Long Journey to Lovely Jaffna Peninsula

I had visit Jaffna only one time after war period, but it was limit to tired journey. So I had a big eager to fulfill that as my wish. Though I plan it with discussing my jaffna friends, I couldn’t do that because of many reasons. However this vacation made a time to me to gain that experience. After that I could visit many places which studying their tradition and enjoying with a whole week and I could add many novel and rare experiences to my memory book.

1st Day

We are ready to left the first train from colombo to jaffna and it is easy which booking tickrts earlier. Train left at 5.50am and it was 9.30 am which reached to Anuradhapura station. It was 12.15pm when reach to Jaffna station with a minimum tired with noticing the end of such a long journey and our friend of Nishanthan came to the station by then.

Luxury Train

Passing my home town :-)

Behold through the door

Important junction of northern railway

Many people got down in Anuradhapura Station

By this comes at 203km from Colombo (but we have to go any other distance like this)

Farmers in northern region of Sri Lanka

Prosperous paddy field

Hard Life

Now reach to Elephant-pass

Sandy plain

Wind mills in Palei

Newly Erected One

The grain harvest

Welcome “Yalpanam”

She left to “Kankasanthure”

Lovely Station

By the way after few minutes at railway station, Arunjan also join with us and we left to Nishanthns’ home which situated at Ariyale. Then we get the lunch from his house and get some rest with the intention of  visit Jaffna town in the evening.

We started our journey at about 2.30pm and the first place was Sangilean Thoopu. During the existence of Nallur Rajadhani this area was the nothern part of the country. After the arrivaal of portuguese, it was become a kingdom.

Here we go

Straight way

Sangilean Thoopu

Timber frame

Our gang

A part of Sangilean Thoppu.

Now it’s too old

King Sangilion

After leaving Sangilean thoopu, our next station was the Archaeological Museum of Jaffna. This is the better place to get the knowledge about historical data of Jaffna’ and also this place is introduced as the first visit of traveler at Jaffna. It is better to say as a store of data about Jaffna. It’s appreciated very much about the guidance of friendly staff of there. This is open every day besides Tuesday and all government holidays from 8am to 4.45 pm.

Name board

Dutch Commander’s grave stone – Click Image to Enlarge

Nice font

Statues

He done remarkable service (Explain well everything)

These used for “Kawadi” dance

Ivory Buddha statues

Ornamental fan

Which one you want

Various necklace

He said this one real gold

Ruins of Kadurugoda Temple

Keeping the note

Jaffna clock tower

After leaving the museum of Jaffna our next destination was the most important place of Jaffna that was public library.

Before it was burned down it was one of the best and largest libraries in Asia. Now it is being renovated and people can visit some parts of the library. It is very worth to watch when you visit Jaffna.

This was a largest library of Asia

Sign of the music

Another angle

Clock Tower

Our next station was the Jaffna fort which define as the heritage of Jaffna. It’s very happy to say that,  it is re constructed well than my first visit.

This is situated near to the lagoons of the Jaffna and originally it build by Portuguese. After that it became the one of kingdom of Dutch. It is the second biggest fortress in Sri Lanka. This is rebuilding well after the war time and now it scene very proudly.

Durayappah stadium under construction

Enter to the fort

After rebuilding

The reconstructed wall

Inside

Sky people

What a design…

Heritage fort

At the entrance

Nice arch

Attractive stairs

Symbol of the fort

It’s too high

Busy fishermen in lagoon

Along the walk way

Well guarded fortress

Unofficial fishermen

The afternoon sun

We ready to leave the fort of Jaffna when sunset with imagine designs on the water of lagoon. Next destination was the Nagavihara temple. When we reach to the temple there is a charity work of Dharma Deshana Which organized by the Army and we left there after stay some time. Next destination is Nallur Kovil and after visited that we noted the finish of first day successfully at the Rio ice cream shop with tasting real ice cream.

Sri Nagawiharaya temple

Pagoda of Nagawihara

Nallur Kovil

Hindus’ engravings

Great Architecture

Like a mosque

You must go to this place

Mmm… Which one I select??

