The nallur kandaswamy temple, standing in the town of nallur, jaffna is a very important hindu temple located in sri lanka. Nallur is also famous for being the historical capital of the old jaffna kingdom and birthplace of renowned. Beautifully built, it is a large spacious temple that is a mustsee when visiting jaffna. Exceptionally colorful and steeped in history, nallur kovil represents the largest complex of hindu temples in the country. 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. The nallur kandaswamy temple is a prestigious temple in jaffna, it is one of the. Nallur kovil jaffna places to visit in jaffna sri lanka walkers tours.
Nallur kandaswamy kovil map northern province, sri lanka. The kovil was destroyed in ad 1450 during the invasion by the sinhalese king shenpakaperumal sapumal. Nallur was the capital of the old jaffna kingdom where places of political, religious and cultural importance were built. Do you need to book in advance to visit nallur kovil. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and. Nallur kandaswamy kovil attractions in jaffna, sri lanka. According to contemporary history, the gautama buddha visited the site after five years of attaining. The annual nallur kovil festival attracts thousands of devotee not only sri lanka, but also from rest of the world. Jaffnas most notable sight is the large nallur kandaswamy temple, about 2km northeast of the town centre. Nallur kandaswamy kovil or nallur murugan kovil kovil meaning temple in tamil is one of the of the most significant hindu temples in the jaffna district of sri lanka. The book is a historical description of the christianmissionary challenge to the saivite. It has reigned over the land for centuries, attracting devotees from various walks of life. Most people traveled by ac buses and by ctb buses for their travelling in between jaffna town and colombo city. He was born in a tamil literary family, and became one of the jaffna tamils notable for reviving, reforming and reasserting the hindu shaivism tradition during the colonial era.
Nallur served as the capital of the jaffna kings, with the royal palace situated very close to the temple. Nallur kandaswamy kovil is a significant hindu temple, located in nallur, northern province. Nallur kandhaswamy kovil, main landmark of jaffna located 3km northeast of the town center, dedicated to the hindu god murugan was built in 1807 during the british occupation. Le nallur kandaswamy kovil est en effet magnifique et immense. The place of religious communities in jaffna since the ceasefire. Nallur kovil nallur kandaswamy kovil is located nearly 2 km away from the jaffna city center, by the jaffna point pedro road. Jaffna, at the very top of the island nation of sri lanka, is famous for the jaffna fort. If weve inspired you to travel with this story, why not check out the prices to get there and make it happen. Nallur sri valai amman temple is shakti temple located at nallur,northern province significance devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following. The nallur kandaswamy kovil stands in the town of nallur, and although the temple has shifted throughout the town during various times in jaffnas political history, the first temple is said to be. Jaffna town, streets, library, nallur kovil sri lanka.
Nallur is most famous for nallur kandaswamy temple, one of sri lankas most. Nallur festival with jetwing jaffna sri lanka travel blog. This is a feast for the senses while the faithful are praying and the chariot is being pulled through the temple grounds. Nallur sri valai amman temple hindu temple timings. The nallur festival in jaffna in august is the islands longest festival. The temple is located on the outskirts of jaffna and is. The jaffna peninsula is surrounded by many small islands and it is situated in the northern part of sri lanka.
This temple is considered as the most prominent hindu religious attraction in the jaffna peninsula. Nallur kovil experiences in jaffna srilankainstyle. Even jaffna tamils in other parts of the world observe this time. The annual nallur kovil festival attracts thousands of devotees and visitors. Nallur is also famous for being the historical capital of the old jaffna kingdom and birthplace of renowned philosopher and theologian, arumuka navalar. Nallur kandaswamy kovil festival jaffna 2020 all you. The nallur kandaswamy kovil, devoted to hindu god lord murugan, is one of the most sacred places of worship for the hindu community of sri lanka and is close to jaffna town centre. Nallur kovil jaffna should rank highly on your list of places to visit in sri lankas. This is the beauteous picture that we see as we gather for the grand annual festival in nallur. Adorned with a rich history that contributes significantly to the unique northern heritage of our island, the kovil also hosts the annual nallur festival during the. Explore jaffna holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Jaffna and around sri lanka travel guide rough guides. These include the old sankiliyan palace, arumuga navalar adheenam, chellappa swami samadhi and nallur kumaran temple to name a few.
Nallur templeits almost impossible to explain the art and culture of jaffna without mentioning sculpture and beauty of nallur temple that has more than 500 years history. Nallur kandaswamy kovil festival jaffna all you need. In the hot arid lands of nallur, in jaffna, rises the majestic hindu temple for skanda murugan the god of love, war and beauty. Map view of nallur kovil jaffna all properties for sale. As an assistant working for peter percival a methodist christian missionary, he helped translate the king james bible into the tamil language. Adaraneeya sri lanka loving sri lanka 32,307 views. Find nallur kovil jaffna real estate listings, property for salerent on sri lankas no. The temple itself embodies a kind of peace that can only be felt in the most divine of places. Visit nallur kovil on your trip to jaffna or sri lanka. The history of ceylon from the earliest period to the year. Nallur kandaswamy kovil is a significant hindu temple, located in nallur, northern province, sri lanka.
