Jaffna — the Tamil soul of Sri Lanka★★
Jaffna in the far north is a completely different world from the Sinhalese-Buddhist south: Here lives Sri Lanka's Tamil-Hindu minority, the temples are colorful instead of white, the cuisine is spicier and more seasoned, and the traces of the civil war (1983–2009) are still visible. Jaffna was inaccessible to travelers for decades — since its reopening in 2015, the city has slowly but surely become a hidden gem for adventurous travelers.
Highlights
- Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil: The most important Hindu temple in Jaffna and one of the most magnificent in Sri Lanka — a golden Gopuram (temple tower) rises above the city. During the annual Nallur Festival (July/August), hundreds of thousands of devotees fill the streets. Coordinates: [9.6836, 80.0214].
- Jaffna Fort: A massive Dutch fortress from the 17th century, recently restored. One of the largest Dutch forts in Asia.
- Jaffna Public Library: The library, burned down during the racial riots in 1981, was rebuilt as a symbol of reconciliation — a moving memorial.
- Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya: Buddhist temple on an offshore island (reachable by boat), proving that the north was once Buddhist too.
- Casuarina Beach: On the Karainagar Peninsula — white sand, turquoise water, almost deserted.
Jaffna Cuisine
Jaffna's cuisine is distinctly different from the south: spicier, with more spices and seafood. Must-try: Jaffna Crab Curry (legendary!), Puttu (steamed rice flour tubes), and Dosai (crispy rice flour pancakes).
💡 Tipp
Jaffna is best reached by train from Colombo (overnight journey, about 7 hours) or by bus. The city can be explored well in 2–3 days. The people in Jaffna are particularly hospitable — you can feel that tourism is still something special here. Respect the traces of the civil war with sensitivity.
Achtung
In the vicinity of Jaffna, there are still isolated areas with uncleared landmines from the civil war. Stay on marked paths and do not enter restricted areas. The main routes and tourist destinations are safe.
