Jaffna Fort, Portuguese colonial fort in Jaffna, Sri Lanka
The stone fort features thick defensive walls, five entrance tunnels, and remnants of military structures along the coastal area of northern Sri Lanka.
Constructed in 1618 under Phillippe de Oliveira's guidance, the fort changed hands between Portuguese, Dutch, and British forces before Sri Lankan independence.
The fort includes the remains of the King's House, Queen's House, and Kruys Church, reflecting the architectural styles of multiple colonial periods.
The Sri Lanka Army maintains a garrison at the fort, which undergoes restoration work funded by the Dutch government to preserve its structure.
During the Sri Lankan Civil War, the fort endured a 50-day siege in 1995, resulting in substantial damage to its seaside ramparts and internal buildings.
Location: Jaffna
Inception: 1625
GPS coordinates: 9.66076,80.00856
Latest update: May 15, 2025 10:03
Sri Lanka offers diverse photography sites from ancient fortresses to national parks. Sigiriya Rock displays stone architecture amid green landscapes. Buddhist temples house cultural artifacts, while colonial structures like Galle Fort stand along the coast. National parks contain elephants and leopards in their natural habitat. Mountains, waterfalls, and beaches provide natural settings. The country features religious monuments such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple. Gardens, tea plantations, and forest reserves showcase the local flora.
Nallur Kandaswamy Devasthanam
2.8 km
Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple
26.1 km
Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya
26.3 km
Jaffna Public Library
384 m
Naguleswaram temple
2.8 km
Iranamadu Tank
61.7 km
Delft Island Fort
38.7 km
Mantri Manai
3.5 km
Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple
15.9 km
Chundikkulam National Park
57.6 km
Fort Hammenheil
18.5 km
Sangupiddy Bridge
23.3 km
Kadurugoda Vihara
10 km
Old Park
2.3 km
Jaffna Archaeological Museum
1.9 km
Vannarpannai Vaitheeswaran Temple
1.2 km
Delft National Park
38.5 km
Queen's Tower
37.8 km
Kruys Church
180 m
Jaffna Clock Tower
590 m
Elephant Pass Military Base
45.7 km
Pooneryn Fort
28.4 km
St. James' Church, Nallur
3.5 km
Point Pedro Lighthouse
32.3 km
St. Thomas' Cathedral, Vaddukoddai
10 km
Thondamannar Bridge
24.5 km
Kovilan Point Lighthouse
19.5 km
Kayts Island Fort
17.7 kmReviews
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