All collections

Region

The North

The north feels like a different country - Tamil, dry, flat and fringed by islands, with a food culture and temple tradition all its own. Closed to travellers for decades, it has reopened as one of Asia's most rewarding off-path regions: wild ponies on coral islands, a star fort over a lagoon, and the grandest Hindu festival on the island.

Showing 18 of 18 destinations

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Hindu temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Must-see

Jaffna

The North

The proud capital of Tamil Sri Lanka - grand kovils, a star fort, palmyrah groves, and legendary crab curry.

From $20–35/dayOvernight
Shallow calm water at Casuarina Beach, Karainagar, near Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Beaches

Casuarina Beach

The North

The Jaffna peninsula's favourite swimming beach - shallow, calm water fringed by whistling casuarina trees.

From $15–30/dayHalf day
Seaside Sangamitta temple at Dambakola Patuna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Temples & Shrines

Dambakola Patuna

The North

The ancient port where the sacred Bo sapling landed in 288 BC - a serene seaside temple on the Jaffna coast.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
Wild ponies roaming Delft Island (Neduntheevu) near Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Beaches

Delft Island

The North

A windswept coral island off Jaffna where wild ponies roam among baobabs and Dutch ruins.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Coral-stone ramparts of Jaffna Fort, Sri Lanka
Temples & Shrines

Jaffna Fort

The North

The great star fort of the north - Portuguese-born, Dutch-perfected, war-scarred, and reborn as Jaffna's sunset promenade.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
White Indo-Saracenic facade of the Jaffna Public Library, Sri Lanka
Museums & Colonial

Jaffna Public Library

The North

The white phoenix of Jaffna - once among Asia's great libraries, burned in 1981 and rebuilt as a symbol of resilience.

From $15–30/dayHalf day
Ancient baobab tree on Mannar Island, Sri Lanka
Off the beaten path

Mannar Island

The North

A far-flung island of baobab trees, wild donkeys, colonial forts, and world-class birdwatching.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Golden entrance gopuram of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Temples & Shrines

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil

The North

The grandest Hindu temple in Sri Lanka - golden gopurams, thunderous pujas, and a 25-day festival like no other.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
Sunset over the Kokkilai lagoon bird sanctuary, Sri Lanka
Wildlife Safari

Kokkilai Lagoon

The North

A vast bird-sanctuary lagoon on the wild north-east coast - flamingos, pelicans, and fishing villages between the waters.

From $20–35/dayFull day
Nagapooshani Amman Kovil temple on Nainativu island, Sri Lanka
Temples & Shrines

Nagadeepa (Nainativu)

The North

A small sacred island shared by a great Hindu kovil and one of Buddhism's holiest Sri Lankan shrines.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
Beach at Point Pedro, the northernmost tip of Sri Lanka
Beaches

Point Pedro

The North

The northernmost tip of Sri Lanka - a lighthouse, a fishing town, and the end-of-the-island marker.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
Gopuram of Thiruketheeswaram Kovil near Mannar, Sri Lanka
Temples & Shrines

Thiruketheeswaram Temple

The North

One of the island's five ancient abodes of Shiva, resurrected beside the lost port of Manthai near Mannar.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
War memorial at Elephant Pass, gateway to the Jaffna peninsula, Sri Lanka
Boat & Lagoon

Elephant Pass

The North

The causeway gateway to Jaffna - salt lagoons, war memorials, and the isthmus every army in history had to hold.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
Fort Hammenhiel island fortress near Kayts, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Museums & Colonial

Fort Hammenhiel

The North

A Dutch island fortress between Kayts and Karainagar - once a prison, now the north's most unusual dinner reservation.

From $20–35/dayHalf day
Beach and harbour at Kankesanthurai (KKS), Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Beaches

Kankesanthurai (KKS)

The North

Jaffna's old port town - a colonial lighthouse, calm harbour beach, and the north coast reopening to the world.

From $15–30/dayHalf day
Keerimalai sacred spring bathing pond beside the sea, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Temples & Shrines

Keerimalai Sacred Springs

The North

Legendary freshwater springs beside the northern sea, prized for healing baths and tied to ancient temple lore.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
The Nilavarai natural well at Puttur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Museums & Colonial

Nilavarai Bottomless Well

The North

Jaffna's fabled 'bottomless' well - fresh water above, salt below, and a Ramayana arrow-strike origin story.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop
Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu church in the Mannar district, Sri Lanka
Temples & Shrines

Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu

The North

Sri Lanka's holiest Catholic shrine - 400 years of pilgrimage to a jungle church that sheltered generations.

From $15–30/dayQuick stop