Obviously, if you are traveling to Jaffna in Sri Lanka’s north, you would include sightseeing on your agenda. However, if your time is precious and you want to experience the best of the city in a short amount of time, you will definitely require support in organizing your travels.
That is why a stay at The Thinnai is a worthwhile opportunity in every sense of the word. This is a new, All Suite Boutique Hotel in Jaffna that caters to local and foreign travelers alike, with the intent of offering guests, an amalgamation of rest, relaxation and the chance to reunite with family and friends.
There are many places to visit and grab a great snapshot in Jaffna, so selecting the venues to visit may be a bit daunting. That’s where The Thinnai comes in. The hotel has a variety of Excursion packages that can solve your conundrum. For example, a person who is visiting Jaffna on business and has very little time to spare for sightseeing can opt to take the Half Day City Tour priced at a very affordable 15 US Dollars per person. The excursion includes a visit to the Jaffna Library, the Naga Viharaya (an ancient temple where the first sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya that arrived in Sri Lanka is planted), the famous Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil (the oldest Hindu temple in Jaffna), a visit to the Sangiliyan Thoppu (the site of the palace of the last king of Jaffna) and shopping at the Jaffna City and Market.
If you have a little more time you can take the One-Day Excursion to Naga Deepa and the Jaffna City. This includes a lovely boat ride to the Nagadeepa and Nainathivu Hindu Kovil, which is located off the coast of Jaffna. The tour costs 30 US Dollars per person.
At the same cost you can opt to take the Keerimalai and Dambakolapatuna Tour. This too, is a day tour that comprises visits to the Keerimalai Holy Pond, Dabakolapatuna- an ancient Jaffna port, the Naguleshwaram Kovil, the Maviddapuram Kovil, the Anjaneyar Kovil and the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, with the added entertainment of a trip to Casuarina Beach where a sea bath is on the cards.
Alternatively, try the one-day Jaffna City and Velanai Tour at 20 US Dollars per person. If you love the rustic life, this is the tour for you- Velanai is a small village in an island off the coast of Jaffna. There are a number of temples and churches to be seen in the village, which is of archeological significance as it holds evidence of a well-organized ancient civilization. The trip also takes you to the popular Chaaty Beach in Jaffna for a dip in the sea, among other interesting visits such as shopping in the City and a visit to the Jaffna Fort.
At 35 US Dollars per person, the excursion to Delft Island, Kayts and Karainagar is also enjoyable. Delft and Kayts are small islands off the coast of Jaffna, and the boat rides to the islands are absolutely breathtaking. The excursion also takes you for lunch at the much sought-after Fort Hammenhiel and a visit to a kovil.
All this is great, but if you have ample time to spend in Jaffna, then by all means, the three-day tour of Jaffna is what you should sign up for. This includes your pick-up from and drop off back in Colombo and covers all the major sights of Jaffna from the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil to a visit to Naga Deepa off the coast of Jaffna and much more. Do also make time for the One-Day Tour of Anuradhapura (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) about 197 km from Jaffna. This is an ancient Kingdom of Sri Lanka and has much historic value with the tour covering some major sights such as the ruins of ancient temples and many others. This tour is priced at 100 US Dollars per person.
The Thinnai has it all covered, so check in there and really experience Jaffna in every possible way. It’s a holiday you will not regret…..