Nagadeepa
A small island off Jaffna holding both a Buddhist vihara said to mark a visit by the Buddha and a major Hindu kovil.
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Nagadeepa, or Nainativu, is a small island off the Jaffna peninsula that holds two important sites a few hundred metres apart: the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya, one of sixteen places in Sri Lanka held to have been visited by the Buddha, who by tradition came here to settle a dispute between two Naga kings, and the Nagapooshani Amman Kovil, one of the principal Shakti temples, whose annual festival draws very large numbers. Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims share the same small island.
What you actually see
- The Buddhist vihara - one of the sixteen sites associated with a visit by the Buddha.
- The Amman kovil - a major Shakti temple with a tall painted gopuram.
- The shared island - two traditions with their sites a few hundred metres apart.
- The ferry crossing - a short run across shallow water from Punkudutivu.
When to go
December to March is the most comfortable. The kovil festival, usually in June and July, brings enormous crowds. Ferries run through the day and are crowded at weekends.
Honest expectations
Both sites are active places of worship, with dress rules and expectations about behaviour. The ferry is small and crowded. There are few facilities on the island.
Nearby
Delft is further out on the same ferry route, and Jaffna is northeast.
What to pack for Nagadeepa
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.
