Jaffna

The Sinhalese city of Jaffna is located at the northern tip of Sri Lanka on the peninsula of the same name and is very strongly influenced by the South Indian, Hindu culture of the Tamils. For 300 years, the Jaffna Kingdom was even a Tamil monarchy independent of the rest of the island. However, with the seizure of power by the Portuguese in 1591, this period came to an abrupt end.

From 1981 to 2008, the civil war raged fiercely in Jaffna and this can still be seen in the city today. Many historic buildings have been destroyed and the once flourishing trading city is lagging behind other parts of the country. Nevertheless, in Jaffna you can experience the lively, colorful culture of the Hindu Tamils like in no other place in the country. Not many tour operators travel to the north of Sri Lanka, but it is once again terrain for explorers and those who walk off the beaten track.

Things to do in Jaffna 

1. Jaffna as a Sri Lanka insider destination offers some unusual destinations. We have selected the five most beautiful places to visit in the city and island:
2. Filigree decorated in gold and the subject of countless photos from Jaffna is the largest Hindu temple in Sri Lanka, the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
3. It gets particularly colorful and extravagant in Jaffna during the Nallur Festival, which the Hindus celebrate for 26 days in July/August.
4. The Kadurugoda Viharaya is a mythical Buddhist temple complex that consists of many stupas and is reminiscent of a UFO landscape
5. It is worth taking a dip in the sacred springs of Maradanamadam Hanuman Temple
6. A beautiful beach can be found at Casuarina Beach in Karainagar and on the offshore islands you can mingle well with the people as a tourist

Itineraries of Jaffna: Advanced Destination

Because of the long journey, a visit to Jaffna is only worthwhile for two days or more. If you are traveling to Sri Lanka for the first time, you will most likely not include the region in your itinerary, as Jaffna is more of an advanced destination. For Sri Lanka lovers, however, the region offers new charms that fill a two-day visit with completely new impressions.

Jaffna can be reached from Colombo (about 7 hours by train or car) or from Anuradhapura (4 hours by train or car). Further connections to national parks, cultural sites and better-known beaches are rare, but for lovers of Hindu culture and Sri Lanka connoisseurs, this northern tip is a particularly inpidual destination.