Jaffna Archaeological Museum

The Jaffna Archaeological Museum is a collection of stone, metal, and wooden artifacts that shows the historical development of northern Sri Lanka across centuries. The items come from different time periods and document the cultural diversity of this region.

The museum was founded in 1978 and sits on land provided by the Arumuga Navalar Foundation. Many of the displayed items come from archaeological excavations at Kandarodai between 1917 and 1919.

The museum displays Buddhist and Hindu objects such as statues and musical instruments that reflect the religious life in the northern region. Visitors can see how different faiths coexisted in this area.

The museum is located behind Navalar Cultural Hall on Navalar Road and is easy to reach. Visitors should note that it closes on Tuesdays and public holidays.

One of the most remarkable displays is a musical pot from the 14th century with seven mouth-like openings, showing how forgotten crafting techniques looked. The museum also houses cannons from the Dutch Fort, offering a view of different outside forces that arrived in the region.

Location: Jaffna

Inception: 1978

Website: http://archaeology.gov.lk

GPS coordinates: 9.66886,80.02426

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:20