Delft Island

Delft, called Neduntheevu in Tamil, lies about ten kilometres off the Jaffna peninsula, a flat coral island of some fifty square kilometres where the fields are divided by walls built from coral blocks because there is no other stone. A herd of ponies runs wild across it, descended from animals the Dutch kept, and a baobab stands near the centre. There is a ruined Dutch fort, a coral-built dovecote and a growing stone that islanders venerate.

What you actually see

• The wild ponies - a feral herd descended from Dutch-era stock.
• The coral walls - field boundaries built from coral blocks across the island.
• The Dutch fort - a ruined coral-stone fort near the landing.
• The baobab - an old African tree near the centre of the island.

When to go

December to March is the most comfortable. Ferries are limited, free and heavily oversubscribed, so an early start matters. Summer is severely hot with no shade.

Honest expectations

The ferry is free but places are limited and queues start early; getting stuck overnight is possible. There is almost no shade and no facilities. Transport on the island is a shared van and must be arranged on arrival.

Nearby

Nagadeepa is on the ferry route, and Jaffna is northeast.