Yes I can do it… :-)

2nd Day

Second day is planned basically around Nagadeepa. According to that we left from house after taking breakfast. Other two friends are joining with us at the town and then all six of us left looking for kurikadduvaan jetty. We could reach to jetty by half an hour journey and there were many people because of weekend.

After remain sometime, we left to Nagdeepa by boat, it was a very tough experience like a private bus. We got down at Nagadeepa after 15 minutes and at very first worshiped temple of Nagadeepa.

Colorful morning

Start the day as usual

Trap everywhere

Lonely tub

Variety of lagoon

Variety of lagoon

Newly erected one

Palmyra trees

The way go through the lagoon

On the way to “kurikadduvaan”jetty

We should park the vehicles here

Walking to jetty

Analativu Island

Eluvativu Island

Waiting for boat

The moment which got down at the Nainativu jetty

Entrance

Shrine

Statue of lord Buddha

Wall Painting

Wall painting

Silver pagoda

Venerated Bodhi

Calm scenery

After that we walk along some of ways on the Island and then enter to fane premises. Our friends said that, there are some incidents related to this fane and they were novel experience to us. Friday was a special pooja day, so there were big crowd of devotee in the kovil and the devotion of majority of them is made us amazed.

There was a regular dansal and we also participated to that and get the lunch. It accepted sitting on a mat which laid on the floor and also food are offered on a leave of banana so it was a novel experience for us. We came to kurikadduvaan jetty again by a boat after taking lunch with the intention of go to charty beach (white sand beach).

It’s modern fence

It’s true

Old Budhdha statue

It’s a model

Walking through the Nainativu Island

Entered to Kovil premises

King Rawana

Colorful

Various model

Nagapoosani Amman kovil

Head of fane

Cleaning before worship

Pantheon

Devotion

Hindu devotees

Ready to lunch

Never had like that experience

It’s too difficult to me

So many branches

Crowded

Finish the boat journey

Return to same way

Old architecture

Toddy area

Warming their feather

Aim to bait

Trunks of Palmyra

Next destination was White Sand Beach (Charty beach). The Entrance for this was in little weak condition and the other issue is we had gone by motor bike under a tough sun beams. However we spend some moment on that beautiful beach and didn’t forget to visit the Christian church which situated nearby. After that we left that two places and stepped on Ariyale again. After getting some small rest we went to the second day lodge of Arunjans’ home which situated at Chankanei. The second day was end like that with many of sweet memories.

White sand beach (charty beach)

Enjoy as their wish

Summer hut

Crinkle free…

Church

It’s symbolize some story

It’s symbolize some story

They are praying

3rd day

Third day which started little late is used to reach KKS. According to that we started at 10.30am from house and went across prosperous lands. At very first we reach to “Keerimalai pond”. After that we went the nearby kovil of “Naguleshwaram”.

Keerimalai is famous for two things, the Naguleshwaram kovil and the mineral water springs. The kovil is one of the oldest shrines in Sri Lanka and a sacred destination of Hindu’s situated on 15Km away from the Jaffna town.

Crazy Junction

Prosperous tobacco land

Tomato

Nice one

Keeramalei pond

Proper place to bath

Nice jump

Plumage

Ruins of Cement factory

President house of Jaffna

Not for sale

It’s only showroom

After that we came from there to KKS and we could seen the ruins of cement factory at “Kankasanthuraya” and the newly erecting president house of Jaffna. There are many army camps by now and it exists as a high protective area. Before entering to this area we should get a special pass and we can enter after that.

Army is maintained that area properly by now and the last railway station of Jaffna railway track is situated in it. And also the luxurious hotel in Jajjna which called as “Thal Sevana” is situated on there. Then we came to tobacco factory with the intention of visit that.

Last station of Northern railway

Luxury one

Let’s take a sunbath

Light House of KKS

Nice beach

Tobacco which plucking from crop lands are dried on the sun light basically. It is most common scenery which drying tobacco on the walls by transporting land masters. After drying few days they were buried.

