Nallur Temple

Historians have found evidence that the original temple was built in 1248 in Kurukkal Valavu in Nallur at the same location of the present temple. Nallur was then the capital of the Jaffna Kingdom. But in 1450, Parakramabahu the 6th of the Kotte Kingdom, in response to the Arya Chakkaravarthi of Jaffna's to extend his rule to the South, sent his son Sapumal Kumara to bring the Jaffna Kingdom down to his rule. Sapumal Kumara defeated King Arya Chakkaravarthi, destroyed his palace and the original Nallur temple. But upon becoming Buvaneka Bahu the 6th , he sought to make amends by building a new temple in 1467 at a nearby location, says Shanmugapriya in Nallur Kanthaswamy: A Spiritual Experience.

Location : Nallur Kandasamy Temple lies about 1.5km from the Jaffna town on the KKS (Kankasanthurai) Road.

Links:http://www.nalluran.com/

Thondamanaru Temple

Dambakola Patuna

Dambakola Patuna or Jambukola Patuna is an ancient port in the north of Jaffna which was used during pre christian times. After Arahath Mahinda brought Bhuddhism to Sri Lanka in 250BC, his sister, Theri Sanghamitta arrived in Sri Lanka with a Sacred Bo Sapling one year later to this port. The temple Samudda-panasala ( Jambukola Viharaya) was built commemorating the arrival of the Bo sapling by King Devanampriya Tissa (250-210 BC). Later, the same king planted one of the first eight shoots of the Sri Maha Bodhi, on the same place where he kept the original tree before brining it to Anuradhapura. King Vijayabahu I (1070-1110) has restored this site.

How to get there

From Jaffna take the Kankasanthurei road (KKS Rd) and Travel up to Keerimalai Naguleswaran Kovil. The Keerimalai Natural Springs also belongs to this kovil. Between the Kovil and the Natural spring there is a road running parallel to the beach. The temple lies about 9 km from this kovil on this road.

Nagadeepa

Nainativu is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar and is only about 35 miles from India. Merchants have long come here and the surrounding islands to buy the conch shells that are harvested in the warm shallow waters in the Gulf. The conch shell is of course essential for certain Hindu and Buddhist rituals and a particularly perfect specimen of one spiraling to the right can fetch an enormous price. Pilgrims have also been coming to Nainativu since about the 1st century CE to worship at its famous stupa. In the Mahavamsa the island is one of the sixteen sacred places and the Tamil Buddhist epic, Manimekala, mentions a gem studded throne and a stone with the Buddha’s footprints at Nagadipa which pilgrims from India used to come and worship. The heroine of the epic is described as wandering amongst the island’s 'long sandy dunes and lagoons’.

As the boat approaches the main jetty the pilgrim will see the distinctive red and white-striped walls of the Hindu temple. Although there has been a temple here for many centuries the present one is not old and is of no particular interest. However on either side of the side entrance to the temple there are two very ancient objects. On the left as you enter is a large stone with an inscription of Parakramabahu I on it. In the first part of this inscription the king says that foreigners coming into the country should enter only at Uraturai (Kayts) and that they should be helped if in need. This undoubtedly refers to merchants and pilgrims from India. The second part says what measures should be taken if ships carrying elephants or horses and merchant ships are wrecked. On the right of the entrance is a large life saver-shaped stone, an ancient anchor. Arab ships used to carry such anchors.

Less than half a kilometer down the road from the temple is Nagadipa Vihara marking the place where the Buddha is supposed to have stayed during his visit to the small island. On one side of the road is the Bodhi Tree and on the other is the silver painted stupa. There are two temples as well, one containing a bronze Buddha image donated by the Burmese government in 1956. Nothing at Nagadipa is of any aesthetic or historical interest, everything having been built in the 1950’s.

Source:http://www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/nagadipa.html

King Sangili Statue

King Sangili ruled Jaffna kingdom during 1519-1561. During Portuguese invasions , he defended against Portugese and then escaped to India. Later , he reconciled with the Portuguese and remained a King under Portuguese rule.
On the way to Nallur Kovil , one can see the statue of King Sangili .After the statue is passed, huge gate built by the Dutch can be seen  and after theat gate, the palace of king Sangili is there. The palace shows a combination of Dutch and Indian architecture.

