Welcome to Jaffna

A bastion of Hindu tradition, art and creative culture, Jaffna welcomes visitors warmly. It’s intriguing, unimposing, slightly off the beaten path and a thoroughly rewarding place to discover Sri Lankan Tamil culture.

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Inescapably, decades of war, emigration, embargoes and loss of life and property deeply affected this historic town, but the city is surprisingly green and leafy, with attractive palm-shaded colonial-era suburbs and beautiful temples and churches. Physically, new projects and upgraded transport connections show that Jaffna's days of isolation are long past.

Ancient sights both in the centre of town and on the outskirts make for compelling attractions. And while there is enough to do after dark to create a nascent buzz, it's still mellow enough that you won't get run over while walking.

The city is an ideal base for forays to the idyllic islands just to the west and trips along the coastline and lagoons of the surrounding peninsula.

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Top experiences in Jaffna

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Jaffna activities

$118 Transfers & Ground Transport

Private Arrival Transfer from Colombo Airport to Trincomalee

TrincomaleeFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to navigationJump to searchTrincomaleeதிருகோணமலைත්‍රිකුණාමලයCityCity of TrincomaleeView of Trincomalee BayTrincomaleeCoordinates: 8°34′0″N 81°14′0″ECountrySri LankaProvinceEasternDistrictTrincomaleeDS DivisionTown & GravetsGovernment • TypeUrban CouncilArea • Total7.5 km2 (2.9 sq mi)Elevation8 m (26 ft)Population (2012) • Total99,135 • Density13,000/km2 (34,000/sq mi)Demonym(s)TrincomaliansTime zoneUTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone) • Summer (DST)UTC+6Websitehttp://www.sathi-us.net/sindu/designs/trincomalee/ Trincomalee (English: /ˌtrɪŋkoʊməˈliː/; Tamil: திருகோணமலை Tirukōṇamalai; Sinhalese: ත්‍රිකුණාමළය Trikuṇāmalaya) also known as Gokanna/Gokarna,[1] is the administrative headquarters of the Trincomalee District and major resort port city of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. Located on the east coast of the island overlooking the Trincomalee Harbour, 237 kilometres (147 mi) north-east of Colombo, 182 kilometres (113 mi) south-east of Jaffna and 111 kilometres (69 mi) miles north of Batticaloa, Trincomalee has been one of the main centres of Sri Lankan Tamil language speaking culture on the island for over two millennia. With a population of 99,135,[2] the city is built on a peninsula of the same name, which divides its inner and outer harbours. People from Trincomalee are known as Trincomalians and the local authority is Trincomalee Urban Council. Trincomalee city is home to the famous Koneswaram temple alluded to in its historic Tamil name Thirukonamalai and is home to other historical monuments such as the Bhadrakali Amman Temple, Trincomalee, the Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall and, opened in 1897, the Trincomalee Hindu College. Trincomalee is also the site of the Trincomalee railway station and an ancient ferry service to Jaffna and the south side of the harbour at Muttur.The recorded history of Trincomalee spans more than two and a half thousand years, beginning with civilian settlement associated with the Koneswaram temple in the pre-modern era. One of the oldest cities in Asia, it has served as a major maritime seaport in the international trading history of the island with South East Asia. In the ancient world, it was successively the capital of eastern kingdoms of the Vanni country, developing under the Anuradhap
$820 Multi-day & Extended Tours

