Jaffna region is one of the most attractive towns discovered straight on the northern tip of Sri Lanka. Jaffna is comprehended for its dominant Tamil inhabitants, and the hospitality of the villagers will surely impress any visitor to this area. So if you are scrutinising for a destination that delivers magnificence and excellent hospitality to tourists, then Jaffna should be in your next travel dream.
37 Places to Visit in Jaffna
This town’s transport method is ideal, making it effortless for visitors to travel around for sightseeing or shopping. Here are some of the finest places to visit in Jaffna.
- Nallur Kandasamy Kovil
- Jaffna Fort
- Nagadeepa Temple
- Jaffna Grape Farming Experience
- Chundikulam National Park
- Jaffna Archaeological Museum
- Jaffna Kingdom Ruins
- Fort Hammenheil
- Point Pedro Lighthouse
- Keerimalai Sacred Water Springs
- Maruthanamadam Anjaneyar Kovil
- Jaffna Public Library
- Delft Island
- Kantharodai Vihara – Kadurugoda Temple
- Manalkadu Beach
- Delft Dutch Fort
- Queen’s Tower
- Delft Wild Horses
- KKS Beach
- Pigeons Nest
- Horse Stable
- Sacred Bo Sanctuary Temple
- Nilavarai Bottomless Well
- Sarasalai Mangrove Ecosystem
- Periya Mandapam limestone caves
- Manalkadu Sand Dunes
- Karaveddy Lagoon
- Selva Sanidhi Murugan Temple
- Dambakolapatuna Temple
- Growing Stone
- Casuarina Beach
- Charty Beach
- Nagarkovil Beach
- Varatharaja Perumal Temple
- Nagapooshani Amman Temple
- Jaffna Clock Tower
- Elephant Pass War Memorial
1. Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Temple
This temple is dedicated to God Murugan, the God of war, named the philosopher-warrior God. He is the son of renowned Shiva and Parvati and is the brother of Ganesh. This temple is one of the numerous famous temples in Sri Lanka. The invaders had destroyed it many times, though it has always been rebuilt. This temple hosts one of the most popular festivals called the “Nallur Festival“. It is established in the city’s centre, and the male visitors must enter the temple topless to respect God Murugan.
2. Jaffna Fort
Jaffna Fort, constructed by the Portuguese, stands as one of the most beloved buildings in Sri Lanka to see the most significant battles. Throughout the 25-year-old civil war in Sri Lanka, the Jaffna Fort had been attacked, shot at and destroyed in some parts several times over. The first encounter it saw was in 1658 when the Dutch invaded the fort and captured it. This fort has witnessed so much disorder and has so many novels to determine. Kruys Church was established inside the fort by the Dutch in 1706, and it survived firm until the 1990s. Presently the Dutch government is investing in restoring this church to its previous brilliance.
3. Nagadeepa Temple
Lord Buddha visited Nagadeepa Island to settle a dispute between Chulodara and Mahodara over a gem-studded throne. Lord Buddha taught the “Dhamma” to the two kings about compassion. The two kings were surprised by the “Dhamma”, and they ended their dispute and allowed the gem-studded authority to Lord Buddha. It is assumed that the Lord Buddha bestowed this throne to the ruler of Kelaniya, who blessed it and built the Kelaniya temple, which is placed near Colombo now.
4. Jaffna Grape farming experience
Jaffna Grape farming experience offers exclusive, personal and entertaining private tours of the Jaffna regions. You can get a local owner that will assist you in planning your perfect excursion. You can pick and buy if that is on the best time.
5. Chundikulam national park
Previously known as the Chundikulam sanctuary, presently, the Sri Lanka government-linked numerous forests nearby to formulate a larger protected zone as the Chundikulam National Park in 2015. The park has widespread mangrove swamps and seagrass beds. Many birds that can be seen in the park are black-tailed godwit, black-winged stilt, brown-headed gull, common sandpiper, greater flamingo, and several others. Deer and crocodiles can be seen in the park as well. The statement indicates that the leopards and bears live in the Chundikulam national park, but they are not easily found because they are not used to visitors and are very shy.
6. Jaffna Archaeological Museum
Compared to the other Sri Lankan museums, a tiny museum has a rare collection of Buddhist and Hindu antiquities. The artefacts are made out of wood, metal, and stone. This is an excellent location to learn a bit of the lost culture in the Jaffna kingdom. The museum also has a cultural hall. Many who visited the museum had commented that this was more of a collection than a museum.
