Dambakola Patuna
Northern Province
About Dambakola Patuna
Dambakola Patuna, a quiet stretch of the Jaffna peninsula's north shore, witnessed one of the pivotal arrivals in Sri Lankan history: here, in 288 BC, the nun Sangamitta - daughter of the Indian emperor Ashoka - stepped ashore carrying a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree from Bodh Gaya, completing the mission her brother Mahinda had begun and giving the island the tree that still lives at Anuradhapura as the Sri Maha Bodhi. The ancient port of Jambukola vanished long ago; the modern Sangamitta temple that marks the landing - a white stupa, a shrine, and a Bo tree by the lapping sea, maintained with parade-ground neatness by the Sri Lanka Navy - is a place of wide horizons and deep calm. Come at golden hour, when pilgrims light lamps against the sound of small waves, and the twenty-three centuries collapse pleasantly together.
Top Activities
- ✓The Sangamitta landing shrine
- ✓Seaside stupa and Bo tree
- ✓Evening lamp-lighting by the water
- ✓Combine with Keerimalai and Casuarina Beach
- ✓North-coast drives
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Combine with Keerimalai springs - they share the same coast road.
The navy-kept site is spotless; keep it that way.
Sunset visits get the lamps, the sea breeze, and the best light.
Quick Info
Best Time
January to September
Weather
Hot, dry and breezy; evenings are lovely.
Estimated Daily Budget
9.8253°N, 80.0561°E
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