Exploring Jaffna with Eunoia Lanka Tours – Wonder of Diversification andFeel Like a Local

Eunoia Lanka Tours specialises in immersive trips that let visitors see Sri Lanka the way locals do. The faraway Jaffna peninsula is the perfect example of our tagline, “Wonder of Diversification—Feel Like a Local.” The weather of Jaffna is drier than in the south of the island. Its agricultural and Tamil culture are different from the Sinhalese Buddhist heartland. Its history has been shaped by Hindu monarchs, Buddhist missionaries, and European colonisers. This guide talks about some of the region’s holy sites, colonial artefacts, and natural wonders, and how they are connected to the people and environment of the peninsula.

Sacred heritage – temples, covils and monasteries

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

The Hindu community in Jaffna looks on Nallur Kandaswamy for spiritual guidance. The massive temple, which has a golden ochre gopuram on top, is one of the most important Hindu sanctuary on the island. It was founded in 948 AD and restored in 1734. It celebrates Lord Murugan and has a 25-day festival every July and August. The holy flag is raised to start the festival, and everyday rituals take place. The Ther Thiruvila is the last event, where a huge chariot shows the god around the temple. During this time, a lot of pilgrims go to Nallur. Joining in the procession or having prasadam (blessed food) with locals is a great way to experience the culture.

Naguleswaram Temple and Keerimalai Springs

Naguleswaram Temple is one of the five Pancha Ishwarams devoted to Lord Shiva. It is located at Keerimalai, near Kankesanthurai. The shrine is the northernmost of the sacred Shiva shrines and has been around since at least the 6th century BCE. It is next to the Keerimalai mineral springs, which have separate pools for men and women. People in the area think that the water’s high mineral content can heal. Tamil families undertake ancestor ceremonies and bathe in the springs on Aadi Amaavaasai, which falls in July or August.

Varatharaja Perumal Kovil and Selva Sannithi Murugan Temple

Varatharaja Perumal Kovil, a Vaishnavite shrine for Lord Vishnu, is on the other side of the lagoon. It is almost 600 years old, and local mythology says that King Segarajasekaran IV of the Jaffna Ariya Chakravarthy dynasty built the shrine in 1347 AD. Every September or October, worshippers drag chariots through the streets for a big festival at the temple. In Thondaimanaru, which is further north, Selva Sannithi Murugan Kovil is lovingly known as the Kataragama of the North. The shrine was destroyed during colonial authority, but it came back to life when Hinduism became popular again in the late 1800s. From here, pilgrims start a long walk to Kataragama in the south of the island. Walking alongside the devotees is a unique way to get a sense of the Hindu culture.

Nagapooshani Amman Temple and Nagadeepa Purana Vihara on Nainativu

Visitors can take a short boat excursion from Jaffna city to Nainativu (Nagadeepa) Island, which is home to both Hindus and Buddhists. The Portuguese destroyed the Nagapooshani Amman Temple, but it was reconstructed between 1720 and 1790. It has over 10,000 sculptures and gets roughly 1,000 visitors every day. During the 16-day Mahostavam festival, that number goes up to more than 100,000. An inscription from the Tamil Chola dynasty in the 12th century shows that this location is quite old. Nagadeepa Purana Vihara, which stands next door, is one of the sixteen most sacred Buddhist temples. According to records, Buddha came to this island five years after he became enlightened to help settle a fight between Naga monarchs over a throne with gems on it. People who worship at both shrines show how religiously diverse the peninsula is.

Kandarodai (Kadurugoda) Buddhist Stupas

The Kandarodai ruins at Chunnakam show how Buddhism and Tamil culture were comparable. Archaeologists found over two dozen little dagobas, each between 1 and 2 meters tall. The coral stone cylindrical stupas were built during the 7th and 10th centuries. A local guide can help you learn more about these unique northern Buddhist monuments by taking you to this calm place.

