Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
27
Future World
C3
28
Jaffna Market
B3
29
Ms Ruby Sorupan
E2
Transport
30
CTB Bus Stand
B3
31
Minibus Stand
B3
32
Private Bus Stand
B3
34
VT Express
B3
Jaffna is dotted with Hindu temples, easily identified by their red-and-white-striped walls,
ranging from tiny shrines to sprawling complexes featuring
mandapaya
(raised platforms
with decorated pillars), ornate ponds and towering
gopuram
.
The city also has an abundance of churches, many located on shady streets east of the
centre. Commercial activity is crammed into the colourful hurly-burly of Hospital, Kastur-
iya and Kankesanturai (KKS) Rds.
If you can get your hands on some wheels, Jaffna is perfect for bicycle rides.
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil
HINDU
This huge Hindu temple, crowned by a towering god-encrusted, golden-ochre
gopuram,
is
one of the most significant Hindu religious complexes in Sri Lanka. Its sacred deity is
Murugan (or Skanda), and at cacophonic
puja
- at 5am, 10am, noon, 4.15pm (small
puja
),
4.30pm ('special'
puja
), 5pm and 6.45pm - offerings are made to his brass-framed image
and other Hindu deities like Ganesh, in shrines surrounding the inner sanctum. It's about
1.5km northeast of the centre.
The kovil's current structure dates from 1734, and its huge compound shelters decorat-
ive brasswork, larger-than-life murals, pillared halls and a colonnaded, stepped holy pool.
