NALLUR KANDASWAMY TEMPLE

Dating back to the mid 900s, the Nallur Kandaswamy temple has its origin by the Chola Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi. This temple is located in Jaffna, Sri Lanka has Lord Muruga as the main deity. The temple is known for its Dravidian architecture and continues to be a primary form of attraction for tourists visiting Jaffna. Here, Lord Muruga has a unique manifestation in the form of a spear, popularly known as Vel.

The Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple located in Jaffna, Sri Lanka dedicated to Lord Muruga. In this temple, the Lord Muruga manifests himself in the form of a spear, commonly known as Vel. The origin of this temple goes back to 948 AD and was relocated several times until its present location. The current structure may not be similar to the ones in the original location, but it continues to attract devotees from around the world. The temple is built in a Dravidian style and is known for the visually appealing gopuram or the temple tower. The temple also has a garden and a lake worth looking at when visiting the temple. The temple is also known for coming alive during festivals like Thaipoosam or the annual festival. 

Highlights

• Worship the main deity i.e Lord Muruga who manifests in the form of a Vel (spear).
• Make a special offering to the main deity for additional blessings and carry home the blessed offerings. 
• Attend the Thaipusam festival and watch the temple get into its peak celebration form.
• Attend the annual festival and watch the different parades of the deity along with music and dance forms.
• Visit the pond in the temple and have a glimpse of Lord Dhandayuthapani for whom the lake is dedicated. 
• Admire the unique architecture of the temple and learn more about its history and significance.

How To Reach

1 By Car: The Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is 2 kilometres away from the heart of Jaffna. Therefore, if you're driving, Chetty Street will get you to the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in 8 hours. You can also take a tuk tuk from anywhere in the city. 

2 By train: Jaffna is the closest railway station to Nallur Kandaswamy Temple. From there, you can take a car or a tuk tuk to the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple. You will need at least 5 minutes to reach the temple from the railway station.

Best Time To Visit

The Nallur Kandaswamy Temple is open on all days of the year and comes with all types of experiences and activities.

1 Best day of the week: You can visit Nallur Kandaswamy Temple at any day of the week as it is open throughout the year. However, we recommend visiting the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple during the weekdays as there is less crowding and you can explore comfortably. 

2 Best time of the day: Travel to Nallur Kandaswamy Temple at any time of the day, preferably between morning to afternoon. At this time, you can explore the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple patiently and explore all that it offers. 

Other Essential Information

• Dress modestly before visiting the temple, preferably by covering the shoulders and knees. 
• Do not use your cellphone when you are in the temple as it can disturb the worship and the devotees. 
• Make sure you remove your shoes or slippers before visiting the temple as a mark of respect for the deity. 
• The temple will have special worship at different times of the day, so plan your visit accordingly. 
• The temple is usually closed in the afternoon, so do plan your visit to the temple accordingly. 
• During special occasions, the temple will attract a lot of crowds, so plan your visit accordingly. 
• The overall time required to spend in the temple is approximately an hour and half, so plan your travel accordingly. 
• To prevent any disturbance of worship, it is recommended to not click any pictures when you are in the temple.