The northern peninsula feels like a different country, Tamil in language and culture, flat and palmyra-covered, ringed by islands, and only recently back on the travel map. It rewards anyone willing to make the journey.
Everything below can be worked into a longer island itinerary, say which appeal and we'll pace the days around them.
The great Hindu temple of the north, dedicated to Lord Murugan, golden gopuram, intricate carvings, and an extraordinary annual festival.
A star-shaped Dutch stronghold on the lagoon, with the remains of churches and barracks inside.
Mineral springs beside the sea, long held to have healing properties.
Burned in 1981 and painstakingly restored, now a symbol of the region’s cultural resilience.
Reached by ferry, home to the Nagadeepa Purana Vihara and a Hindu kovil side by side.
Wild ponies, coral-stone walls and colonial ruins on a windswept island in the Palk Strait.
A Hindu shrine on a rocky headland, with wide coastal views.
The markets, mangroves, palmyra groves and small towns that make up daily life in the north.
Tell us when you're travelling and we'll shape a private itinerary that gives Jaffna the time it deserves.
