Island life on Eluvaitivu and Analaitivu

the map – click to enlarge

So this was my second visit (previous visit) to Jaffna this year and I would re visit this lovely land at any given time because there is so much to see. This time my main objectives were to visit two populated islands in Jaffna and also to show around my wife the beauty I experienced during my previous visits. On the way to Jaffna we did stop at Iranamadu to have some tea. We reached Jaffna at around 9am and refreshed ourselves before exploring the peninsula.

First we visited the fort then headed straight away towards Casurina beach of Karainagar and returned back to Jaffna for lunch! After lunch and a small nap we headed towards Chunnakam and we visited Keerimalai pond, Dambakola patuna & Kadurugoda temple (Please visit this link to get directions of above stated locations). From Chunnakam we headed towards Chankanai. Once one proceeds few hundred meters towards Karainagar, one would come across an Old Dutch church on the left hand side of the road. This is now an archeological site. From here onwards we returned to Jaffna through Manipay. We also came across an ambalama by the side of the road. This is called Aarukaal Madam at Annaikkoddai. These sought of resting places could be found around Jaffna by the side of the road. To learn all about the components of these “madams” please refer this link. At Jaffna we reached the district secretariat office. Opposite it by the side of A9 one could see the old DS office which is now an archeology site.

misty morning at Kilinochchi

the blazing sun

Iranamadu reservoir

the bund

hard life

close to elephant pass

the fort

a pelican

my favourite board

Keerimalai pond

Dambakola patuna

the shores of dambakola patuna

very busy

frequent sightings

Kandaroadai

in good condition

Chankanai church

remains of the church

outer view

Aarukaal madam

old DS office

dutch architecture

in ruins

window to heaven

what an evening

bye bye

the sun set

and she went

couldn’t resist clicking

Day two was the day I was looking forward too. Yes the sun was shining bright and inviting us to go ahead and explore the unseen. Amila also joined us for this island expedition. We reached Karampan jetty of Kaytes at around 9am and got on to an Eluvaitivu boat. After a 20 minute ride we reached the island of Eluvaitivu. This is a small island with 150 families. There were no trishaws or any other vehicles. But there was a small tractor with its owner who offered to take us on an island tour for 500/= bucks. He took us from one end to the other end and made sure we returned back on time for the ferry. We did note many government institutes like the hospital, school, post office and few more. The coastal shores were lonely but there weren’t any good bathing sites. Our tractor guy was kind enough to offer us some king coconut and boiled Palmyra shoots. After a 1 and a half hour island tour we returned to Karampan jetty for our next adventure.

goats heating up there butts

pied kingfisher

welcome to kaytes

Gods children

love and comfort

boarding the Eluvaitivu boat

island of Eluvaitivu

returning boat from the island

passengers on the deck

reaching Eluvaitivu

awaiting to receive us

calm beech of Eluvaitivu

fisihing is their livelihood

Analaitivu

lovely house

the path we took

health reaches the extremes

poverty

the post office

the school bell

fresh water pond

our BMW ride

indian rollar

the chap who followed us

lovely path

the coast of Eluvaitivu

young palmyra plants

playing cricket at Eluvaitivu

only in jaffna

livelihood

leaving the jetty

friendly faces

After an one hour brake at Karampan we got on to the ferry which took us towards Analaitivu. It was a 40 minute ride under the blazing sun. Analaitivu is one of those huge islands just like Delft. It has many administrative buildings and few Kovils. We hired a trishaw guy to show us a around the island for 1000/= bucks and he was a supersonic guy. The trishaw was racing along the B grade road but within no time he understood that going so fast is not possible with our frequent stops. Our first stop was the old light house where Parititivu which is an extension of Analaitivu could be seen. This island resembled Delft in many ways but to our surprise this island had paddy fields. It is said that this island has the best drinking water in Jaffna. More than Eluvaitivu Analaitivu is worth visiting. On the other side of the island there was a small stretch of land connecting Analaitivu and Puliyathivu which was another extension of the island. The beach around this point was good for a calm swim. After an one and a half hour high speed trishaw ride we returned back to the jetty and took off towards Kaytes. We took our jeep across the ocean from Kaytes to Karainagar with the aid of the ferry and that was a new experience to me. The wonderful evening ended with a bicycle ride to Rio ice cream stall at Nallur (customer service is not good). The 10km up and down bicycle ride with my wife was a great way to end a memorable day.

leaving karampan jetty for the second time

on the way to analaithivu

amila having a chat

island of Ellvaitivu

reaching Analaitivu

welcome to Analaitivu

mini tanks at Analaitivu

health services

a saloon

main mode of transport

never seen an Alpha goat like this

the light house of Analaitivu

beauties on the floor

love to walk along this

lonely tree

towards Parititivu

beautiful roads

halted

cemetry

a church

coral blocked walls

coastal road

komarika were found everywhere

komarika flower

chilies (main cultivation)

a hut

open land

calm and quiet

lovely beach

fresh water pond

coral-ed shores

Nainathivu seen from Analaitivu

abandoned jetty at Puliyanthivu

B grade road

yes there were paddyfields

the main kovil

road side chatting

back to the jetty

ice cream man

ferry which took our jeep from kayts to Karaeinagar

on the ferry

another sun set

Day 3 was all about returning back along the coastal road. We took the A32 Mannar road and crossed the beautiful lagoon via the Sanguppiddy Bridge. We came across few stretches which were under construction but other than that the whole road was in superb condition up to Mannar. On our way we had a stop at Pooneryn junction to visit the Old Dutch fort. From Mannar to Marichchukkaddi the road was in good condition except few small stretches. We entered the Wilpattu Park crossing Modara gan aru and found out that the road was in bad condition. Now only 4WD vehicles go across this road because of  broken bridges and etc. when we exited Kala oya causeway we were surprised to see that the Eluwankulama – Puttalam road which was also almost completely finished. At around 4pm we reached chilaw to end a magical journey to the north of our pearl island.

paddyfields of Pooneryn

shores of Pooneryn

towards salty ocean

A 32

life	Sangupiddy

here we come

silvery oceans

Pooneryn fort

view from the watch post

the fort

traffic along A 32

lonely road

passing mulankavil

plenty of marshy lands

bird life

closing to mannar

the rice bowl

crossing modara gan aru

entering wilpaththu

muddy roads

Black winged . Stilt

passing many villus

lonely ride

final hurdle