Things to do in Jaffna

A long, shallow white-sand beach on Karainagar island, one of the best and calmest swimming beaches in the north.

A remote coral-and-baobab island famous for its herds of wild ponies descended from colonial-era horses.

A vast star-shaped Dutch fort beside the lagoon, the second-largest fortress in Sri Lanka and a focus of the city's history.

A gleaming white colonial-style library, one of Jaffna's proudest landmarks and a powerful symbol of Tamil cultural resilience.

A natural mineral-water bathing spring beside the sea, believed to have healing powers, next to the ancient Naguleswaram temple.

A revered Buddhist temple on Nainativu island, one of the sacred sites believed to have been visited by the Buddha.

A towering Hindu temple on Nainativu island dedicated to the goddess Parvati, ranked among the sacred Shakti Peethas.

Jaffna's most important Hindu temple, a golden, five-tiered Dravidian gopuram complex dedicated to the war god Murugan.

The northernmost tip of Sri Lanka, a quiet fishing town with a lighthouse, palmyrah-lined coast and windswept beaches.