Jaffna & Northern Sri Lanka

by Yohan Alexander | Mar 11, 2024 | Culture, Regions in SL

Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is also called “ Yalpanam” in Tamil language and ‘Yapanaya” in Sinhala language. This city is situated in the Jaffna peninsula, in an area of 8884 square kilometers. It takes Seven to eight hours to travel from Colombo, by road.

Jaffna had been an ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka and Nallur was the capital of it in the 13^th  century.  Jaffna Kingdom was also called Aryachkrawarthi at the time. It was later conquered by the Portuguese in 1619.

Jaffna Peninsula is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and it consists of six major Islands Kayts, Mandathivu, Punkudathivu, Delft, Nainathivu and few smaller islands.  Jaffna Province is divided in to four districts such as Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Vauniya. In the Northern Province there are number of Lagoons, Jaffna Lagoon being the largest, Nanthi Kadal lagoon, Chundikkula lagoon, Vadamarachchi Lagoon, Uppuaru lagoon and Chalai Lagoon.

Jaffna and the northern Sri Lanka is becoming more popular among the local and foreign tourists as it offers facilities including nice accommodation, good transportation, Banking (ATM’s) internet and telecommunication, health, restaurants, bars and good security.

Attractions in the Northern Sri Lanka Jaffna

Dambakolapatuna Sangamitta Viharaya

During King Devanampiyatissa in the 3^rd  century BC, Arahat Sangamitta the sister of Arahat Mahinda who visited Sri Lanka with the sacred Bodhi tree sapling (which is living even today in Anuradhapura) arrived in Damabakola patuna an ancient port in the northern Sri Lanka. To commemorate the arrival of arahat Sangamitta and the Sacred Bodhi sapling this vihara was built by King Devanampiyatissa.

Jaffana Archeological Museum

Jaffna Archeological Museum is located in Nallur was opened in 1978. This museum houses a rare collection of artefacts of various forms of metal, wood, and stone that were found from the archeological sites of Chunnakam and from a small village called Kandrodi which belongs to the ancient Sri Lanka and up to the Colonial era.

Jaffna Public Library

With the help of the local people, the Jaffna library was built in several stages from 1933. It is one of the most known landmarks of Jaffna. Once been the biggest libraries in the Asia having over more than a million books, original manuscripts, regional historical documents, palm leaf manuscripts, old newspapers, before it was set on fire by the pro government mobs in 1981.The  rehabilitation of the library was completed In 2001, and it contains over 97,000 books and manuscripts. Jaffna library is the second main library in Sri Lanka.

 Nainathivu – Nagadeepa

Nagadeepa in Sinhala language and Nainathivu in Tamil Language is an island where the Nagadeepa Bhuddist Temple and Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil is located.

Naga Poosani Amman Kovil main deity is the Naga Goddess Meenakshi, a consort of Shiva. This kovil is in right front of you when you enter the island. Women with children and women who are wishing to conceive come to this Hindu temple/ Kovil for blessings and very famous among the Hindus.

It takes only10 minutes’ walk along the coast road to reach the Nagdeepa Buddhist temple. The Nagadeepa Rajamaha viharaya is one of the major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka. It is said that the Buddha visited this place to settle a dispute between two Naga Kings Choolodara and Mahodara over a Gem set throne.

Nallur Kandasami Kovil

The most prominent place of Hindu worship, in the northern Sri Lanka. This temple is devoted to the deity called Murugan ( Skanda ) and this temple was made by King Buwanekabahu and the first Kovil was destroyed during the Portuguese era. The present kovil building, dates back to the 18^th century.

There are several poojas during the day starting from 5.00 am to lord Murugan and in the evening to his brother Ganesh (Elephant faced deity). In  the months of July/ August there is a famous festival which takes place for 26 days before the full moon day, the image of the deity Murugan is taken out from the Kovil and will place in a chariot and procession along the roads will be held and many Hindu devotees will come to take part in the festival.

St. James Church – Nallur

With the arrival of the Anglican Church missionaries during 1818, rev. Joseph Knight stayed in Jaffna for his mission work and he bought a mission house in Nallur. An Old Dutch church next to the mission house of Joseph Knight, was handed over to him by the government in 1823.

This church site was the earlier Nallur Kandaswamy Temple before the Portuguese destroyed it. After many repairs this Dutch Church was opened to the public for worship in 1828.

Keerimalai Springs.

Keerimalai means “Mongoose hill in Tamil language. This mineral water spring is reputed for its curative properties. Around the springs some beautiful corals can be seen on the seashores. People believe that the spring water contains healing power and many who visit Jaffna visits Keerimalai springs for a dip of healing.

Nilavalai Bottomless well

Nilavalai a large square well is a natural beauty has a never-ending fresh water supply, said to be bottomless and its depths with salt water proves it connects to the sea. This well is connected with famous Ramayana epic and says that this has been formed from an arrow shot by Hanuman to fulfill Rama’s thirst.

Dutch Fort – Jaffna

Jaffna fort is one of the best Dutch forts in the Asia. Originally, the Portuguese built it in the year 1680. The Dutch completed it with some additions to it in 1792 and British acquired it in 1795. Jaffna Dutch fort covers an area of 22 hectares and one of the best-preserved forts in Sri Lanka.

 Kantharodai ancient site.

Kantharodai is an ancient site situated in Chunnakam in Jaffna. The history of Kantharodai goes back to the Anuradhapura era. According to an ancient stone pillar with an inscription found in this place, reveals about the gifts and other facilities offered by King Dappula iv, during the 1^st century AD. This stone pillar is kept in the Jaffna Archaeological museum at present.

In 1917, several ruins were found in Kathrodai and this 56 stupas, varying sizes 1m- 4m in height found in this area but due to many reasons there are only 20 remaining at present. These stupas have been built with corals.

According folklore, there had been 60 Arahath Bikkhus who were meditating and due to the harassment of the King Sangili, they had planned to leave for India. On their way to India, they had been stopped here to accept alms giving from a local. A mushroom curry offered for the bikkhus were poisoned and all the 60 were dead and buried here.

Point Pedro

Point Pedro is the Northern most point of the Island. A city in the Jaffna District. Point Pedro was a trading port during the pre-colonial and colonial era.  A village named Vallipuram was an ancient settlement with rich archeological remains, prove the historical value.

Portuguese, Dutch and British influence can be seen in this area too. Several catholic schools and churches were built by the Portuguese, Wesleyan missionary schools and churches were established and the stone inscription in the market of Rev. Baldeus a missionary from Netherlands teaching the Bible under a Tamarind Tree. This Tamarind tree was uprooted by a cyclone in 1962.