Colonial relics and cultural institutions

Jaffna Fort and Cankili Thoppu

The entrance to the lagoon is protected by Jaffna Fort. The Portuguese built it in 1618 and called it the Fortress of Our Lady of Miracles. The Dutch added to it after 1658, and the British later took it over. The five- sided walls that look out over the lagoon were fought over during Sri Lanka’s civil war. Today, renovated bastions and buildings in the Dutch architecture give us a taste of the past. The Cankili Thoppu gateway, which stands close by, is thought to be the only entry to the palace of the 15th-century Jaffna ruler that is still standing.

Public library and archaeological museum

Jaffna used to have one of the best libraries in Asia. Sadly, the Jaffna Public Library burned down in 1981. It has since been restored and now stands as a beacon of strength. The Arumuga Navalar Foundation gave land for the Jaffna Archaeological Museum in Nallur. The museum has old Buddhist and Hindu artefacts made of wood, metal, and stone. There are antiquities from the Kandarodai excavations and colonial times on display. This is a quiet yet interesting site for history buffs.

Living culture – festivals and markets

To get a taste of Jaffna’s live culture, go to the Nallur chariot festival, check out Jaffna Market (a busy bazaar where sellers sell fruits, spices and sweets), and try the peninsula’s unique food. The dry climate means that crops that can survive drought are important, and dishes like dosa, crab curry, and Palmyrah toddy show South Indian influences.

Natural wonders and outdoor adventures

Healing springs and bottomless wells

The blue pools of Keerimalai Springs stay at the same level all year because they are fed by underground streams. There are pools for men and women, and the waters are said to have healed a Chola princess of a birth defect. The Nilavarai Well, which is inland near Chunnakam, never runs empty. Scientists say that fresh water floats above thicker salty water that is stuck in limestone caves, which makes it look like it has no bottom. Archaeologists unearthed pieces of a coral stone Buddha stupa nearby, and stories say that the well is connected to the Ramayana.

Beaches – Casuarina, KKS, Charty, Akkarai and Seven Wells

The beaches around Jaffna’s coast are beautiful and not crowded with tourists. The beach on Karaitivu Island is about 1.5 km long. The water is shallow and blue, and the sand is thin and white, making it one of the safest places to swim. Kankesanthurai (KKS) Beach, which is close by, features clean water and golden sand. It’s great for beach activities or calm walks. Charty Beach on Velanai Island is 15 miles from the city and is a quiet place to relax under coconut and palmyrah trees. Akkarai Beach in Thondamanaru is great for families since the water is tranquil, the plants are lush, and the sailboats are anchored there. Seven Wells Beach, also known as Delft Beach, is very clean and has a lot of shells. The calm sea is great for swimming, and you can get there by ferry from Kurikadduwan.

Sand dunes and Dutch church at Manalkadu

Winds have built up Sri Lanka’s longest chain of sand dunes to the east of Point Pedro. The dunes in Manalkadu (“sand bush”) can be as high as 16 m. The people cultivate Casuarina trees to protect the plants that grow inland. In the dunes are the remains of an 18th-century Dutch church dedicated to St. Anthony. The coral stone walls come out when the sands change. The peaceful beach in the nearby village is linked to fishing villages.

Karaveddy lagoon and mangroves

The lagoons on the peninsula are home to a lot of birds. Sarasalai Mangrove Reserve, which is near Point Pedro, is home to 107 bird species from 45 families, some of which are rare migratory species. Researchers say that hunting and land encroachment are threats to this ecology and want it to be made a protected area. Eunoia’s bird watching cruises also go to the Jaffna lagoon and Kayts causeway, where flamingos, sand plovers, and godwits graze on mudflats and seagrass beds.

Limestone caves and cliffs

The Periya Mandapam limestone caverns, which are south of Jaffna near Koddiyapulam, drop 5–6 m into a chamber that gets light from the outside. Older passages used to connect it to the Sinna Mandapam cave next door. The caverns are part of a network of sinkholes that formed in raised limestone. They provide us a look at the geology below the peninsula.

