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The magazine Lonely Planet has a unique place in the hearts of travelers. In the early years, it was almost a guide for backpackers to hold a copy.
In that era when the network strategy was not yet popular, Lonely Planet was a beacon on the walker’s road.
Now, the 2026 annual list has also been released. Surprisingly, one of the destinations is on the list!
This is the “25 Most Popular Destinations in the World” selected by travelers’ word-of-mouth, and it is actually among them?
If I hadn’t happened to be there, I’m afraid I would have been suspicious.
There are so many places worth visiting in the world, and the scenic ones are even more numerous. How can a remote town in a bankrupt country get such praise?
This place is Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka.
When it comes to traveling in Sri Lanka, many people think of fishermen on stilts and sea trains inspired by Spirited Away. Everything is full of poetry.
Speaking of souvenirs, Sri Lanka is famous for its black tea and jewelry, and the name of “Ceylon” has long been famous all over the world.
But what kind of place is Jaffna?
Geographically, Jaffna is far away from other famous tourist cities in Sri Lanka. The only one slightly close to it is Trincomalee, a whale watching resort.
But even Trincomalee is often chosen by tourists-after all, there are too many choices simply to watch the sea.
So, what exactly is the attraction of Jaffna?
Only when you actually set foot on the soil of Jaffna will you find that it is actually not so “Sri Lankan”. The beauty of Jaffna is not typical of Ceylon style.
Here, you may even feel the illusion of being “fancy”-not an illusion, actually, because the architectural style of the north is quite different from other areas.
Especially the beliefs here are completely different from those in Kandy and other places.
There are several islands near Jaffna, all of which are well worth exploring. I lived in the local area for a few days, and I didn’t meet a single Chinese tourist.
For domestic tourists, the scenery of Jaffna is not “classic” enough, and there is no very distinctive appearance of Ceylon. But if you are a history buff, or a pure niche scenery seeker, I believe you will like it here.
Jaffna is a relatively small travel destination in Sri Lanka. Who would have thought that it was discovered by Lonely Planet travelers and ranked among the “25 best travel destinations in the world”.
This is the honor of Jaffna, and it is also the light it should be seen.
The excitement of Jaffna is more like the glimmer of warmth in the world, like the soft sunset at dusk.
If you have to ask where Jaffna is worth seeing, I think the most exciting thing may not be a specific scenic spot, but every moment when you integrate into the present.
Jaffna is not a typical Sri Lankan landscape. If you’re visiting for the first time and you’re on a tight schedule, there’s no need to list it as a top choice.
After all, the journey from Colombo, the capital, or other cities in the south is not short.
But if you don’t want to punch in the scenic spots, and you don’t like the crowded excitement, Jaffna may surprise you.
There is the Naga temple, which needs to be reached by boat, across the sea from India; There are also sea highways far more magnificent than the sea train in Spirited Away.
The white Jaffna Public Library is one of the largest libraries in Asia.
The upset of Jaffna has made many people fail to understand it; The problems left over from the past few years also make people hesitate to go.
But today’s Jaffna, quiet years are my most direct feeling. Even if you sit in the seaside park for an afternoon, when you look back, you will still see the magnificent castle behind you.
These scenery are all within sight. They are journey surprises in distant stories that are worth reminiscing again and again.
