Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jaffna & the North
Why Go?
With towering, rainbow Hindu temples, sari-clad women on bicycles and a spectacular
coastline fringed with palmyra and coconut palms, the North is a different world. Here the
climate is arid for most of the year and the fields sun-baked. The light is stronger: surreal
and white-hot on salt flats in the Vanni, bright and lucid on coral islands and northern
beaches, and soft and speckled in Jaffna's leafy suburbs and its battle-scarred centre.
And, of course, there are the cultural differences. From the language to the cuisine to re-
ligion, Tamil culture has its own rhythms, and people here are proud of their heritage.
Inevitably, given that this region was a war zone until very recently, there's still a notice-
able military presence. But the ambience is far more relaxed than you'd expect, as locals
focus on healing, rebuilding and reviving the rich traditions of northern life.
