Trip Planner : Asia / Sri Lanka / Northern Province

Northern Province

3.6

Sacred & Religious Sites Historic Sites Landmarks

With both tropical forest and a long coastline dotted with lagoons, the Northern Province has yet to fully tap into its tourism potential. Much of the 25-year civil war played out here, and it still feels a world apart from the rest of Sri Lanka as it catches up. Today, a trip to the Northern Province reveals a string of ancient Buddhist temples with pointed stupas, unexplored beaches, offshore islands, saltpans, and mangrove forests. Proximity to South India has left elaborate Hindu shrines with impressive gopurams, and other off-beat attractions include up-and-coming towns with Muslim, Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Sinhalese influence. Wildlife sanctuaries protect leopards and offer excellent bird-watching opportunities, and you can spend the bulk of your Northern Province holiday simply sitting on the beach under casuarina trees, snacking on the famous Jaffna mangoes. Plan how to spend your time in Northern Province and other destinations in Sri Lanka using our Sri Lanka driving holiday planner.

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Top Northern Province tours

8 Days - Ramayana Tour & exploring trails where Ramayana took place in Sri Lanka BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $566

Duration: 8 days

Buy tours from $566

NORTH OF PENINSULA TOUR (FULL DAY EXCURSION) (Private Day Trip From Jaffna) BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $88

Duration: 1 day

Buy tours from $88

DELFT AND NAGADEEPA ISLANDS-Private day trip from Jaffna BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $90

Duration: 8 to 10 hours

Buy tours from $90

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Popular things to do in Northern Province

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Nallur Kovil

Jaffna

4.5

Duration: 2h 30 min

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna

2.8

Duration: 2h 30 min

Nagadipa Purana Vihara

Jaffna

4.1

Duration: 2h 30 min

Neduntheevu (Delft Island)

Jaffna

3.9

Duration: 4 hours

Hidden gems in Northern Province

Dambakola Patuna Sangamitta Temple

Jaffna

4.7

Duration: 2h 30 min

Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu

Mannar

4.3

Duration: 4 hours

Kayts Causeway

Jaffna

4.5

Duration: 2h 30 min

Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya

Mannar

4.6

Duration: 2h 30 min

Historic Sites in Northern Province

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Naga Pooshani Ambal Kovil

Jaffna

4.6

Duration: 2h 30 min

Kantharodai Viharaya

Jaffna

4.2

Duration: 2h 30 min

Karainagar Sivan Temple

Karainagar

4.5

Duration: 1h 30 min

Naguleswaram Temple

Jaffna

3.9

Duration: 2h 30 min

Kid-friendly things to do in Northern Province

Casuarina Beach

Jaffna

3.5

Duration: 2h 30 min

Kovalam Beach

Karainagar

4.3

Duration: 30 minutes

Manalkadu Beach

Jaffna

4.0

Duration: 2h 30 min

Kankesanthurai Beach

Jaffna

4.0

Duration: 2h 30 min

Nature in Northern Province

Mannar Island

Mannar

3.8

Duration: 4 hours

Nilavarai Bottomless Well

Jaffna

1.0

Duration: 2h 30 min

Katchatheevu Island

Jaffna

4.0

Duration: 2h 30 min

Yodha Wewa

Mannar

3.7

Duration: 30 minutes

Parks in Northern Province

Lake View Park

Tanniyutttu

4.5

Duration: 2h 30 min

Donkey Clinic and Education Center

Mannar

4.3

Duration: 2h 30 min

Kokkilai Sanctuary

Mullaitivu District

4.2

Duration: 2h 30 min

Mannar Bird Sanctuary

Mannar

4.0

Duration: 2h 30 min

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