We’ve seen so many of the world’s wonders. And yet we can’t help feeling a special thrill of excitement about Jaffna and the North of Sri Lanka. Jaffna was completely off limits until 2009 when Sri Lanka’s tragic civil war finally ended. It has only very recently been fully opened up and tourists remain few and far between. And that’s what helps make it special.
Emerging at last from 20 years of isolation, Jaffna is an absorbing concoction of colonial charm and vibrant Tamil culture, while the Jaffna Peninsula – connected to the rest of Sri Lanka by a narrow strip of road at Elephant Pass – and surrounding islands offer remote temples, beaches and more offbeat attractions.