Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Marvelling at the spectacular seascapes and surreal light while exploring
2
Slipping into a trance during
puja
(prayers) at Jaffna's
Nallur Kandaswamy
cigars
3
Observing the war's destruction of homes, temples and communities and
appreciating the strength of its survivors
4
Discovering ancient baobab trees, a historic fort and remote bays at
Man-
5
Riding along coastal roads in the
Jaffna peninsula
,
fringed by fishing
boats, calm seas and quiet beaches
6
Learning about Hindu traditions at
Maviddapuram Kanthaswamy Kovil
,
History
The North has always existed a bit apart from the rest of the island; even under colonial re-
gimes the region remained highly autonomous. Jaffna, especially, has always been an im-
portant city, and one of the defining moments on the path to war came in 1981 when a
group of Sinhalese burnt down Jaffna's library, seen as a violent affront to the Tamils' long
and rich intellectual tradition.
The war began two years later, and Jaffna continued to be a hotspot for violence. For
two decades the North was synonymous with death and destruction as the Liberation Ti-
gers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan military contested control. With the war's
ending on the shores of Mullaittivu in 2009, a sense of calm and stability is at last return-
ing to the North, though there is still much rebuilding to be done, both in terms of infra-
structure and community relations.
Climate
The North is made up of two distinct areas: the low-lying Jaffna peninsula and its islands,
and the vast Vanni, a flat scrubby area. The region is extremely dry most of the year, ex-
cept after the October to January northeastern monsoon, when the green erupts.
