On our most recent visit to Sri Lanka, we decided to head a little off the beaten path and explore some of Sri Lanka’s emerging holiday destinations. One of those was Jaffna, situated on the far northern tip of the country.
Jaffna has only recently re-opened to tourists. It was out of bounds for a long time due to the civil war but now that the conflict has been resolved, life is getting back to normal. What we found were smiling locals ready to greet visitors with open arms and all wanting to know about us and where we were from.
Hindu Temple, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Wandering around Jaffna’s town centre we were greeted with friendly faces and there was no sign of the war-torn Sri Lanka that made headlines several years ago. But as we headed into the suburbs, remnants of the conflict were still evident as we came across buildings destroyed by the fighting.
Back in the town, we visited Jaffna Fort which was originally built by the Portuguese back in 1618. It had clearly suffered some damage during the recent years but appeared to be in the process of being restored. Despite this, we still enjoyed walking around the grounds and learning more about the history of the region. I’m also a big fan of visiting markets on my travels and Jaffna’s vibrant bazaars didn’t disappoint me – tropical fruit, fresh fish and brightly coloured fabrics all called out to me as photo opportunities.
Jaffna Market, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Jaffna’s proximity to India is noticeable. The people are mostly Tamils, originating from South India, and the region has a feeling different to the rest of the country. The culture is predominantly Hindu although we also came across a few Catholic churches, testament to Sri Lanka’s colonial past.
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
The Hindu influence was further evident when we visited Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil temple just outside Jaffna. The external architecture reminded me of temples we’d visited in southern India with its tall towers of intricately carved deities. Once inside, the temple was buzzing with activity as holy men and priests led a procession of devotees past shrines of gods and goddesses to the sound of beating drums and brass trumpets.
Nallur Temple, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
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