Discover Sri Lanka

Day 01 – Arrival – ColomboOn your arrival at the airport you will be welcomed by the representative of Youlanka Travels and transferred to Colombo. Check in at the Hotel and leisureOvernight stay at the Hotel – Colombo Day 02 – Flight to Jaffna – City TourAfter early breakfast transfer to Ratmalana Air force base for the domestic flight to Jaffna(Flight availability – Monday / Wednesday / Friday)Check in at the HotelCity tour in the evening, including visit to Jaffna LibraryDinner and overnight stay at the Hotel – Jaffna Day 03 – Nagadeep Island by boat, local house dinner After breakfast proceed to Nagadeepa by boat, explore the ancient templeVisit to a local house and enjoy food preparation as dinner and eat with localsTransfer back to Hotel for the overnight at the Hotel – JaffnaDay 04 - TrincomaleeAfter breakfast visit the local fair or the fish market, thereafter proceed to Trincomalee and check in at the Hotel.Enjoy the evening at the beachDinner and overnight stay at the Hotel – Nilaveli/Trincomalee Day 05 –  Snorkeling at Pigeon Island – Dutch fort – Koneswarm kovil After breakfast boat tour to Pigeon Island for snorkeling, visit the Koneswarm kovil and the Dutch fort in Trincomalee Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel – Nilaveli/Trincomalee Day 06 –  Polonnaruwa Ruins After breakfast proceed to Polonnaruwa and explore the2nd ancient capital of Sri Lanka.Transfer to Sigiriya and check in at the HotelDinner and overnight stay at the Hotel – SigiriyaDay 07 –  Sigiriya Fortress – Minneriya national park After breakfast climb the Sigiriya fortressIn the afternoon Jeep safari to Minneriya national parkDinner and overnight stay at the Hotel – SigiriyaDay 08 –  Kandy Temple of the tooth – Cultural showAfter breakfast proceed to Kandy en route visit a Herbal spice garden, and a batik factoryVisit the temple of the tooth relic and the day ends watch Kandyan Cultural showDinner and overnight stay at the Hotel – Kandy Day 09 –  Royal botanical garden – Tea factory – Colombo  After breakfast visit the Gem museum, and the Peradeniya botanical garden, thereafter proceed to Colombo en route visit Giragama tea factory.Check in at the HotelDinner and overnight stay at the Hotel – Colombo Day 10 -  Departure After breakfast proceed to Beach resort/Transfer to the Airport
$54.13 Transfers & Ground Transport

Private Departure Transfer: Jaffna to Colombo Bandaranayake International Airport CMB BIA

Once you have completed your holiday in Sri Lanka and are ready to head back home, your friendly driver will meet you at your hotel in Jaffna and drive you directly to the Bandaranayake International Airport. Whether you’re traveling individually, with a partner or in a group, your ground transport needs will be covered by this private transfer service. Avoid the confusion of taxis or public transport and enjoy a hassle-free ride. Airport departure transfers have never been this easy! Travel in style and comfort with unparalleled safety in your luxurious vehicle and get to your flight in good time and great order. Your English-speaking chauffeur is always at your service!SKU: LK41103200
$54.13 Transfers & Ground Transport

Colombo, Sri Lanka Airport (BIA-CMB) to Tilko Jaffna City Hotel, Jaffna

Once you land at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA / CMB), your friendly driver will meet you and drive you directly to your hotel,  Tilko Jaffna City Hotel, Jaffna. Whether you’re traveling individually, with a partner or in a group, your ground transport needs will be covered by this private airport transfer service. Avoid the confusion of taxis or public transport and enjoy a hassle-free start to your vacation. Airport transfers have never been this easy. Travel in style and comfort with unparalleled safety in our luxurious cars and get to your destination in good time and great order. Your English-speaking chauffeur is always at your service.SKU: LK43204470
$54.13 Transfers & Ground Transport

Private Ground Transfer: Jaffna Hotel to Negombo Hotel

Once you check out from your hotel in Jaffna City, your friendly driver will meet you at your hotel in Jaffna City and drive you directly to your hotel in Negombo City. Whether you’re traveling individually, with a partner or in a group, your ground transport needs will be covered by this private transfer service. Avoid the confusion of taxis or public transport and enjoy a hassle-free ride. Ground transfers have never been this easy! Travel in style and comfort with unparalleled safety in our luxurious cars and get to your hotel in good time and great order. Your English-speaking chauffeur is always at your service!SKU: LK42386100
$100 Day Trips & Excursions

Minneriya Jeep Safari from Habarana Hotels

We will pick you from Any hotels from Habarana. We do Morning and Afternoon SafariMinneriya National Park is a wildlife sanctuary located in the North Central province of Sri Lanka. Nature lovers on Minneriya Jeep Safari often spot large number of Sri Lankan Elephants gathering around to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. In addition there are two endemic monkeys of Sri Lanka, Large herbivorous mammals such as Sri Lankan sambar deer and Sri Lankan axis deer, Rare and endangered species such as Sri Lankan leopard and Sri Lankan sloth bear, the gray slender loris, large water birds such as lesser adjutant, painted stork, and spot-billed pelican, little cormorants, Great white pelican, ruddy turnstone, and grey heron. The endemic birds such as Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, black-crested bulbul and crimson-fronted barbet, eight species of endemic reptiles, saltwater crocodile, Indian python, Asian water monitor, and Bengal monitors and more. Minneriya Jeep Safari would be a valuable opportunity to observe unique and amazing wild animals in their natural habitats.Suggested times to start and end Minneriya Jeep Safari are 5:30am to 8:30am during the morning time or 3:00pm to 6:00pm in the afternoon.
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