Heritage

Jaffna Old Park and British Era Queens Pond – යාපනය පැරණි උද්‍යානය හා බ්‍රිත්‍යානය සමයේ පොකුණ

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The pond known as Queens Pond which had been part of the governors residence is the only remains of the British park today
Photo from : TamilNet

Just 3 km from Jaffna town lies a children’s play ground which is called Old Park. This park has been build by the British Government Agent Ackland Dyke dubbed ‘the Rajah of the North’, on a 27 acre land purchased with his private funds.

The Residency and a vast park developed around it, nearly in an area of a square mile with very old trees, became a public property in through a deed of gift through queen Victoria after the death of Ackland Dyke. Records detail the beauty of his residence and garden, during the time, where a charming pond, flower gardens, fruit bearing trees and rare plants amply decorated the extent of the park. This park had been planted with the rarest trees. Apart from the giant Mahogany, Nedun, Ironwood, and the inevitable Mango and the Tamarind, both of which brought some revenue annually for the upkeep of the garden.

After the defeat of the LTTE Tamil Terrorists in 2009, With the developments of the northern region, this park was developped in to a children’s park. The the only structure surviving from the Dyle’s garden is a pond called Queens Pond which had been part of the Governors Residence which has been declared as a archaeological monument.

Right to the park is the ruins of the massive Old Jaffna Kachcheri Building built by the Dutch which also now being declared as a protected archaeological monument.

Also See

Map of Jaffna Old Park and British Era Queens Pond

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Traveling directions to Jaffna Old Park and British Era Queens Pond

Jaffna can be reached through 2 directions. The first one is over the Elephant Pass which is the normal route to Jaffna. The other entrance is from Pooneryn over the newly built Sangupiddi Bridge. This road connects to Mannar.

Route 01 from Colombo to Jaffna (Through Kurunegala)	Route 02 from Colombo to Jaffna (Through Puttalam)
Through : Kurunegala – Dambulla – Anuradhapura – Vavuniya Distance : 400 km Travel Time : 7-8 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Through : Puttalam – Anuradhapura – Vavuniya Distance : 400 km Travel Time : 7-8 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps

Travel directions from Jaffna town to Jaffna Old Park and British Era Queens Pond

Distance : 2.5 km
Travel time : 6 min
Time to spend : 15 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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