Jaffna Fort

What?
This is a historic fort built by the Portuguese in 1618, later expanded by the Dutch, offering insights into Sri Lanka’s colonial past.

Where?
It is located in the Jaffna district and approximately 400 km from Colombo.

When?
The best time to visit is from November to April for cooler weather and clear skies.

Jaffna Fort is centrally positioned near the lagoon front. Originally, it was built by the Portuguese and rebuilt and expanded into a pentagonal shape by the Dutch in 1680. The outer works were finished only in 1792. It is believed to be the best Dutch fort in Asia from an architectural point of view. It has the shape of a star and is surrounded by a moat. It covers an area of 22 hectares. The King’s House and the Dutch church were located inside the fort, but are ruined now. Today it is home to a military garrison.The Jaffna lagoon offers a panoramic view from this pentagonal fortified structure with its renowned bastions integrated within its defensive design. The historical value of this site survived civil war damage through restoration work, which turned it into a major destination for people interested in historical sites.