Location: Jaffna
Top Things to do in Jaffna
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10 Free Things to do in Jaffna That You Shouldn't Miss
Jaffna (Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணம், translit. Yāḻppāṇam, Sinhalese: යාපනය, translit. Yāpanaya) is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. With a population of 88,138, Jaffna is Sri Lanka's 12th largest city. Jaffna is approximately six miles (9.7 kilometres) from Kandarodai which served as an emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical antiquity. Jaffna's suburb Nallur served as the capital of the four-century-long medieval Jaffna kingdom. Prior to the Sri Lankan civil war, it was Sri Lanka's second most populated city after the commercial capital Colombo. The 1980s insurgent uprising led to extensive damage, expulsion of part of the population, and military occupation. Since the end of civil war in 2009, refugees and internally displaced people have started to return to their homes and government and private sector reconstruction has begun.
Restaurants in Jaffna
1. Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Festival
2. Nallur Kovil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 577 reviews
Reviewed By chathuandishanka - Kalutara, Sri Lanka
One of the major Hindu temples in Sri Lanka. People from all religions visit here without a division. Temple is very big that you have plenty to see inside. Men are required to remove their top clothing to enter the temple. No any restrictions for women. No photos inside. Dress accordingly as this is a religious place.
3. Naga Pooshani Ambal Kovil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By Sivalingamsingapore - Singapore, Singapore
Dangerous boat ride to the temple. It is nice beautiful Hindu Amman temple located on Nainadivu island.
4. Nagadipa Purana Vihara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By chathuandishanka - Kalutara, Sri Lanka
One of 16 most sacred Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. It is believed that the lord Buddha visited this place to resolve a conflict between two rulers of the island. The monks of this temple had gone through immense of hardships to protect this place during the civil war. In the temple museum you can find lot of information regarding this. Since it is located in a small island separated from the main land it has an added additional value. You need to take a boat from the kurikadduwan jetty to reach here. Boats operate regularly and it take about 20 mins for the ride. Ticket is 40 rupees one way. They load a lot of people per boat, so don’t expect any comfort. Boat will drop you at the temple jetty. But to take the return boat you need to walk or take a tuk towards the jetty near the Hindu kovil which is about 1km away.
5. Kayts Causeway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By nols59 - Melbourne, Australia
Lots to see, there is a feeling of disbelief that you are driving on the water, intering to watch the fishermen pick the prawns from the net, not so interesting to overtake on the cause way
6. Kantharodai Viharaya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By Shade16
I searched for interesting places to see before I went to Jaffna and came across this place online. I was immediately intrigued. Used Google maps to locate the place when we drove over there. Found it easily. The site is beautiful and peaceful. Visitors are not allowed to walk in and stroll among the domes but can view it from outside. The inscription at the site states that the monks ate poisoned food and this is their burial place. I wish I cold go again and spend some time here.... it was so peaceful and fascinating to see the domes of varying sizes scattered in this open area. One guy at the site was telling us a long story that they did not have money to maintain the place which I thought was a ploy to get us to hand over some money to him. Since this is maintained by the Department of Archaeology surely they can maintain the place. Definitely worth a visit.
7. Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By 853arunas - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple is an ancient and historically significant Buddhist temple which is situated in Dambakolapatuna in the Jaffna district.
8. Nagadeepa Rajamaha Viharaya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By prashanl2017 - Colombo, Sri Lanka
One of the few places Lord Buddha visited in Sri Lanka, it has a very rich history a must visit also there is a huge kovil 100m away from the temple. Try to avoid during weekends because the boat ride to nagadeepaya is about 20minutes and the boats are not organized at all. During weekends and local school holidays hundreds of people visit the temple so boats are overcrowded and overpacked. Also you can take the boat ride to delft island from the same place but that boat go there only few times a day where as boat to nagadeepaya goes every 30mins. Delft and nagadeepa temple are a must visit in Jaffna
9. Murikandy Pillayar Shrine
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By 7SE3 - London, United Kingdom
This is where all the vehicles stop and pray for a safe journey. This is a small temple but aĺl the locals stop here.
10. Neduntheevu (Delft Island)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 180 reviews
Delft island is an Island in the Palk Strait, northern Sri Lanka. This island is named as Delft in the Admiralty Chart unlike the other islands, whose names are Tamil. The island's area is 50 km² and it is roughly oval-shaped. Its length is 8 km and its maximum width about 6 km. Delft Islands flat grounds adds to the beauty of its breath taking views.
Reviewed By TwoMumsTravelling - Colombo, Sri Lanka
We hired a open pickup and did a two hour tour of the island. saw some lovely houses many deserted with owners living in colombo / overseas, kovils all being painted brillant colours, the boabab tree, the wild horses, the old fort. The travel over was an experience, crowded boat taking the office staff and teachers to the Island.
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