Nainativu Island
A small island in Jaffna Lagoon holding both a major Buddhist temple and a major Hindu temple on the same 1.5km strip of land, making it unique in Sri Lanka.
Duration
Full day (including boat journey)
Entry Fee
Free
Difficulty
easy
Budget
free
About Nainativu Island
Nainativu (also called Nagadeepa) is a small island in Jaffna Lagoon measuring roughly 1.5km in length, remarkable for hosting two significant religious sites of different faiths within a short walk of each other. The Nagadeepa Purana Rajamaha Viharaya is one of Sri Lanka's oldest and most sacred Buddhist temples, its history traced to a visit by the Lord Buddha himself in the 5th century BC as recorded in the Mahavamsa chronicle — pilgrims arrive daily from across the island to venerate a dagoba said to contain a gem-studded throne gifted during that visit. At the other end of the island, the Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman temple is among the most powerful and popular Hindu shrines in northern Sri Lanka, drawing thousands of Tamil Hindu devotees who travel by boat to seek the blessings of the goddess Parvati. A single ferry from Kurikadduwan on the Jaffna peninsula (about 45 minutes by road from Jaffna, then a 30-minute boat crossing) serves both temples.
Highlights
- Buddhist Nagadeepa temple — one of Buddhism's most sacred sites in Sri Lanka
- Hindu Nagapooshani Amman temple on the same island
- Two major faiths coexisting on a 1.5km island
- Boat journey from Kurikadduwan ferry point
- Mentioned in the Mahavamsa as site of Buddha's visit
Practical Tips
Boats depart from Kurikadduwan pier (45 min from Jaffna town). The crossing takes 25-30 minutes each way. Services run from early morning to mid-afternoon.
Dress modestly at both temples: shoulders and knees covered. Both temples are barefoot-entry zones.
Visit on a weekday if possible — weekends and Hindu festival days see very large queues at the Amman temple.
Combine the visit with Delft Island by hiring a private boat from the same ferry point, though this requires a full day.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Best time of day: February to September
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Moderate
- Physical difficulty
- easy
- Setting
- mixed
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- Yes
- Budget level
- free
- Photography
- ★★★★☆
Plan Your Visit
Want to include Nainativu Island in your Sri Lanka itinerary? Our team builds personalised plans: no booking fees, no online payment.
ALSO IN THE AREA
Nearby Destinations
Casuarina Beach
A shallow, calm beach near Karainagar on the Jaffna peninsula, named for its casuarina tree shade line — one of the few genuinely swimmable beaches in the north of Sri Lanka.
Explore →
Delft Island
A remote Jaffna Lagoon island with wild semi-feral ponies descended from Portuguese horses, giant baobab trees, and coral-stone ruins — reached by a 2-hour public ferry from Kurikadduwan.
Explore →PLAN YOUR VISIT
Ready to explore Nainativu Island?
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