Jaffna, the capital city of the Northern Province and a firm bastion of Sri Lanka’s Hindu tradition, art and creative culture, is made up of beautiful lagoons, beaches and causeways from which travelers can sample a glimpse of a traditional way of life. Visit the ancient Dutch Fort and soak in the heritage of the city’s colonial past prized by both the Portuguese and Dutch. The Jaffna Library is closely associated with the island’s recent history, having once been among Asia’s largest libraries containing over 97,000 books and manuscripts and having tragically lost a vast majority of its literature in a fire in the early 80s during the early stages of Sri Lanka’s civil war. For a spiritual connection, visitors should not miss the evening Pooja at the Nallur Hindu temple and the Nagadeepa Buddhist Temple. The wild donkeys of Delft Island and the northern most point of the Sri Lanka at Point Pedro, transport you to a more remote island feel. Strolls through the Jaffna market place is always a colourful affair, a bike ride at sunset along the Kayts Causeway or a stop at the Kadurugoda Buddhist Temple with its numerous mini stone dagobas are among the must-dos. Jaffna is infamous for its fresh and supersized seafood, notably its infamous crab curries and local Palmyra toddy tapped direct from the tree. With the war over, Jaffna has taken shape to reclaim its status as among the most significant and beautiful locations in the North East of the island.