Northern Province

Sri Lanka’s Northern Province offers a distinctive blend of Tamil culture, historic sites, remote islands and undeveloped coastline. Jaffna is the region’s main cultural centre, while the wider province rewards travellers with temples, forts, local cuisine and quieter landscapes away from the island’s busiest tourist areas. Jaffna is the province’s main cultural centre, while Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya each offer different northern landscapes. Offshore islands, Hindu temples, lagoons, beaches, birding areas and historic sites make the province rewarding for travellers who want to explore beyond Sri Lanka’s most common tourist routes.