Jaffna is a beautiful city in the North of Sri Lanka which is famous for being the heart of Tamil culture, tradition and art. It is filled with stories from the past, interesting historical sites and white sand beaches. This city provides a unique feel, different to other destinations within Sri Lanka as it is close to India, hosting more vibrant Hindu temples rather than Buddhist ones and allows its visitors to escape the crowds as it is located ‘off the beaten track’. If you are travelling from Colombo to Jaffna the best way to book your ticket is through 12Go, alongside reading this article to learn about all the important details that you will need to know.
HOW TO GET FROM COLOMBO TO JAFFNA
Throughout this article I am going to delve into the details about travelling from Colombo to Jaffna and how you can book your ticket online. I will start by breaking down the two ways that you can make the journey, which is by bus or taxi, explaining their departure and arrival stations, travel times, commute lengths and ticket prices. Following on from this I will share how you are able to commute around Colombo ahead of your journey and then how you can get to your final destination in Jaffna once you have arrived. This is going to help you decide which route will suit your travel plans most and show you how to book your ticket online.
The two forms of transport available for travelling from Colombo to Jaffna are a bus or taxi, with the lowest ticket price costing $27 per person, and the highest being $375 per vehicle. Departure stations when travelling by bus are central locations in Colombo and the arrival station in Jaffna is at their main bus station, with approximately seven different travel time options each day. When booking a taxi to make the commute with you are able to choose your own departure and arrival station as well as your preferred time for pick up.
BEST WAY TO BOOK A TICKET ONLINE FROM COLOMBO TO JAFFNA
You may not have the time to read this whole article at the moment, however you are ready to book your ticket online to get from Colombo to Jaffna, the best way to do that is through 12Go. This online booking platform provides you with all of the details that you will need to be made aware of before purchasing your ticket and making the trip. It shows you the different forms of transport available, times of travel commute lengths, ticket pricing and key details that are great to be made aware of.
However, if you want to learn more information about how you can get to your departure station in Colombo, final destination in Jaffna and pointers around when to visit, how long to spend there and must-do activities whilst there, then you will want to keep on reading.
| Bus Colombo - Jaffna $ 16.29–18.12 11h – 11h 10m | |
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| Taxi Colombo - Jaffna $ 177.37–243.89 6h 46m | |
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2 OPTIONS OF TRAVEL TO GET FROM COLOMBO TO JAFFNA
There are currently two forms of transport that you can take to get from Colombo to Jaffna which are bus or taxi. Below you can discover everything you will need to know for these journeys…
Bus
If you choose to take a bus from Colombo to Jaffna the commute time for this form of transport can take from 7 hours up to 11 hours and 10 minutes, costing either $23 or $27 per ticket depending on which travel operator you book your journey with. There is one option to depart from Colombo in the morning which is at 8am, the other buses do not leave the city until 8.15pm with the last one being at 10.30pm. Departure stations in Colombo are at Marine Drive, Mirage Hotel or the express bus stop, with all buses arriving into Jaffa at their main main bus station.
Taxi
Travelling from Colombo to Jaffna by taxi takes approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes in commute time, with prices starting from $273 and reaching $375 per vehicle depending on which capacity of people you choose to book for. There are options for taxis that can host between 2 and 8 people per vehicle, making it a more convenient form of transport to take if you are travelling in a group or with a family. When booking a taxi online from Colombo to Jaffna you are able to choose your pick up time, as well as your departure and arrival destination, with taxis being operated by Stef Lanka Tours. You can book your taxi online through 12Go.
KEY POINTS
These are key bits of information that are great to know before booking your ticket online and travelling from Colombo to Jaffna…
Most affordable way to get from Colombo to Jaffna
The cheapest way to travel from Colombo to Jaffna is with a bus that is operated by either Avro Travels or Prince Travels with tickets only costing $23 per person. The best option to choose is the 9pm departure from Colombo express bus stop as this journey is the shortest bus route option taking 7 hours in commute time.
Quickest way to get from Colombo to Jaffna
The fastest way to get from Colombo to Jaffna is with a taxi transfer as these journeys only take 6 hours and 45 minutes in travel time. Another bonus to booking a taxi for the trip is that you are able to choose your departure station in Colombo and arrival station in Jaffna.
Arrival and check in times at departure stations in Colombo
When travelling by a bus from Colombo to Jaffna you will need to be checked in and ready to board 30 minutes before the departure time stated on your ticket. I would suggest arriving between 15 to 30 minutes prior to this as it will allow you to avoid any queues and ensure that you have everything in order ahead of travelling.
