Vaddu Vakal Bridge

Jaffna & the North


This single-lane concrete veteran still bears war scars. When the fish are running, the sides are lined with people casting nets; it's one of the few times you'll see a crowd in the region. The lagoon is normally placid and a bird haven.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Jaffna & the North attractions

1. Mullaittivu Beach

1.69 MILES

The beach at Mullaittivu is long, white and beautiful. It's undeveloped, although there is some construction in the town, as stores are being built. There…

2. Sea Tiger Shipyard

4.04 MILES

The LTTE navy was a guerrilla force that operated for decades, often organising suicide attacks on government ships and ports. This site is where…

3. Shelling Zone

4.56 MILES

A small dirt road near the Sea Tiger Shipyard runs northwest and is back from the beach. Go about 1km from the A35 and stop near a military base entrance…

4. Monument of Victory

5.62 MILES

Set amid a marsh, a huge gold-coloured torso of a soldier juts up from the ground. It's bombastic to say the least; nearby a small building houses map…

5. Fallen Water Tower

27.78 MILES

Right near the centre of town, an enormous concrete water tower lies on its side where it was toppled in the final days of the war in 2008. The sheer size…