JAFFNA, SRI LANKA (CEYLON)

Jaffna 

JAFFNA, SRI LANKA (CEYLON)

Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District, located on a peninsula having the same name. Jaffna's suburb Nallur, served as the capital of the four century-long medieval The Jaffna Kingdom. Since 1980s Jaffna is the second most populous city after Colombo in Sri Lanka. During the Sri Lankan civil war time Jaffna city and Jaffna suburbs were led to extensive damage, the expulsion of part of the population. After the end of the civil war in 2009, many refugees & internally displaced folk started to return to their homes. The city is home to a number of educational institutions established during the colonial and post-colonial period. It also has a number of commercial institutions, minor industrial units, banks, hotels, and other government institutions. It is home to many historical sites such as the popular Jaffna library that was burnt down & rebuilt and the Jaffna fort which was rebuilt during the Dutch colonial period.

Historically, Jaffna has been a contested city. It was made into a colonial port town during the Portuguese occupation of the Jaffna peninsula in 1619 who lost it to the Dutch only to lose it to the British in 1796. The Portuguese established Jaffna city in 1621 as their colonial administrative center. Prior to the military capitulation to the Portuguese Empire in 1619, the capital of the local Jaffna Kingdom, which is also known as the Kingdom of the Aryacakravarti was Nallur, which is close to the city limits of Jaffna.

Jaffna is known in Tamil as "Yalpanam" & 'Yapapatuna' in Sinhalese, and earlier known as Yalpanapattinam. Jaffna is a corrupted version of Yalpanam. The colloquial form of Yalpanam is Yappanam. The 'Ya' and 'Ja' including 'pp' and ' ff'' are easily interchangeable. When it went into a foreign language, it lost the Tamil ends "M" consequently stood as Jaffna. A 15th-century inscription of the Vijayanagara Empire (Karnata Empire / The kingdom of Bisnegar was based in the Deccan plateau in the South Indian region) mentions the place as Yalpaanayanpaddinam. The name also occurs on copper plates issued by Sethupathi kings of the same era. The suffix pattinam indicates the place to have been a seaport town. The origin of the name can be traced to a legend about the town's etymology. A king 'Ukkirasinghan' was visited by the blind Panan musician, who was an expert in vocal music and one skilled in the use of an instrument called Yal.  The king who was delighted to the music played with the Yal by the Panan, presented him a sandy plain. 

Climate of the Place:

Jaffna features a tropical savanna climate with a dry season between February and August and a wet season between September and January. Jaffna has the highest average temperature in Sri Lanka of 28°C (82.4°F). The temperature is highest in the months of April – May, and August – September. The temperature is coolest in December – January. The annual rainfall caused by the North-East monsoon and it varies from one place to another year after year. The average rainfall is 1200 Millimeter in the western part of the Jaffna peninsula.

Ways to Reach Jaffna:

Jaffna is situated 396km (246mi) north from the Colombo, Sri Lanka (The main city of Sri Lanka) and the surface elevation of 5M (16ft) height.

Ø By Train:

The Jaffna station is the busiest station on the Northern Line. It is 398km (247mi) away from the Colombo main station. The station was opened in 1902 and got closed in 1990 after the end of the civil war and then lately the station was reconstructed and reopened on 13th October 2014. "Yal Devi" is the famous train on the Northern Line.

          Colombo to Jaffna Train Time schedule:

Train No	Train  Name	Available Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time
4021	AC Intercity	1st	05.45am	11.50am
4077	Yal Devi	2nd & 3rd	06.35am	02.35pm
4081		2nd & 3rd	08.50am	06.30pm
4017	Uttara Devi	2nd & 3rd	11.50am	06.15pm
4003	Sri Devie	1st, 2nd & 3rd	03.55pm	10.05pm
4089	Night Mail	1st, 2nd & 3rd	09.00pm	5.30am

Jaffna to Colombo Train Time Schedule:

Train No	Train  Name	Available Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time
4004	Sri Devie	1st, 2nd & 3rd	04.05am	10.25am
4018	Uttara Devi	2nd & 3rd	06.10am	01.05pm
4082		2nd & 3rd	06.25am	04.00pm
4078	Yal Devi	2nd & 3rd	09.45am	06.35pm
4022	AC Intercity	1st	01.45pm	08.00pm
4090	Night Mail	1st, 2nd & 3rd	06.45pm	4.00am

Ø By Bus:

You can catch government buses at Colombo pettah main bus stand & private buses at the Colombo private bus stand. There are three types of buses running on Colombo Jaffna route which are mainly AC bus (luxury), Semi luxury (Without AC) & Normal. Buses will approximately take 10hours to reach Jaffna from Colombo.  

