This unique Pigeons Nest is found on the adjoining land to Delft Divisional Secretariat among the other ruins. According to historical sources, the Dutch who lived in Delft and other surrounding islands, used to communicate between other islands using homing pigeons.
Mahavamsa, the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, mentions 3 temples built by King Devanampiyatissa in the Naga Dveepa which is considered as the names used for Jaffna Peninsula as a whole. These 3 are Jambukola Viharaya, Tissa Maha Viharaya and Pachinaramaya.
Hidden under palmyrah trees of the Nagadeepa island lies the strangely named Buddha Walawwa Rajamaha Viharaya shadowed by the Nagadeepa Viharaya which was visited by the Buddha during his second visit to the country, five years after his enlightenment.
Myliddy is a fishing village on the northern coast of Jaffna Peninsula. The village has its own fisheries harbour for fishing boats. The photo from 1971 shows this church in ruins with only walls remaining.
A ruined site named Sankiliya-tidal (Sankiliyatital) about four and a half miles on the Kodikamam—Point Pedro road which had indications of an ancient building possibly linked to the regional king Sankili
In 1922, Rev. S. Gnana Prakasar, a missionary working in Jaffna had left a detailed note a ruined site, possibly a Buddhist monastery at an area named ‘Verak-Kadu’ in Jaffna peninsula.
According to folklore, this site at Kalvalai has been the adobe of seven queens. Their names are handed down as Angai-Nachy, Ko-Nachy, Manni-Nachy, Kunkuni-Nachy and the rest unnamed. There has been an internal quarrel between the queens and they have left leaving the personal attendants and maids at the site.
Megalithic Burial Grounds of Anaikoddai lies close the inner most point of the bay, about 500 meters inwards. An archaeological survey has been carried out in this to study early settlements in the 1980.
Dr. Ragupathi records Verappitti site as a mound of considerable size facing the sea in an area of about 5 acres. He records chiselled corel stones still having traces of lime plaster on them, semi-circular stepping stones (possibly an Moonstone) made out of Jaffna limestone, stones with sockets which was used as pillar bases and tiles scattered in the vicinity confirming the type of structure of the remains of this site.
Ariyalai is long stip of sandy land projecting out to the sea from the Jaffna peninsula lying between Jaffna and the main land. The whole strip at Ariyalai is strategically a vital one for the communication system of the Peninsula. This strip is separated from the Manniththalai stretch of the mainland of Sri Lanka by the narrow Jaffna lagoon.
The major site of this complex is Kumpuruppitti where Dr Ragupathy records structural remains and artifacts scattered in an area of 10-15 acres. He records a mound with limestone slabs and chiselled coral stones resembling a stupa. Grooved tiles were noticed in concentrations on one side of this mound, which has become a pond because of heavy earth-scooping.
A limestone torso of Buddha found among a ancient pottery site at Tikali in Pungudutivu of Jaffna peninsula is reported by Dr. Ponnampalam Ragupathy in his PhD thesis and its publication as “Early settlements in Jaffna : An Archaeological Survey” in 1987. No photo is found on this site or the torso found by Dr Ponnampalam.
Baldaeus, a Dutch preacher provides a brief description of this town, harbour and the church in 1672. The area has been rich in cotton trees and was well known for its cotton harvest. A fort has been built not so long ago during skirmishes with the British in this area.
Historically known as Urathota, Kayts was a vital port for elephant exports, eventually renamed by the Portuguese as “Caes dos Elefantes.” This horseshoe-shaped fort featured massive walls and artillery bastions. Though it fell into ruin under Dutch rule, its archaeological remains and ancient Tamil inscriptions highlight its strategic maritime importance.
Delft Island – This island was called by the Portuguese ilha das Vacas, had a fort built by them. The Dutch called it Delft Island. The tamils call it the Neduntheevu or Neduntivu.
The Nilavarai Bottomless Well is is caused by collapse of the top layer, exposing a limestone cavern connected to a underground water source. It is said that this well never dries up even during severe drought and the water is used by the farmers in the surrounding area.
The whole island of Delft is built on coral and limestone. The island is a typical remote Sri Lankan village. Simple housed built of coral and limestone, laid-back life and the most popular form of transport is bicycle.
The most significant item at Santhaiyaar Madam (Ambalama) in Manipay is the ancient pond which is the Pond built with the coral stone. The pond is about 12 meters long and slants towards the bottom of the tank from the side of the road. Steps has been built for easy access to the water when the water levels are low.
The church at Chankanai was initially built in 1641 by the Portuguese but later rebuilt by the Dutch. Only the massive walls with arches remain today of this building which is now protected as an archeology monument.
This U shaped Yamuna Eri pond in Nallur has been built during 1215–1240 or 1478–1519 based on the referance source. This is believed to be a part of the Sangiliyan Mansion in Nallur.
