The Northern Province is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Eastern Province to form the North Eastern Province. The capital of the province is Jaffna. The majority of the Sri Lankan Civil War was played out in this province.

Jaffna

Jaffna, port, northern Sri Lanka. It is situated on a flat, dry peninsula at the island’s northern tip. The trading centre for the agricultural produce of the peninsula and nearby islands, it is linked with the rest of the country by road and a railway. Jaffna is no longer a major port but conducts some trade with southern India. Fishing is important in the economy.Jaffna is the cultural town of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. Jaffna District, the northernmost region of the Island of Sri Lanka, is one of the oldest habitation sites in Lower South Asia, populated by Tamil speaking people. Jaffna is situated within ten degrees of latitude to the north of the equator. It is in close proximity to the sub-continent of India and separated from it by the Palk Strait and the Bay of Bengal. Visit Nallur Kandaswamy Temple A bustling and beautiful temple which is worth a look. Note that you must be barefoot to walk the temple grounds and men will need to remove their shirts to enter the temple. Free entry. Visit Nainativu island Arguably one of the most visited of Jaffna’s islands, Nainativu, or Nagadeepa as it is referred to in Sinhala, holds an important place in Buddhist and Hindu histories. Visit Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya worshipped as one of Sri Lanka’s holiest Buddhist sites where the Buddha was said to have once called upon two Naga kings in disagreement with each other. Visit Jaffna Fort Some nice views over the peninsula from the Fort. It's not the most incredible Fort in East Asia but is certainly worth a wander round, particularly on a clear day. Look out for the hordes of ravens circling. Free entry. Visit Casuarina beach Stretched across the northern perimeter of Karainagar, Casuarina Beach welcomes local and foreign holidaymakers for its wide expanse, shallow waters, and characteristic trees that lend the beach its name. The characteristic shrubbery serves as a compact coastal forest, serving as the ideal spot for some shade from the northern sun. The Karainagar Lighthouse is also located at the eastern tip of the beach, making this shoreline one of the most picturesque in the region. Visit Keerimalai sacred water spring.

Jaffna is top of the tourist trail when it comes to northern towns and it is also pretty much top of the map. However, as with most of Northern Sri Lanka, it is still very quiet. Jaffna was a LTTE stronghold during the civil war and many buildings were destroyed along with records of the town’s history. But you can feel the elegance that once was here, and which will no doubt be here again some day. One of the coups of its ongoing restoration is the library, now considered the hub of Tamil culture and academia. Colonised by Portuguese, Dutch and British, its impressive fort was built by the Portuguese in 1618 and then rebuilt by the Dutch in 1680. Taken over by the British it became a garrison in 1948 and you can visit buildings such as the Governor’s residence and Queen’s House there, although older findings are being made all the time as it is in constant archaeological upheaval. Modern day Jaffna boasts some gorgeous hotels, a proliferation of magnificent Hindu temples, parks and markets. And coast of course, as Jaffna is gateway to the paradise islands that lie in wait off its eponymous peninsula.

List of towns

Vavuniya
Chavakacheri
Mannar
Point Pedro
Valvettithurai