The Nallur Festival with Jetwing Jaffna

The city of Jaffna, while home to centuries’ worth of history and heritage, is also youthful in its stride into the future. As the foundation of Tamil tradition in Sri Lanka, a visit to the city exposes you to the colours and fervour of a culture that is vibrant and energetic. A casual walk through the quiet inroads has you treading the paths of the ancient kingdom of King Sankili, complete with palace ruins and royal bathing pools. Kovils painted in colours that span the spectrum of the rainbow can be found at every turn and the faithful gather at these sacred places for worship throughout the day.

Undoubtedly the most iconic of all these is the Nallur Kandaswamy kovil, a few kilometres from the centre of the Jaffna town. Its regal gold tower gleaming in the Northern sun yet its majestic interior providing respite – spiritual and physical – to followers of Hinduism who travel across the country to make their ‘puja’ here. Throughout the month of August, the kovil marks the annual Nallur festival, a month-long celebration of faith, tradition and community. Ceremonies and observances happen during this period and the highlight is the ‘Ther’ festival that sees the whole town come alive and come together to participate in these ancient rituals.

A collaboration of Jetwing Hotels and MBBL, Jetwing Jaffna is perfectly positioned to allow guests to meaningfully witness the festival and all the other wonders the region has to offer. The only luxurious 55 room city hotel in the peninsula, Jetwing Jaffna with their charismatic associates promises to bestow its guests with royal comforts in par with the city’s rich culture. The restaurant boasts of serving the best local food, and the rooftop bar accounts for the perfect whine down therapy with the panoramic view of the city and breathtaking sunset.

The prevailing climate allows for largely unrestricted travel across the peninsula. Take an excursion away from the bustling town to the picturesque island of Karainagar and watch the sun set over Casuarina beach. Visit the northernmost shore of Sri Lanka and, aside from the uninterrupted ocean view, take in the historical sites that dot the coastline. 

Travel around the Jaffna is incomplete without indulging in the best of the region’s cuisine – heady scents and rich flavours that leave you satiated yet wanting more. Jaffna crab curry, known and loved the world over, is a dish full of spicy depth, drawing on the best seafood and aromatics that the region has to offer. A walk through the streets of the town introduce you to some of the best street fare around – piping hot ‘vadais’ being fried in a small cart, decadent ‘thosais’ filled with potato or drizzled with ghee plus sugary treats to finish the meal. All of this, a mere minutes’ walk away from the front doors of Jetwing Jaffna.

Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 43 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectation at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand. Such a strong statement and direction have enabled Jetwing Hotels to imagine, create and manage marvels and masterpieces, where distinctive design and elegant comfort complement each other and the environment. In line with the Jetwing Hotels Sustainable Strategy, across all properties sustainable and responsible practices are given precedence with resource efficiency, community upliftment and education, and awareness being some of our key focus areas.