Keerimalai Springs
Freshwater bathing pools on the northern Jaffna coast, fed by springs that rise right beside the sea.
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At Keerimalai fresh water rises through the limestone right at the shoreline and is caught in walled pools beside the sea, so that bathers sit in fresh water with salt water breaking a few metres away. The springs have a long reputation for healing and are tied to a story about a princess whose face was cured here. There are separate pools for men and women, and the Naguleswaram Shiva temple, one of the oldest in the region, stands just inland.
What you actually see
- The spring pools - fresh water rising and pooled directly beside the sea.
- The separate bathing - divided pools for men and women.
- Naguleswaram temple - an ancient Shiva temple a short walk inland.
- The coast - the northern Jaffna shore with the pools built into it.
When to go
December to March is the most comfortable. Mornings are quietest. Festival days at the temple bring crowds to the pools.
Honest expectations
The pools are basic with minimal changing facilities. Dress conventions are conservative and should be respected. The site is busy on temple festival days.
Nearby
Kandarodai is south, and Jaffna town is southeast.
What to pack for Keerimalai Springs
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.