Jaffna and North

Jaffna, the capitol of Northern Province of Sri Lanka brings you different vibe to Sri Lanka’s culture. Influenced by South Indian culture is home many Hindu temples, mouth watering Jaffna food and small islands. One could cycle along the sleepy villages, important monuments and markets to explore the culture of north while tasting Indian styled food in various eateries in the town.

Delft Island is an important island just an one hour away from the headland is home of the ruins of Portuguese and Dutch Fort and the wild horses brought here by the Dutch during their occupation of the island. Delft Island is also home for some ancient ruined Buddhist stupas. Horse stables built by the Dutch could be still seen in ruined state. Delft Island, Nagadeepa Buddhist temple, Jaffna Fort, Nallur Hindu Temple and Keerimalai Hot Water Springs are some of interesting sites to visit when in Jaffna.

In Jaffna, majority of people speak Tamil language and worship Hindu Gods. Language, dresses and food in Jaffna are notably different to southern towns of Sri Lanka. Two or three nights in Jaffna will bring you a different experience during your trip to Sri Lanka. If you wish, we could even arrange a home cooked Jaffna style meal to enjoy at a local home.

If you visit Jaffna during the month of August and September, you could witness the spectacular festival of Nallur Kandasami Temple. During the annual festival days thousands of Tamil Hindu devotees used to visit here to worship Lord Murugan, Valli and Devanai Ammn in the morning and in the evenings. Specially made chariots and traditional "Vaganangal" will be used to take the God during these days and used to come around the temple complex. Passionate devotees mortify themselves by driving skewers through their bodies in honour of the god and making their way to the shrine accompanied by drumming and piping, stopping periodically to dance en route. Even more extraordinary are the devotees who, using skewers driven through their backs, dangle themselves from poles. These poles are then attached to the front of trucks, and the devotees are driven through town to the temple, hanging in front of their vehicle like bait on a fishing line. Devotees who perform these self-mortifications believe that the god will protect them from illnesses.