After that they picked up and buried again with keeping other side of the leaves. Then they kept a burner about 24 hours regularly. Thereafter they are issued to shops according to the size.

Transport tobacco

Drying process

Special treatment in the well

Grading tobaccos

Special kiln

Ready to packing

4th Day

We started fourth day little late and our target was to reach the areas related on point pedro. According to that we start from chankanai and other three friends join with us on the way. At first we reach to Kadurugoda temple which known as kandarodei. It is an ancient Buddhist historical temple situated in the midst of palmyra trees near to chunnakkam and it is 8km away from Jaffna town. There are 61 pagodas scattered over about ½ acre land.

Little Buddha image house in kandarodei

Kadurugoda temple

Many of pagoda

Ruins of basement

Next destination was Nilawara well and the way is fallen through the prosperous crop land. Earlier day also we saw tobacco lands but we are amazing today which we saw. Because there are prosperous carrot land which likes Nuwara-Eliya. According to our friends it can be cultivate many vegetables also carrot.

Can u believe is that carrot

Preparing a crop land

Bottomless well

It’s better to reconstruct

Our next destination was “Selva Sanadhi” Kovil. It is revered as “Sella Katirkamam” of the north. It is situated about twenty miles north from Jaffna.

There were lot of devotee on this kovil premises and many people get a bath before entering to kovil and worship. We also imitate them and enterd to kovil after getting a bath. Devotees have many believes about this Kovil and it is a miracle place according to their belief.

This kovil also had regular dansala for devotee and we also get the lunch from that.  After that our destination was Periya Mandakam cave complex.

Along the way to kovil

Looking innocently

The place which bathing devotees (Thondaman Aru)

We also bath here

Use that place after sea bath

Kovil premises

Thousands of wishes

Devotion

Doing “Yoga”

Inside of kovil

Praying for God

Front view of Selva Sanadhi kovil

Waiting for turn

While taking lunch

On the way after school

Walking to Periya Mandakam cave complex

Entrance for the cave

He struck there

Very safe place

Many of subways

Rural life

After that we went back across “Velvettithurai”. The destination was “Kudaththanai” and it’s beautiful beach side. It was a lonely village without urbanized. We walked along the sweet beach and the sun beams were disturbed for us as usually. Beach throughout this area had not sand and corals were spread instead of that. We could scene small canals which prepared by fishermen with removing corals to bring boats to the beach.

We came to “Kudaththanai” after a tired journey and the specialty of there is the huge sandy land and the sand dunes. You can see this clearly by checking Sri Lanka in Google map also. Fishery is the most famous in this area and trawling groups can be seen frequently. And also it possesses most beautiful beach. Besides of that the fishing of unofficial fishermen is making you amazing.

Name board

Alone street of Valvettithurai

Junction

Man made path

Simple life

Sandy area

Sand dune

Housing scheme of Tsunami in Kudaththanai

Name board

It’s not yet open

Many Steps

Reach to fishing village

He is busy with his job

White foaming

Dead fish

Trawling

Fruitless try

Freedom

Nice flying

Who are those fishermen…

I don’t like fish

Throw the net

Hard Life

We came back again after feeling the beautiful beach as our wish. Next destination was the “Vallipuram Kovil”. It is famous kovil made for the God “Vishnu” which is considered as the oldest fane in Jaffna. Festival of Vallipuram kovil is held August and September.

After that we visited Point pedro town and came to “Sakkottai” when dawn was coming. This place is very important according to the relief of the earth. So that this is define as the north corner of Sri Lanka. There is 432km from “Point Deuwndara” to here and it is the length of the Sri Lanka.

Wallipuram Kovil

Outwork

City of northern boundary

It’s near to end of the day

Yes it’s – Click Image to Enlarge

Northern margin of the Sri Lanka

Length of the country

It’s time to leave

Good Bye loving jaffna..!

With imagining sweet designs of the sun dawn, first part our long journey of Jaffna is finished with plenty of sweet memories. I offered my heartiest thank to my loving friends of Jaffna and my colleague to help me such a great experience.

Thanks for read my long report.

Happy & Safe Journey!!!