7. Jaffna Kingdom Ruins
Sankillian Thoppu had been the central entrance to the ancient castle of Jaffna, and regrettably, only the gate still stands. The icons of King Sankillian riding a horse with a sword in hand can be observed in the town. Additionally, the Rajamantri Palace is believed to be the manor house of an old minister from the king’s court. Structurally it is a two-story home, but due to the place being ignored, the secondary story is no more. Portions of the staircase that led up to the second floor can be viewed from some house areas.
8. Fort Hammenheil
This is one of the most historical Portuguese forts, also used as a jail till the 1980s. Now the fort is run like a resort, and they provide you with the comfort of napping in a cell. If you want to be “locked up” for the night time, then this would be the ideal place to be, understanding that there’s a 100% guarantee that you will be allowed out of your cell at any moment you want.
9. Point Pedro Lighthouse
Point Pedro is the northernmost tip in Sri Lanka facing the Bay of Bengal. The lighthouse was constructed by the British in 1916 which stands 105 feet tall. Sri Lanka Navy has a basecamp nearby, and there is a significant communication tower next to the lighthouse. Yet, the lighthouse is rundown, and the staircase is broken in so many places. Hence no one climbs to the top of the lighthouse now.
10. Keerimalai Sacred Water Springs
Keerimalai Sacred Water Springs is close to the Naguleshwaram kovil. There are two parts of the hot springs where the large pond is for men, and a smaller pond is hidden inside for the women. The locals assume that these water springs have healing claims that can cure illnesses. The best time to visit the water springs is early in the morning before crowds come in. Even though only a thin wall separates this pond from the Indian ocean, the water springs are pure and are not mixed with saltwater.
11. Maruthanamadam Anjaneyar Kovil
One of the rare Lord Hanuman kovils in Sri Lanka is the Maruthana madam Anjaneyar kovil, located near the Maruthanamadam intersection on the Jaffna-Kankesanturai way. The Brahmachari Hanuman was one of the central characters depicted in the epic Ramayana. Now at one of the far edges of this island, you can observe a 72 feet high statue of Lord Hanuman, which can be seen from far away. Aside from the daily poojas in the temple, special poojas are offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays, devoted to Lord Hanuman.
12. Jaffna Public Library
The Jaffna Public Library, established about 2km from Jaffna town, is one of the city’s significant attractions. Built-in 1933.
Throughout the beginning 1980s, it was one of the most extensive libraries in Asia, including over 97,000 books and manuscripts. In 2001, the Library’s renovation was completed, with a new building being developed and new books introduced, although its old books and papers were not replaced. It is Sri Lanka’s next main public Library.
Throughout the civil battle that was on at the time, the Library was burned down in 1981, and much of the valuable components of the Library were missed by the fire. In 2001, the Library was mainly restored, with a new collection being built and thousands of new books being produced. Sadly, the old books and documents were not converted.
The Jaffna Library rose to influence, as international and domestic academics preferred it, however most importantly, it served as a cultural centre for the Tamil community. In addition, the Library housed papers of priceless value, such as the only extant copy of the Yalpanam Vaipavama, a story of Jaffna written by Tamil writer Mayilvagana Pulavar in 1736.
13. Delft Island
Neduntheevu or Nedunthivu is an island in the Park in northern Sri Lanka. Unlike the other islands, this island is named Delft in the Admiralty Chart, whose symptoms are Tamil. The island’s area is 50 km², and it is almost oval-shaped. Its length is 8 km, and its maximum width is about 6 km.
Life on the island is exciting yet sincere on the isle. The coral walls that surround the homes are as symbolic as the palmyra trees. There are many tales to discover apart from the Dutch remains left centuries ago.
14. Kantharodai Vihara – Kadurugoda Temple
Ancient Kadurugoda Viharaya is one of the old few Buddhist places enduring in Jaffna today.
The site of Kadurugoda was discovered in 1917 by the Magistrate P.E. Pieris. He reported that bricks from this site are being carried away by cart loads by the residents around the area to build houses. 1917-1919 has found remains of a shrine room, parts of Buddha Statues, Bodhisattva statues, Buddha foot imprints, and coins referring to the pre-Christian era.
15. Manalkadu Beach
A fishing village lies next to the beach, attaches to the Manalkadu dunes with its ruins hidden inside; the famous one is the Dutch built St. Anthony’s church. It is a long beach that is ideal for walks next to the waves.
