Jaffna, in Sri Lanka’s far north, offers an insight into the country’s Tamil culture.

For several decades, Jaffna and its surrounding regions were at the centre of Sri Lanka’s civil war between the Tamil north and Sinhalese south. Today, Jaffna is a strikingly cosmopolitan city emerging from its troubled past.

There aren’t lots of specific tourist sites here, but it is still an interesting place to visit, baring the scars of the civil war. The public library, clock tower and the Jaffna fort are all worth visiting, with a number of religious sites such as St Mary’s Cathedral.

There are trains and buses from Colombo, with buses or cars to travel locally as well as hiring bicycles from guest houses.

Sri Lanka undiscovered

An essential guide to seeing Sri Lanka's non-touristy side

From ancient ruins to a vibrant and welcoming contemporary culture; from lazy afternoons on glorious beaches, to hikes through the rolling hills of tea country and wild elephant spotting in untouched national parks; Sri Lanka is a destination that truly has it all. Despite having its hard-won stability rocked by occasional political disputes, Sri Lanka's tourism infrastructure is developing in leaps and bounds. Hospitality is warm and abundant, transport is convenient, and accommodation – particularly in the independent boutique sector – is world-class...read more