Jaffna

Jaffna is the cultural centre of Sri Lanka's Tamil community, on a peninsula in the far north of the island. It has a distinct history, architecture and cuisine shaped by Dutch colonial rule and Tamil Hindu tradition, and remains less visited than the south, giving it a different pace from the rest of the island.

Why visit Jaffna

• A distinct Tamil cultural identity, cuisine and history from the rest of Sri Lanka
• Well-preserved Dutch colonial fort architecture
• Far less touristed than the south and west coasts

Things to do in Jaffna

• Visit Jaffna Fort, built by the Portuguese and expanded by the Dutch
• See the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, one of the most important Hindu temples on the island
• Take a boat to Nagadeepa island and its Buddhist and Hindu temples
• Try Jaffna's distinct cuisine, including crab curry and Jaffna mango

Where to stay

A small but growing range of guesthouses and hotels in Jaffna town.

Food to try

Jaffna crab curry, distinctive from southern Sri Lankan curries, along with Jaffna mango and other regional specialities.

Travel tips

• The train from Colombo is a comfortable, scenic way to arrive
• Islands around the Jaffna peninsula (Nagadeepa, Delft) require separate day trips and boat transfers
• Tourist infrastructure is lighter here than in the south — book accommodation a little further ahead

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