Jaffna

Jaffna or Yazhpanam is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Most of the residents of Jaffna are Sri Lankan Tamils with a presence of Sri Lankan Moors (muslims). Most residents of Jaffna were Tamil speaking, Sri Lankan Tamils.Mayor - Yogeswari Patkunarajah (UPFA (EPDP))Total area - 20.2 km2 (7.8 sq mi)Elevation - 5 m (16 ft)Population (2012) - Total 88,138Density - 4,400/km2 (11,000/sq mi)

Places in Jaffna

Maviddapuram

Maviddapuram is a holy village in the Sri Lankan district of Jaffna under the Tellipalai divisional secretariat. It is near the Palali airport, Kankesanthurai harbour and Keerimalai coast which is famous for the Naguleswaram Shiva temple

Palali airport

Jaffna Airport is the second busiest airport in Sri Lanka. SLAF Palaly is a Sri Lankan Air Force base located at the airport, near the city of Jaffna in Sri Lanka. The base was built by the RAF, as RAF Kankesanturai during World War II when B-24 Liberators were based there.

 

Jaffna Fort

Situated on the south side of the Jaffna peninsula at the water’s edge of the lagoon, the ancient fort in Jaffna is the second largest existing fort in the Island. Originally built by the Portuguese in 1619 and re-built and expanded by the Dutch during the second half of the 17th and the 18th centuries to facilitate trading activities of Sri Lanka’s northern region indicate not only of Jaffna’s strategic importance to Europeans but its significance throughout Sri Lanka’s history.

Sangilean Thoopu

During the existence of Nallur Rajadhani, last king of the kingdom of the people in the northern part of the country was Sankiliyan.But with the arrival of the Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka the fall of the kingdom was inevitable. This arch is found in the land where the earlier Tamil King Sangiliyan's Palace stood. Now there is an entrance-arch, but this is said to be part of a later Dutch building. The Sangilean Thoopu is about 2.7 Km from Jaffna bus stand.

Nagadipa Purana Vihara

This Temple is one of the three places in Sri Lanka where Lord Buddha has visited so Nagadeepa viharaya is an important destination for Buddhist pilgrims. Purana Vihara were constructed by the two warring Naga kings, Mahodara and his nephew Chulodara, at the site where Lord Buddha during his second visit to Lanka - five years after attaining Enlightenment - intervened and mediated in settling a dispute over the possession of a gem-studded throne; This precious throne which was offered to the Buddha, was returned by him to the Naga Kings and was later enshrined in stupa located next to the temple.

Kandarodei / Kadurugoda Temple

There is an ancient Buddhist historical place called 'Kandarodei' situated in the midst of Palmyra trees near to Chunnakam and it is 8 Km away from Jaffna Town. There are small dagobas numbering 61 scattered over about 1/2 acre land. Those small structures are constructed with ash-coloured stone. Some dagobas have only the foundation. A Buddha statue, Bodhisaththva statue, a stone scripture and some coins believed to be in the 1st and 2nd centuries were found in this area. They are preserved at Jaffna museum.

Casuarina beach

One of the best beaches in the Jaffna peninsula, the shallow waters and the very gentle waves making it an ideal for safe sea bathing. You can a long way toward the sea in the clear blue water and a great place to visit to have a break during your travels. There are houses for rent if you want stay in this area, and it is around 15 Km away from Jaffna.

Charty Beach

An ancient port in Sri Lanka, this is where Sangamiththa theraniya landed while bringing the Bo saplings used at Sri Maha Bodiya. There is a temple and a statue of Sangamiththa theraniya.The Tamil name of this place called Mathagal and situated around 20 Km from Jaffna Town

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

Munneswaram Temple is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-king Rama.

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil or Nallur Murugan Kovil ( நல்லூர் கந்தசுவாமி கோவில்) is one of the most significant Hindu temples in the Jaffna District of Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It stands in the town of Nallur. The presiding deity is Lord Murugan in the form of the holy Vel. The idol of the Nallur Devi or goddess was gifted to the temple in the 10th century CE by the Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi, in the style of Sembian bronzes.

Naguleswaram Temple

Is a very ancient temple believed to be one of the five Isvarams (divine residences) of the beginning of Shaivism.

Vallipuram Vishnu Temple

Vallipuram is one of the oldest temples in Jaffna. In the sanctum, the Vishnu's Cakkaram (disc) occupies the place of the Utsava Moorthy (deity) which is taken out for processions during festivals. The annual festival is held in August-September.

Vallipuram

Vallipuram   was an ancient capital of the Northern Kingdoms of Sri Lanka. Point Pedro is the nearest town. Vallipuram is a part of Thunnalai which is a village in eastern vadamarachi. There are two places in India with similar names. One is near Namakkal and the other one is near Kanchi. As such the people in Jaffna and in India have a long term connection. This place is settled by migrants from a town called Vallipuram near Namakkal which is near Coimbatore or from Kanchipuram.

Keerimalai 

kirimalai is a town in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. Naguleswaram temple is located in this suburb also a mineral water spring called Keerimalai Springs reputed for its curative properties. In Tamil Keerimalai means Mongoose-Hill, see Naguleswaram temple.

Nainathivu or Nainatheevu 

Also known as Manipallavam, or Nagadeepa ( නාගදීපය)) is a small but notable island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in the Sri Lankan Tamil dominated Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The name of the island alludes to the folklore inhabitants, the Naga people. It is home to the Hindu shrine of Shree Nagapooshani (Bhuvaneswari) Amman; one of the prominent 64 Shakti Peethas, and the Buddhist shrine Nagadeepa Vihare. Historians note the island is mentioned in the ancient Tamil Sangam literature of nearby Tamil Nadu (such as Manimekalai) and ancient Buddhist legends of Sri Lanka (such as Mahavamsa). Ptolemy, a Greek cartographer, describes the Tamil territory including islands around the Jaffna peninsula as Nagadibois in the first century CE.