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

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Hindu Congress, and the Naguleswaram tem-

ple has reopened, along with a new madham

for pilgrims. Work is ongoing to revive the

complex further, and ensure Naguleswaram

and its sacred spring is once again a place of

pilgrimage and prayer.

Legend has it that the sacred Keerimalai

spring became famous after the 7th-century

visit by a Chola princess: not only was her

digestive disorder instantly healed when she

bathed in the waters and prayed to Muru-

gan, but so was her facial deformity, which,

according to one source, had the ‘likeness of

a horse’s head’. Even if your face doesn’t look

like a horse, the spring is a beautiful little

spot: the men’s side has a picturesque stepped

pool of bright aquamarine water set against

the sea, while the women have a smaller pool

nearby surrounded by tall walls (for the best,

really). The waters are supposed to be healing,

and there are changing rooms on-site; wom-

en should bathe in something modest. Jaffna

buses/minibuses are Rs 30 to the spring, or

get a three-wheeler from the Tellippalai bus

stand for Rs 350/600 one way/round trip.

If you’re heading east after Keerimalai

you’ll have to first return south along the

AB16 highway to Chunnakam before you

can cut across via Puttur towards Valvettitu-

rai and Point Pedro. You’ll pass the excellent,

old-fashioned Sri Murugan Café (Vakaiadi; rice

& curry rs 180; h5am-9pm) for rice and curry

3km west of Puttur.

For a more scenic drive, consider heading

west along the newly upgraded coastal road

from Keerimalai spring, which hugs a palm-

fringed shoreline. There are no real sights

this way, but the scenery is sublime, with a

sparkling ocean offshore. Inevitably there are

also plenty of reminders of the war, including

bombed churches and battle-ravaged build-

ings. The navy now occupies a lot of the coast-

al land in these parts, and is busy developing

a couple of hotels for tourism. At the tiny

settlement of Ponnalai, 16km from Keerima-

lai, you’ll reach the causeway for the island of

Karainagar.

Valvettiturai

On the way to Valvettiturai (VVT) is the

charming, waterfront Selvachannithy

Murugan Kovil (also known as Sella San-

nathy Kovil) in Thondaimanaru. Like so

many places on the peninsula it was severe-

ly damaged during the war, but today the

important Murugan temple is a scenic stop,

with a lively puja.

The gorgeous coast road leads east to

VVT, once a rich smuggling town but now

most famous as the birthplace of LTTE lead-

er Vellupillai Prabhakaran. Known for his

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Hammenhiel Fort

Ferry

High Security

Zone

Jaffna

Lagoon

Palk Strait

Eluvaitivu

Analaitivu

Nainativu

(Nagadipa)

Karaitivu

Puliyantivu

Mandaitivu

Punkudutivu

Velanai

Chaatty

Beach

Munai

Beach

Casuarina

Beach

Ayanar

Kovil

Palali Airport

Punkudutivu

Karampan

Kayts

Suruvil Velanai

Pooneryn

Point Pedro

Kodikamam

Valvettiturai

(VVT)

Nelliady

Kankesanturai

(KKS)

Tellippalai

Avarangal

Manipay Chunnakam Puttur

Vaddukkodai

Karainagar

Kurikadduwan (KKD)

Chavakachcheri

Jaffna

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Jaffna Peninsula e#^0105 mile0ksm

D

Neduntivu

(4km)