Located on the country’s northern end, “Jaffna is the sociocultural hub of the island’s Tamil community,” says Lonely Planet writer Zinara Rathnayake, who covered the region for our 2026 #BestInTravel list. Here, she shares some of her favorite local spots – how about a ferry to Nainativu? – and dishes. Hope you’re hungry for crab curry! Stick around until the end to watch toddy tapping, a dying tradition you’ve got to see to believe.
NOW ENTERING: JAFFNA, SRI LANKA
