The 25 Best Destinations in 2026-Jaffna

Family-run homestays like the Malabar Home Stay have been reviving Jaffna as a cultural travel destination since the civil war ended in 2009. To understand Jaffna’s nuanced history, visit the restored Jaffna Public Library, which was set on fire during the war; the pentagonal-shaped Jaffna Fort, originally built by the Portuguese in 1619; and the two bunkers turned into museums at the luxury Fox Jaffna resort.

An hour-long ferry from Jaffna is tiny Delft. With a shallow reef, coral-fenced houses and homestays like the Delft Village Stay, the sleepy island is ideal to slowly cycle around between home-cooked meals.

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