Jaffna travel is one of the oldest cities in Lower South Asia and primarily populated by the Tamil. The beautiful palm-shaded city of Jaffna is situated in the northernmost region of Sri Lanka and a little bit of sea area known as the Palk Strait separates Jaffna from the Indian sub-continent.
Having been Sri Lanka’s Hindu-Tamil capital for centuries prior to the colonization of the Portuguese, you can be assured of seeing great historic, cultural and religious sites influenced by Hindu tradition as well as typical colonial architecture in your Jaffna travel. Guide your way carefully through the streets of Jaffna as most addresses seem to have ‘old’ or ‘new’ street numbers which have the potential to create confusion.
The weather in Jaffna is typically dry with seasonal monsoon showers during the months of October to January.
Things To Do
Jaffna sightseeing can be an interesting and fascinating experience, among the many historic Hindu temples and churches with amazing architecture. However, most places may now be in a dilapidated condition consequent to the effects of the war.
Island hopping is certainly one of the unique and exciting things to do in Jaffna as you hobble along the beautiful islands of Kayts, Karaitivu, Punkudutivu and Mandativu, with each providing a different experience.
On the other hand, dining is a must on your list of things to do in Jaffna. Thanj Hotel is great for hot, melting in the mouth, hoppers. The Malayan Café offers a very different experience of eating delicious vegetarian delights on banana leaves. The marble-top tables and long glass and wood cabinets are quite extraordinary as against the usual setting in Jaffna.
Find your way to the Morgan’s Guest House if you would like to enjoy a drink in the evening over a chat with some of the villagers. Another one of the important things to do includes paying a visit to at least one of Jaffna’s cream houses including Lingam Cream House, Raja Ice Cream or Rio, famously known for serving the most delicious home-made ice cream.
Attractions
There are numerous Jaffna attractions ranging from temples, churches, libraries and various other structures of cultural significance. One of the most popular is the Nagadeepa temple which is believed to be the site where Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the second time, five years after enlightenment. The Nallur temple Jaffna, built during the medieval period, is perhaps the most impressive religious building in the area and yet retains much significance for Hindus in the entire island.
Among other Jaffna attractions, the Jaffna Fort known to be one of the best in Asia was built in 1680 with its walls virtually invisible and hidden beneath what seems to be over-grown slopes, as a testament to the architectural brilliance of the time. The Jaffna Archaeological Museum and the Jaffna Public Library too are of significant importance in the area.
The Manalkadu Desert, an area of pristine white sand dunes created from sand blown from India 3during monsoon winds, is also one of the popular Jaffna attractions.