Nallur kandaswamy temple jaffna hindu temple, landmark. Gunrarasa of jaffna university in his book on the temple says that it was originally constructed in a piece of land called kurukal valavu in a. People in a hurry to visit jaffna or colombo had been asked to visit the railway station and look for seats that are cancelled. Nallur temple festival thrives in midst of sri lankas civil war. Valli at the nallur kantacuvami temple, giving a version of the kantapuranam that. This temple is dedicated to lord murugan son of lord shiva karthikeya who resides there in the form of the holy vel. Free download historic books of sri lanka ceylon pdf format. Socioreligious desegregation in an immediate postwar town. The annual nallur kovil festival is back at the nallur kandaswamy kovil, jaffna.
Hinduism it came across in jaffna and the saivite response to it, during the. Many consider jaffnas most famous landmark to be the nallur kovil, so much so that the city is synonymous with the name of the hindu temple. This grand and golden kovil was originally founded in 948 ad and the current building is the fourth construction that dates back to 1734. Nallur festival sri lanka tourism development authority. Undoubtedly the most iconic of all these is the nallur kandaswamy kovil, a few kilometres from the centre of the jaffna town. Nallur kandaswamy kovil is one of the most significant hindu temples in the jaffna district of northern province, sri lanka. Adaraneeya sri lanka 20170903 episode 25 jaffna sri lanka rupavahini corporation youtube duration. The building holds a special place in the hearts of the people. Nallur kandaswami temple, jaffna district, sri lanka. Nallur kandaswamy temple news newspapers books scholar. Historians say that nallur kovil is closely intertwined with the history of jaffna.
The presiding deity is lord murugan or katharagama deviyo in the form of the holy vel in the sanctum, the primary shrine, and in other forms, namely, shanmugar, muthukumaraswami, valli kaanthar with consorts valli and deivayanai, and thandayuthapani, sans consorts in secondary shrines in the temple. The kingdom of jaffna with its capital city nallur. Nallur kandaswamy kovil is the most significant hindu temple complex that located in the nallur region of jaffna, sri lanka. Vallipuram alvar vishnu kovil is situated in thunnalai, vadamaratchi and is considered as one of the oldest temples in jaffna. A marvelous piece of architecture, nallur kandaswamy temple is an ancient hindu temple which is dedicated to lord murugan. Thousands of devotees flock to the temple to take part in the festival.
Nallur kandaswamy kovil temple ladies and gents one of the hindu temple kovil in jaffna and nallur temple is dedicated to lord kandaswamy. A bastion of hindu tradition, art and creative culture, jaffna welcomes visitors warmly. Built in the year of 1933, the jaffna library is one of the prominent and illustrious buildings in not only the city of jaffna but also the country of sri lanka. Its intriguing, unimposing, slightly off the beaten path and a thoroughly rewarding place to discover sri lankan tamil culture. Incidentally, it was built by the adopted son of a sinhala king, parakramabahu vi of the kotte.
Built in 1734, this shrine serves as the hub of the areas religious activity, so youll always have a chance to observe local customs and traditions. Nallur is most famous for nallur kandaswamy temple, one of sri lankas most sacred place of pilgrimage for sri lankan hindus. The nallur kandaswamy kovil is one of jaffnas most significant hindu. Jaffna railway station is a railway station in the city of jaffna in northern sri lanka. In the mediaeval period some more books came into being in this branch of science.
The temples 25day annual festival is the countrys biggest hindu celebration. Nallur kandasamy annual festival commences today with. A tour of jaffna town including iconic places such as the jaffna public library, jaffna nallur kovil and jaffna roads. Built in 15 th century ce, the nallur kovil in jaffna is sacred to the hindu believers of sri lanka. The nallur temple is an important institution representing the sri lankan tamils hindu identity. The most spectacular cultural and religious place in jaffna is nallur temple and this is a must visit destination for a traveler in north and still attracts thousands of. History of ceylon from the earliest period to 1816. Nallur kandaswamy temple is an iconic place in the region. Sri lanka now offers best public transport system on the road with new busses.
The original shrine, a devalaya featuring the statues of hindu gods and buddha, built by the prince sapumal of kotte kingdom, the vice royal of jaffna peninsula was. Oxon, to which is subjoined, robert knoxs historical relation of the island. Nallur kovil jaffna places to visit in jaffna sri lanka. The world rejoices and the many adore as the sun of glory riseth for the worlds joy are the opening lines of the celebrated sangam work depicting lord murugan as the supreme one riding across the luminous sky bringing joy to all. Dedicated to murugam known to the buddhist sinhalese as kataragama, this is the most impressive hindu temple in sri lanka, and the only one on the island to rival the great shrines of india. A large hindu kovil nallur kovil, jaffna traveller. Tourists and all visitors need to be appropriately dressed and have to remove their footwear before entering the temple.
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