Mannar Island
Northern Province
About Mannar Island
Mannar Island dangles off Sri Lanka's north-west coast toward India, at the head of the chain of shoals called Adam's Bridge that almost links the two countries. Remote and rarely visited, it repays the journey with strangeness and beauty: giant baobab trees planted by Arab traders centuries ago (including one of the largest in Asia), herds of feral donkeys wandering the lanes of Mannar town, a Portuguese-Dutch fort at the causeway, and the skeletal beauty of salt pans and palmyrah groves. For birdwatchers, Mannar is hallowed ground - each northern winter, tens of thousands of migratory waterbirds funnel down the Central Asian flyway to the Vankalai sanctuary and the island's lagoons, including greater flamingos in their thousands. The seafood - especially Mannar crab - is some of the island's best.
Top Activities
- ✓Flamingo and waterbird watching (Nov–Mar)
- ✓The giant baobab tree of Pallimunai
- ✓Mannar Fort at the causeway
- ✓Adam's Bridge viewpoint at Talaimannar
- ✓Photographing wild donkeys and salt pans
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Accommodation is basic and limited - book ahead.
December–February is peak flamingo season at Vankalai.
Combine with Wilpattu National Park on the drive north.
Quick Info
Best Time
November to March (migratory birds)
Weather
Hot, dry and windy most of the year.
Estimated Daily Budget
8.9810°N, 79.9044°E
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