Location: Jaffna
Top Things to do in Jaffna
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10 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 Kovil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 438 reviews
Reviewed By netllama - Sf Bay Area
Unfortunately the interior of the temple was closed when i visited, but i was able to walk the grounds for some great views of the exterior buildings. The art is amazing. Be forewarned, you must remove shoes before entering the grounds, and the sand is quite hot in the sun.
2. Naga Pooshani Ambal Kovil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By Meera A - London, United Kingdom
The boat ride itself is fun; Its easy to hire a private boat very cheap if you have a group of more than 5 people well worth the price; The Temple itself it beautiful; The priest and management are very accommodating to all the people who attend.
3. Nagadipa Purana Vihara
Overall Ratings
4 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By Harsha P - Colombo, Sri Lanka
This is a very sacred place to all Buddhist in Sri Lanka as it is one of the 4 places Lord Buddha visited in Lanka. The boast trip is enjoyable & the ability to meditate at Nagadeepa refreshes your soul.
4. Neduntheevu (Delft Island)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 126 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 Surfthemaze - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Took a moped from Jaffna across the causeways and Islands to the pier where the ferry runs from. Amazing journey whizzing along the flat land, with lots of birdlife in the lagoons. We didn't get the bigger ferry, and got on the 09:30 boat, which was a very old and quite small mainly passenger ferry. With help, manhandled the moped onto the deck. Island was unique - coral everywhere on walls and paths. Wild ponies if you search hard enough. More habitation than I expected, but away from the north coast it's really quiet and almost like savannah/ bush on the NE after the paved roads end. A real adventure.
5. Jaffna Fort
Overall Ratings
4 based on 384 reviews
Reviewed By KirtiAnand - Mumbai, India
Built by the Portuguese, occupied by the Dutch and British spread over 62 acres, must have been a stunning piece of architecture with 40 feet wide walls, a moat etc...it's all in ruins unfortunately. Nearly completely destroyed in the civil war, the restoration seems to have begun just a few years ago
6. Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Girl From C - Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dambakola Patuna also called as Jambukola Patuna which was used as an ancient port and have great historical value behind that. Though the current look of the temple has modern building architecture the story behind this location is thousands year ago happened.
According to the history this is the port where the Sangamiththa theri landed with the most sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya which is planted in the Anuradhapura city.
The temple located next to the beach and has a great scenic view if you visit in the evening. In the day time after 10.30am it's too sunny and hard to walk in beach. The place has both historical and religious value and can be recommend for quick visit if you travelling to Jaffna peninsula.
7. Kantharodai Viharaya
Overall Ratings
4 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By fjp4564 - Sunshine Coast
This is an archeological find which is now been presevered for visitors and further study. It consists of several Buddhist Stupas built several centuries ago. Further studies are being done to ascertain more information on this spot. A little off the main track but a must see
8. Kayts Causeway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By PRABHU60 - Colombo, Sri Lanka
The long stretching bridge by reclamation to Kayts with the excellent road on which you can make a scenic drive once you are in Jaffna . The mangroves and the marsh land on both sides house a variety of migratory birds in season. As I visited in April the variety and the numbers were less. I saw the spot billed duck, Spot billed Pelicans, cormorants darters, Egrets, Black necked ibis, painted storks and pied king fisher in limited numbers. An early morning drive would make any one refreshed on this stretch leading to Kayts.
9. Elephant Pass
Overall Ratings
4 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By Charith B - Colombo, Sri Lanka
The location is nice where you need to go on a lengthy bridge. We travelled in early morning and with the sunset, the horizon was amazing. And the memorial is located in one edge of the bridge.
10. Jaffna Public Library
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 151 reviews
Reviewed By KirtiAnand - Mumbai, India
All the sections are closed to visitors, so you can only admire the building facade, walk the corridors and see closed doors What is interesting is the statue of Goddess Saraswati - the Hindu Goddess of learning at the front Avoidable
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