Point Pedro lighthouse

At the very peak of Sri Lanka sits the Point Pedro Lighthouse. In 1916, this white, cone-shaped brick tower was completed. It is around 31 meters tall, and ships and fishermen can see its signal from 10 nautical miles away, which helps them make their way around the Bay of Bengal. People that climb the dunes in the vicinity are rewarded with beautiful views of the Palk Strait.

Delft Island – a world apart

A day tour or overnight stay on Delft Island (Neduntivu) will show you interesting colonial artefacts and natural wonders.

Feral horses and colonial stables

Feral horses, which are descendants of Arabian horses that the Portuguese brought to the island in the 16th century, are the island’s most famous residents. When horse breeding stopped in the early 1900s, the horses were free to roam. There are about 500 wild horses in the scrubland now. Many of them are branded and owned by locals, but the government protects all of them. Near some of the island’s freshest wells are the ruins of colonial stables at Sarapiddi. They were probably built by British commander Lieutenant Nolan in the early 1800s to help with horse breeding.

Baobab tree and growing stone

One of the three biggest Baobab trees in Sri Lanka is at Delft. The plant (Adansonia digitata) is endemic to Africa. Historians think that Arab traders or the Portuguese brought the tree to Africa to help horses. The lone tree on Delft is hundreds of years old and has a trunk that is 12.9 m high and 15.6 m around. There is enough room inside its hollow trunk for five to six persons to stand. The Growing Stone (Dalulana Gala) is a coral rock that people in the area think has become taller over the years. Folklore and measurements say that the stone keeps “growing.” Hindu worshippers see it as a swayambhu linga, and a modest temple has been built next to it.

Queens Tower, Pigeon Cot and Hanuman’s footprint

Queens Tower (Quindah Tower), a basic lighthouse, is on the southern coast of the island. The Dutch built the 7 m tower, and the British later used it. It used to feature a reflecting surface and a chimney-like shaft that would have sent smoke signals. People in the area say they may see a glimmer of India’s Rameswaram temple across the strait on clear evenings. The Colonial Pigeon Cot is a Dutch dovecot with roughly seventy holes. It is east of the fort. Carrier pigeons lived here and conveyed communications between Jaffna and Delft faster than boats. Hindus say that an imprinted footprint on the rock in Sarapiddi belongs to Lord Hanuman. Legend has it that the monkey god jumped between India and Sri Lanka to bring healing herbs to save Prince Lakshman. His footprint is a remembrance of this story. This blend of fairy tales and colonial buildings is a great example of Delft’s rich history.

Planning your visit

Eunoia Lanka Tours offers custom itineraries that include religious sites, colonial history, and wildlife. The best time to travel to the Jaffna Peninsula is from May to August, when it is hottest. From December to February, it is cooler and wetter. Some festivities, like the Nallur chariot festival or Keerimalai Aadi Amaavaasai, draw big crowds. This is a great chance to see how devoted the locals are, but you need to secure your accommodations early. A day trip could start with Keerimalai Springs, go to Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil and the Jaffna Fort, and end with sunset at Casuarina Beach. A ferry ride to Nainativu and Delft Island for temple visits and wildlife observation could be included to multi-day itineraries. Bird watchers and photographers might like going to the Sarasalai mangroves or the Kayts causeway at dawn better.

Why choose Eunoia Lanka Tours?

Eunoia’s local guides are from the Northern Province and speak Tamil and Sinhala. They know the myths behind every shrine and can translate chants or share home-cooked meals with local families. By travelling with us, you support community-based tourism and conservation efforts. Jaffna’s blend of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian traditions, colonial forts and untouched beaches truly is a “Wonder of Diversification”. We invite you to explore these wonders and “Feel like a Local” with Eunoia Lanka Tours.