Northern Province trip planner

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 your vacation with our Sri Lanka driving holiday planner and discover the best things to do in Northern Province.