Jaffna and The North, Sri Lanka

Jaffna Islands

A scattered chain of islands off Sri Lanka’s northern tip, some reached by causeway, others only by boat, together forming one of the country’s most distinctive and least-visited travel experiences.

🏖 Kayts, Punkudutivu, Karaitivu, Nainativu, Delft ⚓ Causeways link Kayts and Karaitivu; ferries serve the rest 🐘 Delft’s wild horses, Nainativu’s dual pilgrimage 🏠 Colonial forts including Hammenhiel

Few destinations anywhere in Sri Lanka offer quite the same sense of gradually leaving the mainland behind as the Jaffna Islands, a scattered chain reached first by causeway, then increasingly by boat, each island holding its own distinct character within the same shared archipelago.

Quick Facts

Core islands	Kayts, Punkudutivu, Karaitivu, Nainativu, Delft
Access	Causeways connect Kayts and Karaitivu to the mainland; ferries serve Nainativu, Delft and smaller islands
Key departure point	Kurikadduwan Jetty on Punkudutivu
Notable sights	Fort Hammenhiel (Karaitivu), wild horses (Delft), Nagapooshani Amman Kovil and Nagadeepa Vihara (Nainativu)
Civil war impact	Heavily militarised and restricted for years, reopened to visitors since 2009
Best beach	Casuarina Beach, Karaitivu

Commonly searched as: Jaffna Islands · Jaffna Islands travel guide · Kayts Karaitivu Nainativu Delft · Jaffna archipelago · things to do in Jaffna Islands

An Archipelago Rebuilding Its Place on the Map

The Jaffna Islands sit scattered across the Palk Bay off Sri Lanka’s northern tip, a cluster including Kayts, Punkudutivu, Karaitivu, Nainativu and Delft, each with its own distinct fishing communities, colonial remnants, and natural character. Like much of the wider Jaffna region, these islands were heavily militarised and largely inaccessible to ordinary travellers during Sri Lanka’s civil war, and have only substantially reopened and begun reclaiming their place on the country’s travel map since the conflict ended in 2009.

Getting around the archipelago involves a genuine mix of transport, road causeways connect Kayts and Karaitivu directly to the Jaffna mainland, making them straightforward day-trip destinations, while reaching Nainativu, Delft and the smaller, less-visited islands of Analaitivu and Eluvaitivu requires a boat, typically departing from Kurikadduwan Jetty on Punkudutivu, with services managed by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Each Island’s Own Distinct Draw

Kayts, the largest of the group, carries a genuinely evocative name, derived from a Portuguese phrase referencing the island’s former role exporting elephants to India, alongside modest, largely forgotten fort ruins. Karaitivu pairs Jaffna’s best swimming beach, Casuarina Beach, with Fort Hammenhiel, a colonial-era fortress now operating as a Navy-run boutique hotel. Nainativu offers one of Sri Lanka’s more remarkable pilgrimage experiences, a major Hindu Shakti Peetha and one of Buddhism’s holiest local shrines sitting peacefully within a few hundred metres of one another. And Delft, the most remote of the accessible islands, holds wild horses descended from Dutch colonial stock, coral-built ruins, and a windswept, desolate atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka.

Planning an Island-Hopping Day

A full day covering Kayts, Punkudutivu and either Nainativu or Delft is genuinely achievable for well-organised travellers, though checking current ferry schedules in advance is essential given the Navy’s role in managing boat services to the more remote islands.

For travellers with more time, spreading the islands across two days rather than rushing through in one allows for a genuinely more relaxed pace, particularly if an overnight stay at Fort Hammenhiel or a longer, unhurried visit to Delft’s wild horses and coral ruins is part of the plan.

Visiting Tips

Start early if planning to cover multiple islands in a single day, given the combination of road and boat travel involved.
Check current ferry schedules for Kurikadduwan Jetty before setting out toward Nainativu or Delft.
Bring your own food and water for the more remote islands, where facilities remain genuinely limited.
Consider an overnight stay at Fort Hammenhiel on Karaitivu for a genuinely memorable island experience.

Where It Sits on the Map

Jaffna Islands, Northern Province Open in Google Maps ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Jaffna Islands are reachable by road?

Kayts and Karaitivu, both connected to the mainland by causeway; Nainativu, Delft and smaller islands require a boat.

Where do boats to the more remote islands depart from?

Kurikadduwan Jetty on Punkudutivu island, with services managed by the Sri Lankan Navy.

What is each island best known for?

Kayts for its elephant-trade history and fort ruins, Karaitivu for Casuarina Beach and Fort Hammenhiel, Nainativu for its dual Hindu-Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and Delft for its wild horses and coral ruins.

Were the Jaffna Islands always open to visitors?

No, they were heavily militarised and largely inaccessible during Sri Lanka’s civil war, reopening to travellers substantially since the conflict ended in 2009.

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