When travelling by a taxi from Colombo to Jaffna there is no stated time for check in, however, to avoid missing your pick up and any extra charges that may occur if you are late, I would suggest arriving at your chosen departure station 15 to 30 minutes prior to the arranged leaving time.
Luggage allowance for each form of transport from Colombo to Jaffna
When travelling by a bus from Colombo to Jaffna with Sri Lanka Bus Service you can take one piece of hand luggage and one large piece of luggage with you. If you have booked a ticket online with Prince Travels you are allowed to take one piece of luggage with you weighing up to 15kg. The most amount of luggage you can travel with is when you use Avro Travels as they allow up to 30 kg in weight.
When travelling by a van from Colombo to Jaffna there is no stated amount of luggage allowance, however, you will need to think about the size of vehicle you have booked and be considerate that it may not have a lot of space for bags.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKET ONLINE FROM COLOMBO TO JAFFNA
The most reliable way that you can book your ticket online from Colombo to Jaffna is through 12Go. This is because it allows you to see all of the travel options available for each day, alongside showing you departure and arrival stations, travel times, commute lengths and ticket prices. Other benefits to booking your ticket online with 12Go include having a point of contact should anything change in your travel plans or with the transport option you have booked, and they also inform you of the important information that you will need to be aware of before making the commute.
HOW TO GET TO YOUR DEPARTURE STATION IN COLOMBO
When travelling from Colombo to Jaffna you will first need to get to your departure station. The most popular and common way to get around Colombo is by foot as most places are walkable, however, if this isn’t an option that you are interested in you can also take a tuk-tuk or Uber. Getting a tuk-tuk is a fun and authentic way to start your trip, but an Uber can work out more affordable. As Colombo is the capital of Sri Lanka they do have a public transport system within the city meaning that you can also take buses to get around.
To plan how you will get to your departure station in Colombo, make sure to check the time you will need to arrive there for and check out how long each commute will take you to see if it matches up to the trip you have booked from Colombo to Jaffna.
HOW TO GET TO YOUR FINAL DESTINATION IN JAFFNA
The last part of your journey from Colombo to Jaffna will be getting to your final destination. This can be done by a couple of forms of transport which are an authentic tuk-tuk, local bus or private minivan. When planning how you will make the commute, check your time of arrival into Jaffna to see which options are available for you then and whether you need to pre-book them ahead of your trip or if it’s possible to do once you get there.
BEST TIME TO VISIT JAFFNA
During the month of March temperatures can reach over 30 degrees, rainfall is at its lowest of the whole year and the sun shines for 9 hours every day, making this the best time to visit Jaffna. Another great month to visit Jaffna is in February as the humidity is low throughout this period of time, there is just a little bit more rain and temperatures don’t reach quite as high but it is known for having brilliant weather conditions to ensure you have an amazing trip.
HOW LONG TO SPEND IN JAFFNA
The most popular amount of time to spend in Jaffna is 4 days as this allows you to be able to explore all of the historical sites, visit the beaches and embrace the city’s unique culture. You will also get the chance to take a day tour to another close by destination within these days, and be able to enjoy your time in Jaffna at a relaxed pace without having to rush around so that you don’t miss out on its beautiful surroundings and activities.
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN JAFFNA
These are a handful of things you will want to check out within your time in Jaffna…
Jaffna Fort
This is an interesting landmark that was originally built in 1619 and restructured in 1658, formed from limestone and coral which gives it the unique look. It is a great archaeological site to visit to learn more about the history of the city making it an activity that you will want to add to your Jaffna bucket list.
Local market
To emerge yourself into the native culture you will definitely want to check out the markets. You will be able to wander round to see the local produce on offer and speak to people who are from Jaffna which is a brilliant way to discover more about the city as well as where you need to visit whilst there.
Indian inspired food
As Jaffna is close to India some of the food that they have to offer in restaurants is a range of Indian dishes. These mouth watering plates are something you will want to taste on your trip, with Mango being one of the best places to eat at.
Keerimalai Pond
Located approximately 25-minutes away from Jaffna is a stunning freshwater spring pool situated nearby to a temple. This is perfect to enjoy a refreshing dip on a hot temperature day whilst enjoying the breeze coming in from the ocean. It is also known for having healing powers to those who suffer from skin infections and other health issues.
Casuarina Beach
Here you have what is known as being the most beautiful beach in Jaffna. Enjoy a day spent relaxing along the gorgeous white sand, swimming in the warm ocean waters and soaking up the rays from the sun.
MORE SRI LANKA BLOGS
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