sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

Jaffna & the

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sacred Buddha tooth relic from Mullaittivu to
Anuradhapura during the 4th-century reign
of King Mahsen.

Kandasamy Kovil HINDu
(Kandasamy Kovil rd) This photogenic Muru-
gan (Skanda) temple has a very ornate,
if faded, gopuram (gateway tower) and a
gold-clad image in its sanctum.

Grand Jummah Mosque M osQue
(Horowapatana rd) A grand mosque awash in
aqua tiling, with shiny gold onion domes.

4 leeping & EatingS

Hotel Nelly Star HoTel $
(%222 4477; http://www.nellystarhotel.com; 84 2nd Cross
st; r with fan/air con from Rs 2000/2800, VIP r Rs
3950; aWs) The Nelly Star has a somewhat
bizarre colour scheme and an ungainly ap-
pearance, but its wide choice of rooms offer
decent value. We didn’t spot any celebs in the
‘VIP’ options, but they’re extremely spacious,
each with two double beds. Eating and drink-
ing choices are excellent: a poolside cafe for
snacks, a formal restaurant (mains Rs 220-
600) and a well-stocked bar.

Hotel Swarkka guesTHouse $
(%222 1090; s oosapillaiyarkulam rd; s/d/
tr with fan rs 1750/2250/2750, with air-con rs
2250/2750/3000; a) If you’re on an econo-
my drive, this dated hotel might suffice for a
night. Rooms, with TV and mossie nets, are
spacious but ageing. On the plus side the fam-
ily owners are very welcoming and there’s a
restaurant at the front for meals (Rs 200-400).

Neethan’s Hotel sr I lANKAN $
(45 Kandy rd; meals rs 180-280) Just south of the
clock tower and very handy for the bus ter-
minals, this busy little place is a top spot for
lunchtime rice and curry.

Ryana Restaurant sr I lANKAN $

(47/8 Kandasamy Kovil rd; meals rs 150-270) A

bustling, ever-popular little eatery famed for

its spicy kotthu (rotti chopped up and mixed

with vegies). Staff are friendly.

Royal Garden Restaurant I nDIan, PIZZeRIa $

(%492 2677; 200 Horowapatana rd; meals rs 180-

550; h10.30am-10pm) This large restaurant

looks impersonal from the street (thanks

to its huge wedding hall) but persevere and

you’ll find a rear dining area that’s unex-

pectedly intimate, with tables set in alcoves

around a little garden. The menu covers

all bases with delicious Indian dishes, and

decent Chinese and pizza, though no booze is

served. Call for a delivery.

8 Information

Vavuniya is full of transient characters, and the

streets get very quiet after dark. solo women

should exercise caution when going out at night.

Banks with ATMs include Pan Asia Bank (2nd

Cross st).

Post Office (Kandy rd; h8am-8pm Mon-sat)

SeeNet (395/1 Horowapatana rd; internet per

hr rs 50; h8.30am-8pm Mon-sat) reliable

internet access is available here.

8 Getting There & Away

t e highway to Jaffna is now in excellent condih -

tion. you may be asked to present your passport

at army checkpoints but there are no other

security concerns.

Many of Vavuniya’s three-wheelers are

equipped with meters, so prices for short hops

around town are very reasonable.

BUSES

Vavuniya’s Central Tourist Board (CTB) bus sta-

tion is by the clock tower. less organised private

buses, with similar fares, line 2nd Cross st.

Anuradhapura rs 76, one hour, every 20

minutes

Colombo CTB/private ‘semi-luxury’ rs

270/390, seven hours, every 30 minutes

Jaffna rs 164, four hours, every 30 minutes

Kandy rs 191, five hours, 12 daily

Mannar rs 114, 2½ hours, hourly

Trincomalee rs 138, 3½ hours, hourly

TRAINS

Call or visit Vavuniya’s railway booking office

(%222 2271; h7-10am & 4-5pm) for current

services. At the time of research, the railway

north to Jaffna was terminating at Pallai, 30km

before Jaffna, but trains should be running all

the way to Jaffna by the time you read this. Sim-

ilarly, a branch line under construction from the

Vavuniya

æ Sights

1 Archaeological Museum......................C1

2 Grand Jummah Mosque ......................C2

3 Kandasamy Kovil..................................B2

4 Kudiyiruppu Pillaiyar Kovil ...................C1

ÿ Sleeping

5 Hotel Nelly Star.....................................C 3

6 Hotel Swarkka.......................................C3

ú Eating

7 Neethan's Hotel....................................B3

8 Royal Garden Restaurant....................C2

9 Ryana Restaurant.................................C 3