Jaffna

Jaffna (Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணம், Yāḻppāṇam) stands as Sri Lanka's premier Tamil cultural center, with documented history reaching back to the 5th century CE when it was part of the ancient Naga Nadu chiefdom. Established as a colonial city in 1621 CE by Portuguese administrator Filipe de Oliveira, Jaffna served as capital of the independent Jaffna Kingdom from the 13th to 17th centuries, with Nallur as its royal seat. The city experienced successive colonial periods under Portuguese (1619-1658), Dutch (1658-1795), and British (1795-1948) rule, each leaving distinctive architectural and cultural imprints. Today's Jaffna showcases this remarkable layered heritage through its magnificent Hindu temples, colonial fortifications, and vibrant Tamil traditions that have flourished for over 1,000 years. The region's limestone geography, formed during the Miocene period when submerged under sea, creates unique agricultural conditions supporting palmyra groves and distinctive local industries. Jaffna's resilient cultural identity, preserved through centuries of change, offers visitors an authentic experience of Sri Lankan Tamil civilization alongside colonial architectural treasures and access to historically significant offshore islands.