Jaffna & the North - Sri Lanka - page 630

Point Pedro & Around
From VVT, the coast road curves east to Point Pedro. This area was devastated by the
2004 tsunami; locals say fishing boats were found 1km inland. The shoreline is beautiful,
with a narrow white-sand beach and a coral reef offshore - the sea is too shallow for good
swimming however. You'll pass a succession of tiny fishing hamlets, where large rays,
sharks as well as snapper and barracuda are harvested from the ocean, their flesh sun-dried
in neat rows by the road.
Ramshackle Point Pedro is the Jaffna peninsula's second town; it has a few faint hints
of a lingering colonial style and was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami. It's still a very poor set-
tlement and you'll struggle to find anywhere to eat. From Point Pedro bus station walk
100m south and then east, passing a curious stone tollgate that locals claim dates from the
Dutch era. Some 500m beyond, turn left towards the sea up St Anthony's Lane and past
the town's two finest churches . The coast road continues 1km east to Point Pedro Light-
house ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) (off limits; no photos), beyond which the fishermen's beach
becomes wider. The nicest area of Munai Beach is nearly 2km further on, as are some at-
tractive views of Vadamaraadchi Lagoon. Three-wheelers from central Point Pedro charge
Rs 200 one-way to Munai Beach.
Further southeast is the much-revered Valipura Kovil ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) , 5km from
central Point Pedro. Its gopuram is painted in an unusually restrained colour palette and
the temple interior has some very pretty Krishnas. It's famous for the boisterous, recently
revived water-cutting festival in October, which attracts thousands of pilgrims. Puja is at
7am, 9.30am, noon, 4.15pm and, on Sunday, 6pm.
To Elephant Pass and the Northeast Shore
A wonderful day trip from Jaffna on a motorbike (or hired car/three-wheeler), this trip
takes in a famous battle site and some spectacular coastal scenery. Don't stray from roads
and marked tracks as this region was fought over for many years.
Some 52km southeast of Jaffna via the fast, smooth A9 highway is Elephant Pass , a
narrow causeway that connects Jaffna peninsula to the rest of the island. You'll pass war
reminders along the entire route, with bombed buildings and (marked) minefields lining
the highway.