Jaffna Clock Tower, built in 1875 to honor the visit of the Prince of Wales on February 21, 2020 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

© Oscar Espinosa/Shutterstock

Clock Tower

Jaffna


An architectural curiosity, the spindly Clock Tower has a Moorish domed top, which makes it look like it belongs somewhere in North Africa. It was erected in 1875 to honour a visit by the Prince of Wales. In 2000 the current prince, Charles, donated the working clocks you see today to replace those damaged by fighting.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Jaffna attractions

1. Jaffna Public Library

0.12 MILES

Tellingly, one of the first major buildings to be rebuilt after the 2002 ceasefire was Jaffna's Public Library. It had been burnt down by pro-government…

2. Subramaniam Park

0.16 MILES

An elegant modern park with impressive fountains. It reopened in 2010 after war damage was repaired. It has a fun children's play area.

4. Jaffna Fort

0.34 MILES

Long the gatehouse of the city, the vast Jaffna fort, overlooking the Jaffna lagoon, has been fought over for centuries. Today you can wander its walls,…

5. St James' Church

0.45 MILES

This is the grandest church in Jaffna, a classical Italianate edifice used by Anglicans that dates to 1827.

8. St Mary’s Cathedral

0.82 MILES

Built by the Dutch along classical lines in the 1790s, St Mary’s Cathedral is astonishingly large, but it’s curious to see corrugated-iron roofing held up…