The best time
to visit Jaffna.

Best time: January to September.

Weather: Hot 28–34°C; very dry, salt-bleached light.

Jaffna is the heart of the Tamil north — palm-flat, sun-bleached, with a fortified Dutch fort, ornate Hindu temples, a coastal island chain reached by causeway and a remarkable food culture. It is the most different place in Sri Lanka, and the most rewarding for thoughtful travellers.

• · Dress modestly for the temples — remove shoes and shirt in some.
• · Allow time — the island roads are slow and beautiful.
• · Jaffna food is hotter and more pepper-forward than the south; ask for medium spice.