Ø  By Road:

From Colombo, you can find two roads to reach Jaffna, one is Colombo to Ambepussa (A1 Road /Colombo - Kandy Main road) then turn left at Ambepussa clock tower junction to take Ambepussa - Trincomalee Road (A6 Road) & while continuing this road till Dambulla Town, take towards Kandy - Jaffna Main Road (A9 Road) till Jaffna.

Second Road that you can use is Colombo to Katunayake by Airport Highway (E3) then exit at Katunayake exit and turn left to take Colombo - Puttalam main Road (A4) till Puttalam Town. After that: Turn right to take Puttalam - Anuradhapura Road ( A12 Road) till Anuradhapura then you have to take Anuradhapura - Rambewa (A20 Road) till Rambewa then turn left to take Kandy - Jaffna (A9 Road). From Rambewa you have to continue to Kandy - Jaffna Main Road till Jaffna.  

Things you should do in Jaffna:

Ø  Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple - This Temple is situated on a separate island of the Jaffna peninsula and it is 36km (22mi) away from the Jaffna city. It's among the country's sixteen holiest Buddhist shrines according to contemporary history. The Gautama Buddha visited the site after five years of attaining Enlightenment to settle the dispute between two warring Naga King, Chulodara & Mahodara.

Ø  Explore the Jaffna Fort - Jaffna Fort was also erected by the Portuguese at late 17th century. Jaffna fort is much smaller than Galle Fort. You can walk the ramparts and you can enjoy the beautiful view of Jaffna Lagoon & the city. This fort is also considered among best places to see the evening sunset over the Jaffna city.

Ø The Nallur Kandiswamy Hindu Temple - This Hindu Temple is just 2.8km (1.75mi) away from the Jaffna city & it is very stunning and colorful Hindu Temple. This Hindu temple is dedicated to the Lord Murugan & it was built in 948 and reconstructed twice in 1450 & 1734. The towering golden-ochred temple has been calling faithful devotees to its grounds for centuries.

Please Note: This temple will not accept covered shoulders, sleeveless & short dress for women, and men have to remove the shirts inside the temple. Photography also not allowed inside this temple.

Ø  Delft Island - The original name of Delft is Neduntheevu (Naduntivu) & the island was named after the Dutch city of Delft By 'Rijckoff van Goens'. This Island is situated on 41km (25.5mi) away from the Jaffna city center. Delft Island is a flat island surrounded by shallow water & beaches of coral chunks & sand. The island has been dating since the Chola Dynasty. This only the island has inside Lake except Sri Lankan main island and other islands which is called horses Island because horse population is higher than the human population on this island. In this Island few special things are there to see which are mentioned below:

                                i.            Baobab Tree

                              ii.            Pigeon House

                            iii.            Coral Walls

                            iv.            Portuguese - Dutch Fort - Ruined ancient fort, originally erected by the Portuguese & turned into a Fort by the Dutch

                              v.            Dutch Horse Stables - Crumbling horse stables built during the Dutch occupation, housing horses from all over the world.

Places you should visit In Jaffna:

·         Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple

·         Nallur Hindu Temple

·         Jaffna Fort

·         Delft Island

·         Jaffna Naga Viharaya

·         Dutch Kachcheri

·         Casuarina Beach

·         Keerimalai Naguleswaram Hindu Temple

·         Keerimalai Sacred Water Spring

·         Dambakolapatuna Temple

·         Sakkotai Point Pedro (Peduruthuduwa)

·         Point Pedro Light House

·         Manatkaadu Beach  

·         Kadurugoda Temple

·         Hammenhiel Fort

·         Nilavarai Well

·         Jaffna Library

·        Amman Hindu Temple 

Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple

Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple

Nallur Hindu Temple

   Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort

Delft Island

Delft Island

Delft Island

Delft Island

  Baobab Tree, Delft Island

  Baobab Tree, Delft Island

Casuarina Beach

Casuarina Beach

Keerimalai Naguleswaram Hindu Temple

Keerimalai Sacred Water Spring

Dambakolapatuna Temple

Dambakolapatuna Temple

Dambakolapatuna Temple

Dambakolapatuna Temple

Dambakolapatuna Temple

Dambakolapatuna Temple

Point Pedro (Peduruthuduwa)

Point Pedro (Peduruthuduwa)

Point Pedro (Peduruthuduwa)

Point Pedro Light House

Manatkaadu Beach  

Kadurugoda Temple

Kadurugoda Temple

Hammenhiel Fort

Nilavarai Well

Nilavarai Well

Jaffna Library

Amman Hindu Temple