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Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is located in the most northern region of the island of Sri Lanka. The Jaffna peninsula is almost an island itself connected to the main island over an causeway at a Place called “Ali Mankada” or Elephant Pass in English. This was so named since this was indeed the route used by elephants to travel between the peninsula and the main island in the ancient past. The peninsula itself is a number of islands connected though causeways.
The peninsula has a history dating back to the pre christian times with the port of Dambakola patuna in the northern sea being one of the major ports of Sri Lanka connecting India. According to Mahawansa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka, In 250 BC the sapling from the original Sri Maha Bodhi was brought to Sri Lanka though the port of Jambukola Patuna now called the Dambakola Patuna.
Jaffna was a predominatly a tamil area with a small minority of Singhalese and Muslims until 1970’s. Ethnic Cleansing by by the Tamil LTTE Terrorists in the 70’s have left the Jaffna almost exclusively Tamil, apart from the military personnel today.
After almost 30 years of Civil war, the LTTE was completely wiped out in 2008 and now this area has been open to civilian travel after a period of 30 years.
There are two routes to Jaffna from Colombo. One is through Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Kilinocchi. This is the most popular route with better routes. The second is through Putalm, Mannar, Pooneryn and Chavacachcheri. This is a newer route which has been rebuilt recently. The road from Puttlam to Mannar goes through the Wilpattu National Park and the road conditions are on this segment is bad. In addition, this route is closed after dark due wild animals in the park.
Where to go in Jaffna
- Kobbakaduwa Memorial
- Nagadeepa Viharaya
- Kantarodai Ancient Temple (Kadurugoda Purana Viharaya)
- Casurina Beach
- Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
- Keerimalai Fresh Water Spring
- Dambakola Patuna Viharaya
- Point Padro Lighthouse
- Fort Hammenhiel
- Delft Island Fort
- Delft Island
- Armor plated bulldozer at Elephant Pass
- Northern tip of Sri Lanka at Point Pedro
- Nakuleswaram Kovil –
- Poothathamby Arch
- Manthiri Manai Mansion
- Jaffna Fort
- Nilavarai Well in Jaffna
- Kankasanthure (KKS) Lighthouse
- Nagapooshani Amman Kovil
Also See
- Attractions of Sri Lanka
- Heritage of Sri Lanka
- Waterfalls of Sri Lanka
- Nature and Wildlife of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Jaffna
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
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Travel Directions to Jaffna
| Route I from Colombo to Jaffna | Route II from Colombo to Jaffna |
| Through : Negambo – Chilaw – Puttlam – Anuradhapura – Vavuniya – Kilinochchi – Elephant Pass Distance : 410 km Travel time : 8 hours Driving directions : See on Google Maps | Through : Negambo – Chilaw – Puttlam – Eluvankulama – Mannar – Pooneryn – Chavacachcheri Distance : 370 km Travel time : 8 hours Driving directions : See on Google Maps |