Jaffna Holidays

Where is Jaffna?
Jaffna sits on a flat peninsula at the northern tip of Sri Lanka, separated from India by the Palk Strait and Bay of Bengal. It’s about 400 kilometres from Colombo and 320 kilometres from Kandy.

Read more

History
Jaffna was a Tamil Kingdom for centuries until falling under Portuguese rule in 1619 and into Dutch hands in 1658. It was invaded by Great Britain in 1795 during a period when schools, major roads and a railway line were built. It stayed under British rule until 1948 when Sri Lanka became independent. In 1983 civil war broke out in Sri Lanka, not ending until 2009. During this brutal time, the Sinhalese majority persecuted Tamils, barred them from holding citizenship, cut off food and medical supplies to Jaffna and made roughly 700,000 people stateless. The Tamil Tigers (LTTE) fought back for equal rights in their homeland and the creation of an independent Tamil state in the north-east of Sri Lanka. The war continued for 26 years with over 150,000 soldiers and civilians killed on both sides. In 2009, the government defeated the LTTE in a bloodbath that killed an estimated 40,000 people.

Read more

Jaffna today
An under-explored destination with a rich cultural community populated by Tamils, Jaffna today has a welcoming spirit with a great mix of southern Indian influences, Dutch and Kerala architecture, Hindu kovils and Christian churches. It’s a remarkable choice for getting off the beaten path and experiencing a different side of Sri Lanka. With a private car and driver, you’ll be able to explore not only the city but also countryside, pilgrim sites, beaches and nearby islands in the Indian Ocean.

Read more

Temples & forts
In the suburb of Nallur, the gilded towers of Jaffna’s most lavish temple, Nallur Kandaswamy, lead you into a prominent place of worship where you’ll find shrines, a holy spear and a bathing well. If priests are available, you can take part in a puja with holy ash, sandalwood and kumkum powder. Just outside of the city, it’s worth visiting the newly built Palace of Thiruvasagam in Nevatkuli and Naguleswaram Temple in Keerimalai. Covering some 62 acres, Jaffna Fort is one of the regions highlights. It was originally built by the Portuguese in the 17th century and expanded by the Dutch to include its famous pentagon shape, a Dutch Reformed church and a hospital. Some of the ramparts were destroyed in the civil war but the outer walls, a turret and the ruins of the gallows are still intact.

Read more

Food & drink
Restaurants in Jaffna cater to locals rather than tourists, which means you get lots of authentic flavours, no frills dining and affordable eats. Different to southern Sri Lanka, Jaffna is influenced by southern Indian cuisine with richer and heavier curries that are tangier and spicier. Seafood soups, thali and fiery crab curry are all signature Jaffna dishes and menus feature lots of vegetarian options too.

Read more