Jaffna is a city of beauty, resilience and spiritual depth, home to some of the most magnificent Hindu temples on the island alongside a fascinating Dutch colonial heritage, a distinct culinary tradition and a warm-hearted community. The Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is the spiritual heart of the city and the site of the spectacular Nallur festival each year, during which the streets fill with devoted pilgrims. The Dutch Fort, the Jaffna Public Library and the Casuarina Beach all form part of the city’s layered identity, reflecting centuries of Dravidian, Dutch and British influences.