Pilgrimage to Nainativu Island in Northern Sri Lanka (Completely Unplanned)

By Mark Wiens 14 Comments

Jaffna

To be honest I had no clue where we were going…

…or even what we were doing.

The day began in the northern Sri Lankan town of Jaffna.

After devouring a huge meal of Sri Lankan food, we were walking (aimlessly) around town with nothing to do for the foreseeable future – just checking things out and exploring!

Causeway, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Causeway, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

During our exploration of Jaffna, we came to a causeway that I had heard about before. Not having anything else to do, we decided to walk across it – it didn’t look too far!

However, the clock stuck 10 am, and within moments the sun became brutally savage.

We began walking but I soon realized that the ray’s of the sun had a mission to dehydrate us and tear us apart.

It was extremely hot, there was zero shade, and we didn’t have any water.

I couldn’t have been happier when the familiar sound of a normally obnoxious horn from a Sri Lankan bus sounded behind us.

Bus in Jaffna
Bus in Jaffna

One moment we were trekking on a desolate overland bridge, the next moment we were sitting on a Tamil bus rocking to the wales of Indian vocals and tabla beats while chatting with a few surprised but friendly locals.

The bus, as all Sri Lankan buses should be, drove as fast as it could, picking up and dropping passengers along the way.

Island near Jaffna
Island near Jaffna

After making it across the first causeway we got to an island.

The majority of the homes were blasted out; We were in an area of Sri Lanka where there had been civil war very recently.

There were army barricades with heavily armed soldiers every few kilometers.

We continued on the bus.

I fell into a trance from the blaring Indian music and staring out the window at beautiful land filled with crumbles of what were once beautiful homes.

Ferry to Nainativu Island
Sri Lankan Navy Ferry

After about 1 hour on the bus we came to halt.

At this point I hadn’t even seen another vehicle on the road, but when we got out of the bus, we were oddly surrounded by lots of other Sri Lankan people.

Where did they all come from, I thought? Then I noticed a number of tour buses parked in the shade.

After talking with a few random people, we realized we were on our way to Nainativu Island – one of the 16 pilgrimage sites of Sri Lanka.

I’ve had some random travel experiences, but I assure you, this was my first random pilgrimage!

Nainativu Island Pilgrimage
On the Ferry

Though it only lasted for 15 minutes, it was the worst ferry ride I’ve ever been on in my life.

To be honest, it felt a bit like a slave ship; There were only tiny windows at the top and the ferry was crammed with people. The air was stale with humidity and supplemented by boat engine fumes.

I don’t know how no one passed out, but we all made it to the other side.

Nainativu Island
Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya Buddhist Temple

I still had little idea of where we were, or what we were doing – we had hopped on a bus, followed, and learned we were on a pilgrimage.

The ferry dropped us off on the tiny pilgrimage island of Nainativu, in the middle of the Gulf of Manner, not far from India.

I soon learned that Nainativu Island is a Sri Lankan (also world) pilgrimage destination because it is believed that the Buddha visited the island during a full moon Bak Maha Poya Day.

The first attraction on the island was the Buddhist Temple known as Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya (Naga Vihare).

Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

After viewing the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya Buddhist Temple for a few minutes, we walked down the road a little ways, passing through a number of small local curio shops and arrived at the Hindu section of the island.

Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil
Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil

The large Hindu temple complex, known as Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil, was another impressive site to see.

The bright colors and the interesting sculptures depicting various Hindu deities was very interesting. While we were there, some of the pilgrims were conducting a ceremony inside the temple – so that was great to observe.

Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil
Sacred Cow

Facing the temple was this large-scale brightly colored sacred cow.

Traveling in Sri Lanka
Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

The entire Nainativu Island was filled with religious pilgrims for the day, both Buddhists and Hindus.

Nainativu Pilgrimage, Sri Lanka
Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil

Here’s the front view of the Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil on Nainativu Island.

Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil
Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil

Everything on the island seemed to be under construction – both temples were under renovation to build things up on a much grander scale.

Maybe if you follow the Nainativu pilgrimage in the future, the temples will be completed!

Sri Lanka Pilgrimage
Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

After a few hours of walking around, and a severe beating by the harsh Sri Lankan sun, we decided that we had had a successful pilgrimage and started heading back to Jaffna.

We got back into the horrible ferry, boarded the Tamil music blasting bus, and within 1.5 hours were standing back in the same position where we were in the middle of Jaffna 4 hours ago – but we had just completed the Nainativu Island Pilgrimage, without planning it!

Here is a map to show you where we were in Sri Lanka:

Northern Sri Lanka
Northern Sri Lanka
Pilgrimage to Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka
Pilgrimage to Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

Nainativu Island Pilgrimage

Up until the beginning of 2011, the entire Nainativu Island was unreachable for over 30 years due to war in the region. Now it’s possible to make the pilgrimage.

Here’s a short VIDEO of the pilgrimage!

Thank you for watching!

14 comments. I'd love to hear from you!

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  • Florian

    10 years ago

    Thanks for the detailed advice, we had a great day out to Nainativu today, thanks to you.

    We only had about 15 people on the ferry, which was very spaced out. They might have changed the ferry schedule or maybe it mattered that today is wednesday. Appearently the island draws a lot of people on tuesday and saturday.

    • Mark Wiens

      10 years ago

      Hey Florian, glad you made it, and thanks for the update!

  • Audrey | That Backpacker

    12 years ago

    Looks like a great place to stumble upon by chance. I like all the bright colours of the temple – such intricate paintwork! Your description of the crammed ferry ride kind of reminds me of some of my bus rides in India, ha 😀

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks for the comment Audrey. It really was quite interesting, sometimes on random trips you end up not getting too much accomplished, but this one turned out well. Yah, I can imagine some buses quite similar!

  • Joel Bruner

    12 years ago

    dude what a great article 🙂 I am thinking two things, first I hope that any tourists coming along will be respectful of what’s there so as not to change a thing. The bus ride was my favorite part really man, yes “fell into a trance” puts it perefectly. The views up there were incredible.
    But then on second thought, I wouldn’t wish that ferry trip on anyone. It really is a slave ship experience. If there’s a new ferry I’m sure no one would mind

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Haha, yes man. The ferry ride was quite an unpleasant experience, just seemed like they were just poorly designed – without passengers in mind at all. The bus ride was such a great insight into the local flavor of that region of Sri Lanka.

  • mina

    12 years ago

    neat. my parents are from sri lanka. i’d like to go someday. reading about your journey will have to tide me over until then.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks Mina, hope you get a chance to visit Sri Lanka soon, I know you’ll really enjoy it!

  • Colleen

    12 years ago

    This was a very interesting telling of your unplanned adventure. It perfectly captures the essence of what I also love about travel; the unexpected and unplanned experiences. Loved the maps, much appreciated. And to think that this was inaccessible to travelers only a short while ago.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Thanks a lot Collen! Glad to hear you liked the maps – I hope they added a little orientation to the journey. I think when we plan things and it doesn’t turn out like “we though” we are disappointed – that’s one reason why not planning and just going often works so well.

  • sully86

    12 years ago

    mark:sometimes an unplanned journey is more exciting and fun than that of one that is planned ages ago.

  • Lane

    12 years ago

    The carvings are magnificent. And, often unplanned stops along the way are the most memorable.

    • Mark Wiens

      12 years ago

      Yes, they were incredible. I’m a huge fan when it comes to unplanned activities!