16. Delft Dutch Fort
In great detail, Ralph Henry Bassett explains the Delft Dutch Fort in his book “Romantic Ceylon: Its History, Legend and Story”. It was initially assumed had been built by the Portuguese throughout their occupation of Ceylon, and Ralph describes it as a “powerful, fortified fort”. We would highly suggest this book as some quality reading material on your travels through Sri Lanka to help you develop recognition of how life was during the Colonial period through the eyes of a European traveller.
17. Queen’s Tower
There is some consideration as to whether the Dutch or British originally built this tower during their occupation of Ceylon. The Queen’s building was constructed to serve as a point of recognition for oncoming ships to help them safely navigate the waters. A fire would arrive at the base of its 55-foot-tall construction, and its light would be matched up through the tower and redirected towards the oncoming ships. There is also evidence to suggest that the British had been using another building known as the King’s Tower, which has since been demolished.
18. Delft Wild Horses
It is exciting to see how an animal species entirely alien to this island have made their home here for the last 300 years. The Delft Wild Horses were formerly brought here by the Portuguese for trading purposes and to bolster their army. Since the Portuguese occupation’s end, these 2000+ wild horses have roamed around and enjoyed blocking the non-existent traffic by walking along the roads. The sanctuary laws within the island allow this luxury by providing them with protection, food and water to sustain them.
19. KKS Beach
KKS or Kankasanthurai has another extended beach and crystal-clear ocean. This beach managed to be the naval hub of the Sri Lankan Navy. But now, this is a family-friendly beach where numerous locals come to visit. So the beach is not crowded. The KKS lighthouse can be observed from a background as well. This is a great fishing village where the harbour is located close by as thoroughly.
20. Pigeons Nest
During colonial times, birds were used for communication. Pigeons are said to have a good memory, and hence they have been used to fly from one location to the other. It’s a one-hour boat ride from Delft Island to the mainland, and to think that pigeons flew over the Indian ocean for over an hour. The note was written on a bit of paper and tied to the pigeon’s leg. This pigeon’s nest has been constructed using corals from the ocean by the Dutch.
21. Horse Stable
These 100-meter-long horse stables have been made by the Dutch to shield their horses. The pillars on which the horses had been brought had presented the test of time, yet you can observe 64 of these pillars with 32 or both sides. These horses have been practised for the army’s use and also have been obtained with the merchants.
22. Sacred Bo Sanctuary Temple
The Sacred Bo tree in Anuradhapura is the oldest living tree in the world with a known planting date. This Bo tree is a sprout from the original Bo tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The Sacred Bo-tree sapling was brought from India to Sri Lanka by “Sangamiththa Thero”. On the way to Sri Lanka, it’s said that they have stopped at this place upon which a temple had been built later. This is the tallest place on the island. Today the temple is in ruin.
23. Nilavarai Bottomless Well
There are many stories related to how this well with no bottom was created. Many European professional divers have tried to obtain the bottom of this well with professional gear, but they have given up since the well keeps on going endlessly. The locals say that the well’s water level never goes down. Some believe that this well is joined to the Keeramalai pond.
24. Sarasalai Mangrove Ecosystem
A fascinating mangrove ecosystem exists in Sarasalai. It is a significant area for the ecosystem of Jaffna. Many reptiles and amphibians exist in those mangroves. Concerning those engaged in shooting mangroves and the creatures living in them, this is a charming place.
25. Periya Mandapam Limestone Caves
A natural cave system can be found in Jaffna, which is called the Periya Mandapam limestone caves. This is a lesser-known place even for the locals. A large tree in the middle of the cave entrance stands guard, providing shade to the door. The government had not performed any effort to build these caves into an attraction, and therefore not a lot of research had been done before. We recommend you take a ladder to get into the entrance, explore the caves from outside, and not go in since no one knows what could be down there.
26. Manalkadu Sand Dunes
This is a fantastic stretch of dunes that towers up to 16 meters at specific points. Many ruins are buried in these dunes, one of them being an ancient catholic church from the Dutch era, dedicated to St. Anthony’s. The walls of the church can be observed when the dunes move from time to time.
27. Karaveddy Lagoon
Karaveddy, likewise known as the “Coastal Strip” in the local Tamil language, is near Point Pedro. The lagoon attracts several seasonal and endemic birds. This is an exceptional place for bird watching and suitable for Sunrise and Sunset photography as well.
