Jaffna Islands

We left my hotel in Jaffna before breakfast was served, so I was given a boxed breakfast with French pastries in it. To get from Delft Island from Jaffna, we crossed via a causeway from Jaffna to Kayts Island and then via another causeway from Kayts to Punkudutivu Island, from where we took a ferry to Delft Island. See map.

Jaffna Islands

Causeway to Kayts Island

Photo: the causeway from Jaffna to Kayts Island.

Causeway to Kayts Island

Kayts Island

A rural scene on Kayts Island.

Kayts Island

Causeway from Kayts to Punkudutivu Island

Photo: the causeway from Kayts Island to Punkudutivu Island.

Causeway from Kayts to Punkudutivu Island

Punkudutivu Island

A rural scene on Punkudutivu Island.

Punkudutivu Island

Dock at Kurikadduwan

On an eastern tip of Punkudutivu Island is the dock to catch the ferry to Delft Island.

Dock at Kurikadduwan

Delft Island Ferry

I don’t know what type of boat the ferry to Delft Island I had expected but I really didn’t expect the one in the photo. Solomon, my driver/guide, told me not to worry as the ferry is being run by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Delft Island Ferry

Delft Island Ferry

I think we were sitting in a converted cargo hold. The ferry trip took about 45 minutes.

Delft Island Ferry

Delft Island

We arrived at the dock on Delft Island.

I have put my photos of our drive from Jaffna and our ferry boat ride to Delft Island on a slideshow. Go to  http://www.peggysphotos.com/delft–island–1/    (Slide Shows, Asia–2, Sri Lanka, “Delft Island–1”).

Delft Island

Delft Island

Delft Island’s length is about 5 miles (8 km) long and its width is about 3.7 miles (6 km). It was first colonized by the Portuguese and then by the Dutch. In the Sri Lankan languages, Delft Island is known as Nedunthivu. It is made up of coral and limestone. Coral rocks are used for borders. No mortar is used. We took a tuk tuk tour around the island.
 
Delft Island

Delft Island Birds

Delft Island has 101 bird species. Photo: Two of the water birds.

Delft Island Birds

Baobab Tree

One of the main sights on Delft Island is a very large baobab tree, the largest tree on the island at 53 feet tall. It was planted in the 16th century by Arab traders.
 
Baobab Tree

Growing Rock

Another sight is the Growing Rock, which grows a few centimeters or about an inch a year. Some consider the rock to be sacred. Some say it is a coral reef and still alive.
 
Growing Rock

Hindu Temple

This Hindu temple is one of a number of them on the island.

Hindu Temple

Ganesha

A rock sculpture of the Hindu elephant god Ganesha was on the side of the road.

Ganesha

Queen’s Tower

The Queen’s Tower was used as a navigation point by the Dutch. A fire was lit in it and smoke signals were released.

 

 

Queen’s Tower

Fishermen’s Village

We stopped at a fishermen’s village along the coast.

 

 

Fishermen’s Village

Wild Horses

There are about 500–1,000 wild horses on Delft Island, believed to be descendants of the ones brought here by the Portuguese in the 16th century. By law, they cannot be held captive or used for work. However, some have owners as can be seen by the markings on the horse in the photo.

I have put my first photos of Delft Island on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/delft–island–2/   (Slide Shows, Asia–2, Sri Lanka, “Delft Island–2”).

 

Wild Horses

Coral Rock Bordered Pathway

We walked through this coral rock pathway to see a major sight.

Coral Rock Bordered Pathway

Coral Rocks

A close–up of some of the coral rocks in the borders.

Coral Rocks

Giant Footprint

At the end of the pathway was what is called the Giant Footprint or Adam’s Footprint. The over 3–foot (1–m) footprint is embedded in a rock. Some say it is the footprint of Hanuman, the Monkey God, some say it is of Adam, and some say it is of a giant about 40 feet in height. There is a similar footprint on the nearby island of Nainathivu.
 
Giant Footprint

Delft Island Fort

The Delft Island Fort, built by the Portuguese and later taken over by the Dutch. The fort was constructed out of limestone and coral and is now in ruins.

Delft Island Fort

Old Delft Post Office

Photo: What if left of the old Dutch Delft Post Office.

Old Delft Post Office

Pigeons Nest

Behind the post office, the Pigeons Nest, which housed about two dozen pigeons that were used to transport messages across the islands, to ships, and to the mainland.
 
Pigeons Nest

Tuk Tuk Driver

Neither Solomon or his agency checked for the new times that the ferry would be running. There used to be a 12:30 p.m. departure from Delft Island and that is what he had been planning for us to take back, but that crossing had been canceled. We had to wait until 2:30 p.m. Solomon said that there wasn’t any place to eat lunch on Delft Island and I was starving. I settled for a large bag of chocolate wafers and ate one–third of the bag while waiting for the next ferry. Our tuk tuk driver invited us into his home for tea, but no food––still a very nice gesture and appreciated and one we took advantage of.

Tuk Tuk Driver

Ferry Back to Punkudutivu Island

We took the 2:30 p.m. ferry back to Punkudutivu Island. First, we climbed onto the ferry in the photo to get onto another boat.

Ferry Back to Punkudutivu Island

Ferry Boat

We next got on this ferry boat.

Ferry Boat

Ferry Boat

Inside the ferry boat.

Ferry Boat

Rural Scene

We passed this goat on one of the islands on our way back.

Rural Scene

Fisherman Hut

We also passed this fisherman hut on one of the causeways.

Fisherman Hut

Hindu Temple

We also passed this Hindu temple.

Hindu Temple

Causeway to Jaffna

We are now on the causeway on the way to Jaffna.

I have put my third photos of our Delft Island trip on a slide show. Go to  http://www.peggysphotos.com/delft–island–3/  (Slide Shows, Asia–2, Sri Lanka, “Delft Island–3”).

Causeway to Jaffna

Jaffna Fort

When back in Jaffna, we drove by Jaffna Fort which was built by the Portuguese in 1618 after they invaded Jaffna. It was captured by the Dutch in 1658 and expanded. Then it as taken over by the British, which controlled it until 1948. During the Sri Lankan Civil War, it was the scene of many battles.

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort

More of the fort. I declined walking around it. It now being renovated with funds from the Dutch.

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Fort

Cows grazing at Jaffna Fort.

Jaffna Fort

Jaffna Public Library

The Jaffna Public Library was built in 1933 under British rule. It had been one of the biggest libraries in Asia. In 1981, during the Sri Lanken Civil War, the library was burned by a mob of Sinhalese who were retaliating against the Tamil United Liberation Front which had held a rally in which three Sinhalese policemen were shot and two of them killed. The library was renovated in 1982, but in 1985, it was bombed. It has again been rebuilt.

Jaffna Public Library

Jaffna Public Library

In front of the library.

Jaffna Public Library

Jaffna Clock Tower

The Jaffna Clock Tower was built in 1875 to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, the son of Queen Victoria. He later became King Edward VII. The clock tower was badly damaged during the civil war. The British government donated money to renovate it.

Jaffna Clock Tower

Raja Gopuram

This is a photo of the Raja Gopuram of the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple. Guberan is the deity for wealth and he protects the northern direction. Local people believe that the Gopuram will bring more wealth to the people of the Jaffna peninsula. It was built in 2015.

After driving around Jaffna, I was taken back to my hotel where I would spend one more night.

Raja Gopuram