Travel to Nainativu (நயினாதீவு - Nagadeepa)

Travel to Nainativu island can be achieved by road travel and boat service or by Helicopter or through sea plane. The island is separated by sea from the main land. Nainativu (Nagadeepa) is a small islands of 10 KM stretch in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Travelling to Nainativu Island (Nagadeepa in Sinhala - Nagadipa Purana Vihara) is possible first by land route and then by the sea route using the motor boats. These motorboats are operated by Gocernment and by private owners. This island is a hot sandy one and gets its rain during the months of November till January. It is not a good place for swimming or to take sun bath by the touists in its beaches.In the Island there is a wedding hall is available that is maintained by the Ambal Temple.

Nainativu ()நயினாதீவு) Nagapoosani Amman Temple Annual Festival. Here. (Read more information here.)

It is popular among the Hindu devotees for the Nagapoosani Amman Temple located there. The island is also popular among the Sinhala people for the Nagadeepa Raja Maha Viharaya (Naga viharai in Tamil). Also there is one mosque for the Muslim people in this island.

In this year 2024, Nagapoosani Amman Temple annual Festival is going to take too place from 07/06/2024. During this period lot of people are expected to visit here for worshiping the Amman Deity. Extra boat service and bus service will be deployed for the befit of the visiting devotees during the festival times. Check with the authorities for the special timing for buses and passenger boats. Specially on 20th June 2024, there will be a big gathering in the Nainativu Island (நயினாதீவு). On that day the Chariot festival of the Temple is going to take place. Also take note if the winds are high blowing, the boat service to this island will be suspended temporarily.

Reaching Nainativu (நயினாதீவு - Nagadeepa)

If you have your own vehicle reach the Jaffna post office and from there take the right side road which will pass the Pannai sea, then Mandaitivu junction, passing Mangumpan village and in the coming junction you must look for the sign board Kurikadduvan Jetty and then on the way you will pass Velanai Junction and here too you must look for the sign board (most of the sign board from Jaffna will direct you to turn on the left side to travel to Kurikadduvan Jetty) and then you will pass the Pungudutivu sea and the road will lead you to Kurikadduvan Jetty where you can park your vehicle and can get the boat service to the Nainativu.

Also from the Jaffna town central Bus stand, you can take Government or private busses (42 seats) which are running regularly to and from Kurikadduvan Jetty. The bus fare is about Rs 160/- per person where the trip will go through good roads and the travelling may take nearly one hour to reach the jetty. From there you can take boats that are too running regular intervals.

At the Jetty.

One ferry with capacity of 300 passengers used to operate between the island can carry passengers in the well covered upper deck and lower deck with comfortable seats will charge Rs 100/- per head one way. Passengers are allowed to stand too in this boat. Likewise small boats too are operating with wood bench seating and standing for a ticket fee of Rs.60/- per person. The sea travel may take between 20 - 30 minutes if the weather is calm. It is compulsory for the passengers to wear life Jackets during the journey and it will be provided by the boat operators. Sri Lanka Navy personal used to assist passengers in the boat travelling where small boat passengers must wear provided life jackets before boarding the boat. Normally every half an hour a boat service will start from both sides, There will be no boat service after the sun set and suring bad weather.

In the Nainativu island.

There is one Government bus running in the island. It starts from the jetty and goes by the Buddhist Vihara up to the Muslim mosque and return back to jetty..
Also you can find many three wheels - tuk tuk - (auto) available for hire.
The tuk tuk drivers offfer sight seeing tour around the island at a reasonable price.
Bicycle and motorcycles are popular transport mode for the local residents of the island.

What to take with you to the Nainativu Island?

• Sufficient drinking water (You can get there too)
• Umbrella or Cap with strap as there may be big winds.
• Wear white color clothes to ward off hot sun.
• Sandals are not allowed in the temple premises.
• You can buy mineral water and soft drinks cool or at room temperature in the island.
• Cool soft drinks and water bottles may be sold 5 - 10 rupees higher than the normal price due their boat transportation.
• There are small food shops available where you can pre order your food.
• Hindu temple's "madam" serves free lunch to all the people at noon time.
• Sea Shells are available for sale at small road side stores.
• Take note that this island is not a fun place. It is dedicated for holy pilgrimages only.

On the நயினாதீவு Nagapooshani Ammman Temple's Annual Chariot festival day hundreds of thousands of people used to visit here. So take much care to travel on this date.