A Complete Guide to Exploring Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province with a rich Tamil Hindu culture which was isolated for the last 30 years due to terrorist activity.
Jaffna District
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Manthiri Manai Mansion in Jaffna (මන්ත්රී මනායි)
This abandoned mansion built with a mixture of colonial and hindu architecture is called the Manthiri Manai in Tamil which translates to Ministers Adobe.
Poothathamby Arch (Sangili Toppu) in Jaffna (සංගිලි තොප්පු)
Poothathamby Arch (Sangili Toppu) in Jaffna is an lone arch belonging to Dutch Era on the Point Pedro road with a colorful history of its owner Poothathamby, who was executed by the Dutch for treason.
Sakkotai Cape – The Northern Tip of Sri Lanka (ලංකාවේ උතුරු කොණ)
The Northern tip of Sri Lanka (Sakkotai Cape) is marked by a concrete board on the edge of a corral reef with a Sri Lankan Flag painted on it along the road of Kankasanthure and Velvetithurai. This site is easily reachable by any vehicle along the road which goes along the beach. .
Keerimale (Keerimalai) Freshwater Spring (කීරමලේ ඓතිහාසික මිරිදිය පොකුණ)
Keerimale (Keerimalai) is a natural spring lying next to the sea west of Palaly. A bathing tank is built surrounding this pool and only the walls separate the waters of the spring and the sea.
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil in Jaffna (යාපනය නල්ලුර් කන්දසාමි කෝවිල)
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple lies about 3 km from the Jaffna town on the KKS (Kankasanthurai) Road. This is one of the most important temples in the Jaffna Peninsula and the most well known.
Nakuleswaram Kovil in Jaffna – Oldest Siva Temple in Sri Lanka
Nakuleswaram is situated north of the main town of Jaffna and is close to the Port City of Kankesanturai. It is dedicated to main deity in Saivism Lord Siva and is one of the five ancient Sivan temples in the island.
Nagapooshani Amman Kovil at Nainativu (නයිනතිව් නාගපූසානි අම්මාන් කෝවිල)
Nagapooshani Amman Kovil on the island of Nainativu is a very ancient Hindu temple. It is believed that this temple was originally erected many millennia before by the Nagas who were a pre-historic race of people of Sri Lanka.
Kadurugoda Viharaya at Kantarodai Jaffna (කදුරුගොඩ විහාරය – යාපනය)
Ancient Kadurugoda Viharaya (Kantarodai) is one of the very few Buddhist sites remaining in Jaffna today. The site was discovered in 1917 by the Magistrate P.E. Pieris where he reported that bricks from this site is being carried a way by cart loads by the residents around the area for building of houses.
Dambakola Patuna Temple (දඹකොළ පටුන)
Dambakola Patuna or Jambukola Patuna is an ancient port in the north of Jaffna which was used during pre christian times. After Arahath Mahinda brought Bhuddhism to Sri Lanka in 250BC, his sister, Theri Sanghamitta arrived in Sri Lanka with a Sacred Bo Sapling one year later to this port.
Point Pedro Lighthouse (පේදුරු තුඩුව ප්රදීපාගාරය)
Point Padro lighthouse lies in the North Eastern corner of Sri Lanka. Built in 1916, this is 32 m (105 ft) tall. Access to the light house was restricted for the last 30 years due to the Tamil Terrorists in the area. After the defeat of the last strong holds of the terrorists in end 2009, the public can now have access to this area
Kovilan Point Lighthouse at Karaitivu Island (කෝවිලන් තුඩුව ප්රදීපාගාරය)
Kovilan Point lighthouse lies in the Jaffna peninsula on the north western corner of the Karativu island about 25 km from the Jaffna town. This is the largest island in the peninsula and is connected to the mainland though a causeway.
Kankesanthure Lighthouse (කන්කසන්තුරේ ප්රදීපාගාරය)
The Kankesanthure lighthouse (Kankesanthurai/KKS) lies in the vicinity of the KKS harbour.Both the harbour and the lighthouse is surrounded by an ancient fortified wall built by the Portuguese and the Dutch.
Jaffna Fort (යාපනය බලකොටුව)
Situated on the south side of the Jaffna peninsula at the water’s edge of the lagoon, the ancient Jaffna Fort is the second largest existing fort in the Island. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1619 and re-built and expanded by the Dutch during the second half of the 17th and the 18th centuries.
Hammenhiel Fort in Jaffna (හැමන්හිල් බලකොටුව)
Strategically perched on a coral outcrop, Hammenhiel Fort guarded the Jaffna Lagoon. Originally Portuguese, it was captured by the Dutch in 1658 after a water shortage forced surrender. Named for its position on the “heel” of Ceylon’s ham-shaped map, this octagonal water fort now serves as a unique boutique hotel.
Fort Pyl & Fort Beschutter which Defended Jaffna
Three miles north east from Elephant Pass in the general area of Iyakachchi was situated the second fortification called Pas (Fort) Beschutter built by the Dutch near the village of Koyilvayal. Further to the north east from this point was the third Dutch fortification named Pas (Fort) Pyl.
Dutch Fort of Elephant Pass
The Dutch were the first to erect a fort at Elephant Pass. It was more like a stockade or a watch post. Though well fortified and built with strong defenses the extent of the fortifications were much smaller to that of Galle or Jaffna forts.