Friday, November 17, 2017

Around Jaffna

Jaffna is a large city by Sri Lankan standards.  We set out to visit the temples and sites of the surrounding area and city centre.


 Our first stop was a brief look at a Hindu temple dedicated to Hanuman, the monkey god


Near the  Hindu temple of Keerimalai we saw pools that are believed to have curative powers.

At an unplanned stop at a small fishing village we were rewarded with great bird sightings and life in the village.





                            Birds of all size were in for free fish! This is a Brahamny Kite in flight.


                                                           The fish are dried in the sun.


Another  unplanned stop was where they make alcohol from Palmyra  palm. Drinking with a new mare!


We visited the Dambakola Patuna where the Bodhi trees landed in Ceylon. There is an important Buddhist complex on the site.


                               A sculpture of the trees landing in the Third Century BC.

The Jaffna fort is an important landmark. Built by the Portugese and rebuilt by the Dutch and the British it was finally ruined during the fighting in the Civil War. Large areas varound Jaffna have been destroyed and in the last few years since the war finished some has yet to be touched!


                                    Sheltering from the sun not the rain at the Jaffna fort.


                                                Some sections may never be restored!


At our final temple we were lucky to see a ceremony taking place. The pageantry and ritual  was especially interesting. ( No photos allowed!)

                         

                                 Our daily sunset photo.












1 comment:

Miss Di said...

Wonderful photos, you seem to be adjusting well to the camera! Especially like the kite going for the fish.