Things To Do Jaffna

Sri Lanka

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Places To Visit In Jaffna

Akkarai Beach

Situated 40 minutes from Jaffna, Akkarai Beach is in Thondamanaru. The famous Lord Murugan Temple near the beach and the bridge that offers a panoramic view are the major attractions near the Akkarai Beach. The best part is that the beach is clean, tranquil and not crowded much.

Akkarai Beach

Deriving its name from the abundant casuarina trees found along the shore of the beach, the Casuarina beach with its soft golden sand grains and refreshing blue waters is located at about 20 kilometres from Jaffna. One of the things that lure visitors to the beach is crystal clear water and is free of any sort of pollution. The Casuarina beach is on the Karativu islands, one of the largest islands in the peninsula. One of the reasons that the beach is a must-visit is because it’s tranquilising waves and soothing sand and its isolation from the cities provide one with such a calming effect that leaves them rejuvenated which is hard to find in the city’s hustle and bustle. Casuarina beach is one of the safest beaches in the country due to its because its shallow waters and the absence of strong wave currents make it suitable for all age groups. Though it is safe to go in the middle of the ocean, it is advisable that the visitors accompany local fishers and trained professionals along with them. One can go there and find the rich biodiversity that exists within.The visitors can also sunbathe and get a beach tan. Though the beach can be visited all year, the preferred time would be from January till September. Read More

Travel 15 kms from Jaffna to reach the picturesque white-sand Charty Beach. Enjoy a serene day amidst the coconut and palmyrah trees. Charty beach is located in Velanai, the Northern Region of the Island.

Dambakola Patuna, or the fort of Jambukola, is one of the most ancient venues of the country. This monument has a rich history, and the port holds a lot of importance and significance for the Buddhist community. The reason that the port is of both a historical and religious significance is that in 249BC, one of the saplings of the Bodhi tree, the tree under which Buddha was enlightened was brought to the country and planted, along with a stupa, but today, no such remains are found. The Sri Lankan navy has built a replica of the stupa and have even planted the Bodhi tree for the Buddhism followers. Read More

Delft Island, locally known as Neduntheevu and situated in northern Sri Lanka, is roughly an hour-long ferry ride away from the mainland. From the remnants of a colonial fort to numerous wild ponies roaming about— an amalgamation of nature and history awaits you on a trip to this quaint little island. Add to that the coral walls surrounding the houses—and you’ll feel like you stepped into a strange yet beautiful dream. Named after Delft, a city in the Netherlands, Delft Island has a varied array of attractions, each of them more distinctive than the other. A tuk-tuk ride across the island takes tourists to all the attractions on the island in a short period. The ruins of the famous Delft Island Fort and the Queen’s Tower offer a peek into this island’s history. The beach with its white sands and clear waters is the perfect spot to laze a bit amid a day of intensive sightseeing.Delft Island exudes an old-world charm that is hard to come across nowadays but must be treasured when you happen to chance upon it. Read More

Standing erect since 1618, under the rule of the Portuguese, once the Dutch fort of Asia, the Dutch fort of Jaffna is a monument that recalls the events that took place ever since, and the role that the fort played. Being passed on from ruler to the other the fort today stands with its ruins. The fort was taken over by the Dutch in the year of 1658, who then under their rule renovated and expanded both the interiors and the premises of the fort. From the year of 1795 till the year of 1948, the fort was under the British rule and was mainly used as an army base for the troops. For nine years from 1986, to 1955, the fort was attacked and brought down to ruins. After the attack, the Sri Lankan government with the Dutch funds has been reconstructing the fort.The magnificent fort today has been a witness to not only the independence of the country but also how the country was passed on from one ruler to the other and then finally stood on its own. The fort comprises of the Governor’s house or the King’s house, Queen’s house, Kruys Church, The Garrison Parade Ground, The Police quarters and various rooms and houses from the Portuguese era. The fort is now a heritage hotel open for visitors to come and explore its walls and learn more about not only the fort’s history but about the country’s history as well. Read More

The Hammenhiel fort is famous for having a reputation of being a prison. Located on a beautiful location on the mesmerising island between the Kayts and the Karaitivu Islands, the fort was built by the Portuguese as a coast guard. Later it was renovated by the Dutch and then was taken over by the British. The fort was either used as a prison or armoury storage, by its rulers and thus today it has the reputation of being a prison. Fort Hammenhiel is now a hotel open for visitors to explore history through its walls. Read More

Located in Jaffna, its namesake Jaffna Fort is the second largest fort in the country, spanning an area of 55 acres. A former architectural marvel, most of the fort had been reduced to rubble during the Sri Lankan Civil War; fortunately, part restoration has taken place. Jaffna Fort stands today as a testament to the fact that war spares nothing and no one, not even a monument of paramount significance. The Portuguese constructed Jaffna Fort in the 17th century. When the island was captured and ruled by the Dutch, the fort was rebuilt and was used as a military and administrative building. It was occupied by the British until 1948. Fortified by limestone ramparts with a series of tunnels, and a moat, the highlight of the monument’s architecture is the star-shaped design.Numerous buildings were made within Jaffna Fort that later suffered destruction for decades during the civil war. These buildings included the Queen’s House, the Kruys church, a hospital and a prison. Amongst them, the Queen’s House has remained relatively unaffected by the conflict. A spooky yet exciting structure at the fort is the Hangman’s Tower. Read More

Built in the year of 1933, the Jaffna library is one of the prominent and illustrious buildings in not only the city of Jaffna but also the country of Sri Lanka. The building holds a special place in the hearts of the people. The heritage building was burned down in the year of 2002 as an attack on not only the building, but an attack on the cultural heritage, and their history. The fire destroyed some of the Tamil cultural texts that were rare and one of a kind and which got burned. Out of them, only a few survived. Even after the tragedy, the people of Jaffna didn’t lose their hope, but instead gathered their courage and built the icon depicting its original Mughal design again. It is because of the building that the city of Jaffna is arguably the most intellectual city in the country of Sri Lanka. The library before the fire consisted of almost 90,000 books, manuscripts and other kinds of texts, but since the old versions could not be revived, the new edition replaced them. The library is the second most visited and essential public library in the country after Colombo’s public library. The library also consists of beautifully lush gardens and a café. Other than that since 2016, the library has also started to provide its visitors with free Wi-Fi. There is a wide range of options for the readers to choose from at this library. Read More