Nallur Kondaswami Kovil
As I embarked on the next stage of my journey, I made my way to the grandest Hindu temple in Jaffna – the Nallur Kondaswami Kovil. Upon entering the temple, a Hindu priest instructed me to remove my shoes and shirt as a sign of respect. The temple was a true spectacle with its intricate statues and paintings adorning every inch of the walls.
As I walked around the temple, I observed men busily painting outside, I couldn’t resist to tell them that it was a beautiful temple. After taking in the beauty of the temple, I ventured outside and stopped at an ice cream shop. There, I indulged in a refreshing fruit mix ice cream. As I walked back towards the temple, I witnessed men smashing coconuts on the ground as a form of prayer. Intrigued, I lingered to watch and afterwards met Ishwara, who introduced himself as a lecturer in Religion, Philosophy, and Literature. He handed me his business card as a token of our meeting.Next, I visited the Jaffna Archaeological Museum, located in Nallur, Jaffna. It is a fascinating museum that contains a wide collection of metal, wood, and stone Buddhist and Hindu images and statues. I couldn’t help but appreciate the craftsmanship that went into creating such masterpieces. The historian in me couldn’t help but think that anyone wanting to secure a spot in history should use stone carvings.
With a sense of adventure, I caught a bus on Hospital St., and made my way to Nainativu Island. This island holds a special significance for the locals as it is considered a very sacred place. There, I visited the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya and the Nagapooshani Amman temple. As per custom, I removed my shirt upon entering the temple and had a conversation with a holy man who resides there. He put a red dot on my forehead which drew curious glances for the rest of the day.
As I was about to leave, I met a naval commander who requested my help to get him to America. He offered me a cup of milk as a gesture of gratitude. I took the boat, then the bus back to Jaffna, the streets were fairly empty at night. I couldn’t help but notice the scary street dogs outside Yarl’s Inn as I went back to my hotel.
Overall, it was an enlightening and fulfilling day filled with new experiences and meeting interesting people. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to have such a unique and authentic travel experience.
Boat to Nainativu Island
With a sense of adventure, I caught a bus on Hospital St., and made my way to Nainativu Island. This island holds a special significance for the locals as it is considered a very sacred place. There, I visited the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya and the Nagapooshani Amman temple. As per custom, I removed my shirt upon entering the temple and had a conversation with a holy man who resides there. He put a red dot on my forehead which drew curious glances for the rest of the day.
As I was about to leave, I met a naval commander who requested my help to get him to America. He offered me a cup of milk as a gesture of gratitude. I took the boat, then the bus back to Jaffna, the streets were fairly empty at night. I couldn’t help but notice the scary street dogs outside Yarl’s Inn as I went back to my hotel.
Overall, it was an enlightening and fulfilling day filled with new experiences and meeting interesting people. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to have such a unique and authentic travel experience
As I was about to leave, I met a naval commander who requested my help to get him to America. He offered me a cup of milk as a gesture of gratitude. I took the boat, then the bus back to Jaffna, the streets were fairly empty at night. I couldn’t help but notice the scary street dogs outside Yarl’s Inn as I went back to my hotel.
Overall, it was an enlightening and fulfilling day filled with new experiences and meeting interesting people. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to have such a unique and authentic travel experience.
