

Jaffna is a special city in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province that serves as its cultural hub.

It’s a place where you can experience the genuine Tamil culture and their own history.

Plus, the city is on the peninsula and shows us everything. From old historical buildings to Hindu temples and beautiful islands that are fascinating.

Therefore, when you visit Jaffna, you’ll get to see how the city has bounced back. And built up itself while staying true to its old times.

However, as you may already know, it is not that easy to find a proper detailed guide. When it comes to travelling to this amazing place in Sri Lanka.

Anyway, we are here to change that, which means, from this guide you will be able to find out seven amazing places to visit here. And more than that, what you could do in these places to make your time memorable.

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

This is the most important Hindu temple that you’ll find in Jaffna.

It is actually older than you think. In fact, they built it back in the 1400s when the Jaffna kingdom was in charge. And it’s dedicated to Lord Murugan.

Once you are there, you will find out that the temple’s entrance tower is painted in gold colour and reaches high into the sky. In a way, it’s a perfect example of Southern Indian temple style.

Inside of this kovil, you’ll find detailed sculptures and beautiful paintings on the ceiling. That were all created by skilled Tamil artists from long ago.

When it comes to special occasions. Every August, there’s a huge festival that runs for 25 days by bringing in thousands of people from everywhere.

Anyway, just remember that they have strict rules about what you can wear. And you’ll need to follow their traditional customs when you visit.

This is because they respect their religious rules and breaking those would give you an unpleasant experience for sure.

Jaffna Fort

If you have some interest in old history, then you’ll want to check out Jaffna Fort due to its vibe in it.

In fact, Jaffna Fort is the second biggest Dutch fort in Sri Lanka.

Looking back in history, the Portuguese started building it in 1618. And then the Dutch made it even bigger in 1680.

It’s built in the shape of a star and shows you just how good Europeans were at building military structures in this part of the world.

Moreover, the fort has thick walls and deep moats, and it’s in the perfect spot that overlooks the Jaffna lagoon.

On the bright side, these days, you can walk around the walls, explore old tunnels, and visit restored buildings like the Queen’s House and Garrison Church.

Believe us, this is an opportunity that you wouldn’t like to miss.

Note: People have worked hard to fix up the fort recently. And now you can get some really great views of the peninsula from up there.

Jaffna Public Library

The Jaffna Public Library has a pretty moving story.

It used to be one of the best libraries in all of Asia, with over 97,000 books and rare documents.

Then in 1981, some groups burned it down with no evidence left.

But the people of Jaffna didn’t give up – they rebuilt it and opened it again in 2003.

As a result, it’s now full of books in Tamil, English, and Sinhala.

Therefore, make sure to hit some books to learn about the Sri Lankan culture in a poetic manner.

We are sure that it will blend well with the design of the library.

Speaking of structure, the building itself is beautiful, with a mix of Indian and Middle Eastern design styles.

In here, you can spend your time in the quiet reading rooms or walk around in the well-kept gardens to relax your mind.

Note: It’s more than just a library. In fact, it shows how the people here overcame a terrible loss.

Casuarina Beach

When you want to get away from the city, Casuarina Beach is the place that you must head to in Jaffna.

It’s about 20 kilometers from Jaffna town in a place called Karainagar.

The beach gets its name from the Casuarina trees that grow along it.

Moreover, the water is super clear, and the sand is really white and soft which makes you feel better when walking on it.

Speaking of which, the water isn’t very deep, so it’s great for swimming, and there’s usually a nice breeze that makes it perfect for windsurfing as well.

Anyway, the only downfall in here is that you won’t find any big hotels or restaurants. So, in a way, it’s pretty natural. 

Nainativu (Nagadeepa)

Nainativu is an island that both Buddhists and Hindus consider as an important place.

So, if you wish to go there, here is an easy way to go through: You can get there by taking a short boat ride from Jaffna.

If you think about it, you will even get a unique boat experience from the start of your way to the place.

Anyway, once you are there on the island, you’ll find the old Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple and the Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple.

Speaking of which, Buddhist texts say that Buddha came to this island on his second trip to Sri Lanka, which makes it one of sixteen special places in the country.

On the other hand, the Hindu temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and has an impressive architecture that you can find in unique ways. 

Delft Island

Delft Island is the biggest of the islands around Jaffna, which that local people call it as Neduntheevu.

It’s an interesting place that shows both Dutch old times and local traditions in their own way.

In here, you’ll find wild ponies that came with horses as the Portuguese left them behind. Additionally, you can also find out old baobab trees, and houses that are made from coral stone.

Also, there’s an old Dutch fort too, and even though it’s falling apart, it’s still fascinating to look at.

This is because people still live there in traditional ways, as fishermen use old fishing methods, and locals keep up old customs in their daily routines. 

Jaffna Market

The Jaffna Market is where you’ll really get to see the daily life in action.

It’s famous for fresh food, especially Jaffna mangoes, grapes, and things that are made from palmyra palm.

When you walk through the narrow paths in the market, you’ll find people who sell fresh spices, seafood, traditional crafts, and everyday items.

Therefore, make sure to check out those if you like. Who knows, you might find something interesting to give your loved ones.

Anyway, if you would like to see the real process or the backstage in these places, there is a specific time that you must go there.

In fact, if you go early in the morning, you’ll see how local trading works and you can try northern specialties like Jaffna crab curry. Trust us, this is the curry that you must try to get the real taste of Jaffna spices.

Every place that you visit in Jaffna shows you something different about the city.

As a matter of fact, you can learn about spirituality at the temples, discover history at the fort, enjoy the nature at beaches, or get to know the culture at the market.

Anyway, remember that each place helps you to understand what makes this northern city special by telling you stories about its past while showing you how it’s growing today.

So, as more tourists discover this region, these seven places remain the best ways to really understand and enjoy what makes Sri Lanka’s northern peninsula unique.

Therefore, make sure to add these amazing places to your travel itinerary to get an unforgettable experience.