Jaffna, the capital of the north
Half an hour from our door, Jaffna is the heart of Tamil Sri Lanka — temples, an island chain, a language and a kitchen of its own. Here is what we show people who come.
Nallur and the temples
Nallur Kandaswamy is the temple everything turns around. Its festival runs 25 days from mid-August into September — the streets fill, families come home from Europe and Canada, and the whole peninsula books out. In 2026 it runs 16 August to 12 September. If you travel then, book early.
The islands
West of the city a chain of flat islands runs out into the shallows. Nagadeepa and Delft are reached by ferry — Delft has wild ponies and coral walls built from the sea. It is a half day at least, and the ferry sets the rhythm, not us.
What people eat here
Northern cooking is its own thing — hotter and more coconut-heavy than the south, built around seafood from the lagoon and palmyra from the dry ground. Ask your driver where to stop; he eats here.
Getting there, and when
Jaffna Airport (JAF) sits just north of the city; Colombo Airport (CMB) is a full day's drive south, about 365 km. Two seasons matter: December and January for Thai Pongal and family gatherings, and August into September for Nallur. Outside those, the peninsula is quiet and easy.
Plan a day in Jaffna
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