LankaHome · Places · Northern · Jaffna · Jaffna — Jaffna
city · Northern
Jaffna — Jaffna
Cover photo: Lakpura LLC (Flickr, CC BY)
- District
- Jaffna
- Province
- Northern
- Best for
- Northern base: Nallur temple, Fort and Library, wild and sacred islands, crab curry
About this place
The north's cultural capital on the lagoon: a great festival temple, a lagoon fort and a rebuilt library in town; wild horses on Delft, twin faiths on Nainativu, springs and the island's top-right cape beyond. Three days covers it; the train from Colombo makes arrival easy.
Visitor brief
Good to know before you go
- Three days does it: city temples and fort, one island, the far north.
- Nallur festival runs each August — book months ahead or come after.
- Delft and Nainativu each need their own morning; do not stack both.
- Trains from Colombo Fort; reserve seats early in season.
How to travel there
In Jaffna District, Northern Province. Trains from Colombo Fort (reserved seats sell out in season) and long-distance buses day and night. Tuk-tuks for the city; van or car for Delft connections and far-north days.
Where to stay
Stay in central Jaffna town (guesthouses and mid-range hotels near the Fort and Nallur) for temple and food evenings. Book ahead in August festival season.
Nearby places
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, Jaffna Fort, Delft Island, Casuarina Beach
Scams to watch for
- Tuk-tuks quoting 'island day' packages that skip the ferry queues; check ferry times yourself.
- Guides at Nallur selling priority entry that does not exist; the queue is the queue.
Related guides
City & Market
Jaffna Public Library — Jaffna Travel Guide
Book lovers and history travellers; symbol of Jaffna's cultural resilience
Read guide →
Hike & Viewpoint
Point Pedro and Sakkotai Cape — Jaffna Travel Guide
Lighthouse and land's-end chasers; Sri Lanka's northernmost point
Read guide →
Temple & Sacred
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple — Jaffna Travel Guide
Hindu pilgrims and culture lovers; witness rituals in the north's holiest temple
Read guide →
Temple & Sacred
Nainativu (Nagadeepa) Island Temples — Jaffna Travel Guide
Pilgrims and culture travellers; Hindu and Buddhist shrines side by side
Read guide →
Comments & tips