Kadurugoda Temple

There is a historical place called 'Kandarodei' situated in the midst of palmyrah trees beyond Manipai about 10 Kilometres away from Jaffna. 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.
The special feature of these ancient Buddhist structures is that there are no square shape constructions above the global structures; Instead of that , There are are umbrella shape structures one above the other next to the global structures.

This place is believed to have called Kadurugoda Vihara in the past. History of these structures go beyond 2000 years.

A Buddha statue, Bodhisaththa 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.
It is believed that the relics of 60 Arhats are deposited in the small dagobas. There is a record that a special dagoba with the Buddha's relics was in this premises.

According to the history ,about 2000 years before there lived 60 Arhats in Jaffna peninsula preaching Dhamma and practising meditation. Owing to a famine in the area all the 60 Arhants passed-away.
Their bodies had been cremated and the ashes deposited in the small dagobas constructed later.

How to get there
Proceed from Jaffna – Kankasanturei road up to Chunnakam Junction, turn left and proceed another 3 kilometers to reach to thi temple complex.

Naga Viharaya Temple

Naga Viharaya is one of the famous Buddhist temples in Jaffna.It  is situated in the Stanley road in Jaffna town.
According to the history, when Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Bo Tree was taken by  Theri "Sangamiththa" (daughter of King Ashoka) from India to Sri Lanka in 288BC ,king Devanampiyathissa  of Sri Lanka had been to Jaffna to receive Theri Sanghamiththa and the group
On the group's way back to Anuradhapura, 'Naga' tribesmen of Jaffna requested the king to keep the Bo tree with them for a one week. Accordingly, the Bo Tree branch had been planted in Jaffna (where present Naga Viharaya is located.) for a one week before it was finally brought to Anuradhapura.

Keerimalai

Keerimalai is a suburb in Jaffna .It is very close to Palaly. It has a natural water spring.
A bathing tank is built surrounding this pool and only the walls separate the waters of the spring and the sea. Although the tank is so close to the sea, the water is fresh coming from an underground fresh water spring in Tellipallai-Maviddapuram.

This spring is popular among the Hindus for the miraculous powers it holds..

According to the legend ,a Indian priest called Nagula Muni bathed in this pond and his mongoose face was cured and turned in to a human face.

How to get there: One has to take the Jaffna - Palaly route.

Jaffna library

Jaffna library is the symbol of Jaffna.It was opened in 1935 .The library was completely destroyed in 1991 owing to ethnic riots.
The library was reconstructed and  it is open to the public in 2004.The library potraits the glory of Hindu architecture.

Jaffna fort

Portuguese constructed the Jaffna fort in 1619 to protect from enemy attacks from the sea.Jaffna fort is one of main attractions in Jaffna peninsula.

Casuarina beach

Casuarina beach is one of the famous attractions in Northern Sri Lanka and it is just 20KM from Jaffna city.
It is in Karainagar suburb.

Delft Island

This is the largest island in the Palk Strait, northern Sri Lanka.  .Delft is a unique which lies North of Sri Lanka. It is the biggest of the seven inhabitable islands, Which are scattered around in the Indian Ocean and is seven and four miles wide.

There are two forts in this islet.Those were built by Portugese and Dutch.Portuguese called this islet (Neduntivu / Neduntheevu )  ilha das Vacas.During Dutch rule ,  Dutch called this islet Delft Island.The Dutch Fort was used as a prison.


How to get there:
One has to hire a ferry from Karikattuwan jetty.

Jaffna market

Jaffna is famous for its bombay onion, chillies, plantains, beetroot and carrot cultivations.
A variety of vegetables such as brinjals, beans, long beans, tomatoes, capsicum and bitter guard  are grown in Jaffna.
Fishing is another lucrative trade in Jaffna. Jaffna fishermen community earn a substantial income in fishing in closerby lagoons.
The catch includes different varieties of fish such as sheer fish,  mullet, prawns, shrimps, crabs, lobsters and sea cucumbers.
If you need to buy , fresh fishes from Jaffna market , you need to be there around 6AM.