Visiting the North:
Your Top 5 Must-Visit Spots

It’s a new year, and along with the new year comes all the regrets of the past year. Sometimes it’s as simple as wishing you did more last year, or less. Sometimes you regret lost opportunities, and missed chances. If you’re one of those who said, “I wish I travelled more last year,” join the club, so did we.

If your new year resolution is to travel more, and explore hotspots around the country, it helps to do a quick search and plan out a road map before you go. I had the chance to go to Jaffna earlier this month, and it was a treat! If you’re also planning to go up North anytime soon, check out these must-visit spots on the northern peninsula.

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple

Devoted to Hindu god Lord Murugan, the god of war, love and beauty, the Nallur temple is one of the most significant and sacred places of worship in Sri Lanka. The temple is filled with intricate artwork and statues of gods and deities of the Hindu culture. The daily pooja or ‘offerings’ are from 6am to 5pm.

The temple is large enough that crowds are not that noticeable, and you can walk around in relative peace. The only downside is that you’re not allowed to take photos of the magnificent paintings and surroundings, but as it preserves the originals, we had no objections.

The location is easy to access, being fairly central, and its close proximity to the famous Rio ice cream is another added bonus.

PS: To walk into the temple, men are required to be shirtless, and all are requested to wear floor length clothes. However, if the heat compels you to wear shorts, the very accommodating staff will provide you with a wraparound.

Nagadeepa Purana Vihara

Nagadeepa Purana Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Jaffna district of Northern Province, Sri Lanka, and among the country’s sixteen holiest Buddhist shrines. Arguably one of the most visited of Jaffna’s islands, the temple is built according to the lore of when Lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka to solve a dispute between two kings of the ‘naga’ tribe.

The catch with visiting the vihara is that there is usually a long waiting line for the ferry, so you’re advised to go very early in the morning, and to be prepared for a long wait, with preferably a flexible schedule for the rest of your day.

Jaffna Fort

Bafflingly, Jaffna Fort is not as well known as Galle Fort, or even Colombo Fort, but boasts a beautiful vista, unique layout, and a fascinating insight into history. Despite it’s lacklustre reputation, it is the second largest fort in Sri Lanka.

Entrance will cost you the enormous sum of Rs. 20 (not a typo), and the friendly locals will explain to you which section of the fort was what. In addition, there are a few rooms with information boards, maps, and relics for you to look through as well.

PS: If you’re a photographer looking to capture the vibrant hues of the Jaffna skies, you definitely have to visit in the evening when the sun sets. The breeze will also give you some respite from the heat as well.

Kankesanthurai Beach

Kankesanthurai, or KKS, is one of those beaches you frequently see on the Sri Lanka travel sites. A picturesque sight, no visit to Jaffna is official until you’ve visited the (albeit now crowded) beach and spent a few hours in the water.

An evening swim combined with a beachside dinner is the ultimate joy on these visits. If you don’t mind a detour, Point Pedro is also only a short distance away.

Jaffna Public Library

One of the province’s most notable landmarks, the Jaffna Library, which, in the early 1980s, was one of the biggest libraries in Asia, containing over 97,000 books and manuscripts, is more famous for it’s burning, a true tragedy.

The library, now fully functional once more, took another hit due to COVID-19, and now the doors are (for now) firmly closed to anyone and everyone. However, they do allow you inside the gate for selected hours for photo ops, if you so desire.

Honourable Mention: The Street Market

No trip is complete without souvenirs, and the street market is where to get all of those! From colourful beads and strings, to all manner of street bites and palmyrah products, you can get everything here to load your bags down when going back home!

Photos: Paramie Jayakody, Lonely Planet, Brogan Abroad, Travel With Uma