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 playground which is called Old Park. This park has been built 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 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 developed into a children’s park. The only structure surviving from Dyle’s garden is a pond called Queens Pond which had been part of the Governor’s Residence and has been declared as an archaeological monument.

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

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Map of Jaffna Old Park and British Era Queens Pond

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Travelling directions to Jaffna Old Park and British Era Queens Pond

Jaffna can be reached through two principal routes. The most commonly used approach is via Elephant Pass, which has long served as the traditional gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula.

An alternative route reaches Jaffna from the direction of Pooneryn by crossing the Sangupiddy Bridge. This crossing follows what was historically the ancient route to the peninsula before the construction of modern highways. The route provides a connection between Jaffna and the Mannar region.

Route 01 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Kurunegala (Popular Route)	Route 02 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Puttalam and Pooneryn (Lesser Traveled Route)
Through : Kurunegala – Dambulla – Anuradhapura – Vavuniya Distance: 410 km Travel Time: 7-8 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.	Through: Puttalam – Thantirimale – Mannar – Poonaryn Distance: 408 km Travel Time: 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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