28. Selva Sanidhi Murugan Temple
The Pada Yatra or the Foot Journey is a 2-month extended walking route started by devotees to show their gods’ respect. People travel from one sacred site to the other, and it is a very long and challenging route. The devotees attend from the North to the South of the island on footing. They start the trip from Selva Sanidhi Murugan Temple and end off in Kataragama temple. They begin from Jaffna, then walk through Trincomalee and Batticaloa and within the adhesive forests of Yala national park filled with bears, leopards and elephants. The only occasion that the Government allows anyone to walk inside Yala national park is joining the Pada Yatra. This temple is dedicated to God Murugan.
29. Dambakolapatuna Temple
This is where Sangamiththa thero arrived in Sri Lanka with the sacred Bo sapling from the tree in India, under which Lord Buddha achieved enlightenment. The King and ruler of the country when King Devanampiyatissa came to Dambakolapatuna to greet Sangamiththa thero and escort them to Anuradhapura to plant the Sacred Bo tree, which stands to this day.
30. Growing Stone
Like the growing stone in Nagapooshani Amman kovil, there is another lesser-known growing stone in Delft Island. The history behind this stone is lost in time, but the elderly locals who have lived on the island their whole life tell that they have seen this stone grow over the years. The locals worship this stone, and it’s considered a small shrine where lamps are lit and offerings are made.
31. Casuarina beach
Casuarina beach is the most famous beach in the Northern province with shallow waters and white sandy beaches. Some small trees and shrubs provide perfect cover from the hot sun if you feel like taking a break. The shoreline of the Casuarina beach is stunning, which ends in one corner with the Karainagar lighthouse. It is an hour’s drive from Jaffna city to the beach.
32. Charty Beach
Popular beach, which is loaded with white sand, coconut and palmyra trees. A 20-minute drive from Jaffna city, this area is also called Kayts. A couple of beach resorts are in proximity, which allows the visitors to access this beach better from their hotels. In addition, there are numerous huts along the coast, which will enable visitors to rest from taking their tan.
33. Nagarkovil Beach
The Nagarkovil beach is combined with the antiquity of Jaffna in a significant way. The remains of an Ayyanaar temple can be observed on the beach. It is said that there had done a Jain temple constructed long ago, and the beach had decayed over time, and now this temple is underwater in the Indian Ocean. Another white sandy beach with a village closes by with a popular Murugan kovil with its celebration.
34. Varatharaja Perumal Temple
The temple is devoted to Lord Perumal, another name for Lord Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s principal deities. Lord Vishnu is the genius of this universe, whereas Lord Shiva is recognized as the destroyer and Lord Brahma is the creator. Every year two local festivals occur in August and December. On Sundays, you can see a lot of believers gathering at this temple for its weekly pooja.
35. Nagapooshani Amman Temple
According to Energy Worship/Shaktism, there are 51 sacred memorials in the society according to Energy Worship / Shaktism, a Goddess centric education in Hinduism. Out of these 51 shrines, many are in India, with 7 in Bangladesh, 3 in Pakistan, 3 in Nepal, 1 in Tibet and 1 in Sri Lanka. Naagapooshani Amman temple is the single shrine in Sri Lanka announced in Shaktism. The Nagapooshani Amman temple was first written in Shakti Peetha Stotram in the 9th century by a Hindu philosopher. That is how far the temple’s antiquity and popularity travel back.
36. Jaffna Clock Tower
The Jaffna Clock Tower, standing majestically in the heart of Jaffna, serves not only as a reminder of the past but also as a beacon of cultural identity for the people of northern Sri Lanka. Erected to commemorate the royal visit of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1875, the tower has since become a central landmark, infused with historical significance and local pride. Let’s explore the rich history, architectural splendor, and cultural importance of this iconic structure.
37. Elephant Pass War Memorial
Located at a strategic juncture in northern Sri Lanka, the Elephant Pass War Memorial stands as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by the Sri Lankan military. This grand structure, over 42-feet tall, commands respect and contemplation, featuring symbolic elements that are rich in meaning and history. Let’s explore the profound significance, stunning design, and the emotional impact of this memorial, which honors the bravery of those who defended their country.
Article by
Ravindu Dilshan Illangakoon
As co-founder and Head of Content at Sri Lanka Travel Pages, I ensure that every blog post we publish is AMAZING.
Accommodations in Jaffna
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