Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna

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Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna - යාපනය නල්ලුර් කන්දසාමි කෝවිල

Located approximately 3 kilometers from Jaffna town along the KKS (Kankasanthurai) Road, the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is not only the most renowned Hindu temple in the Jaffna Peninsula but also one of its most sacred religious and cultural landmarks. Its historical roots trace back to the era of King Parakramabahu VI of the Kotte Kingdom, who reigned from 1411 to 1463.

Origins in the Kotte Kingdom

King Parakramabahu VI adopted two sons—Prince Sapumal and Prince Ambulugala. During his reign, the northern region of the island came under threat from the South Indian Vijayanagar Empire. The king dispatched Prince Sapumal to the north to confront this invasion. In battle, the prince defeated King Arya Chakravarthi of Jaffna and brought the defeated king’s wife and children to Kotte. As a reward, King Parakramabahu VI appointed Prince Sapumal as the regional ruler of Jaffna.

It was during this period that Prince Sapumal constructed the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple for the Hindu community in Jaffna. Later, he returned to Kotte and ascended the throne as King Buwanekabahu VI, becoming ruler of the entire island.

Destruction and Rebirth

When the Portuguese conquered Jaffna in 1560, they viewed local religious institutions with hostility. In 1621, they demolished the original Nallur Temple, leaving no trace. The site on which it once stood—Sankili Thopu, on the eastern side of Point Pedro Road—was later used to build a Christian church.

With the Dutch taking control of Jaffna in 1658, a more tolerant religious climate emerged. In 1734, Don Juan Mappana Mudaliyar, a local dignitary, was permitted to rebuild the temple. This new temple, modest in its initial form, was dedicated to Lord Murugan and established at its current location.

The descendants of Don Juan Mappana Mudaliyar, who became the temple’s hereditary trustees, undertook the responsibility of restoring the temple. Over generations,had taken the task of restoring the temple to its present splendor.

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Opening Hours

Description	Details
Days Opened	All days
Opening Hours	1] 4.00 AM to 5.30 AM 2] 7.30 AM to 12.30 PM 3] 3.00 PM to 6.00 PM 4] 4.00 AM to 6.00 PM on Fridays *Times may extend during festival periods

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Ticket Prices / Entrance Fees

Description	LKR
All Visitors	Entrance is free

Souvenirs from India - Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil - Jaffna

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Travel Directions to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

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.

Route from Jaffna to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

Distance : 3km
Travel time : 5 minutes.
Driving directions : see on google map