Jaffna
Temples, food and culture of the Tamil north
The cultural centre of Sri Lanka's Tamil north, with Hindu temples, a Dutch fort, island beaches and its own cuisine. Far fewer tourists than the south.
Photo Gallery
About Jaffna
Jaffna feels very different from the rest of the island. Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is the city's main Hindu temple (men remove their shirts to enter). The Dutch-built Jaffna Fort, the rebuilt Jaffna Public Library and the markets are all in the centre. Causeways lead out to the islands, including Nainativu with its Hindu and Buddhist shrines and Delft, reached by ferry. Try Jaffna crab curry and the local odiyal kool seafood soup.
Did you know?
The Nallur Festival in July/August runs for 25 days and is the largest Hindu festival in Sri Lanka.
Location & Getting There
How to Get There
By road
About 7–8 hours from Colombo, or about 5 hours from Sigiriya or Anuradhapura.
By train
Express trains from Colombo Fort take about 6–7 hours.
With us
Your driver-guide picks you up from the airport or your hotel, so you can add Jaffna to any private tour.
Travel Tips
- Best time to visit: January to September
- Recommended duration: 2-4 days
- Plan at least two nights — it is a long drive and best combined with Anuradhapura.
- The north is driest from January to September; October to December is the rainy season.
- Dress modestly for temples; men are asked to remove shirts at Nallur.
Tours that include Jaffna
Cultural Triangle Tour
Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Dambulla in 5 days
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