🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Temples
Major Temple

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple

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Location

Nallur, Jaffna, Northern Province

Timings

5:00 AM � 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM � 8:00 PM

Dress Code

Strict traditional attire. Men: dhoti (sarong) or pants with shirt. Women: saree or salwar kameez. No shorts or sleeveless tops.

Deity

Kandaswamy (Lord Murugan) with Valli and Deivanai

Significance

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna is the most important Murugan temple in Sri Lanka and one of the most significant Hindu temples outside India. With over a millennium of history, it is the spiritual heart of Sri Lankan Tamils and survived centuries of colonial destruction and civil war.

Architecture

The temple is built in the classic Dravidian style with a 5-tier gopuram adorned with colorful stucco figures of deities, dancers, and mythical creatures. The main sanctum houses Kandaswamy (Murugan) with Valli and Deivanai. The gold-plated vimana shines prominently. The temple features a large 1,000-pillar mandapam rebuilt in the 20th century. The flagstaff (Kodimaram) is covered in gold.

Festivals Celebrated

Nallur Festival (August-September, 25-day grand festival)Thaipusam (January-February, major kavadi festival)Skanda Sashti (October-November)Vaikasi Visakam (May-June)Panguni Uthiram (March-April)Sivarathri (February-March)

Nearby Temples

Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple10 km
Selva Sannithi Murugan Temple2 km
Vallipuram Aalvar Kovil20 km
Kankesanthurai Nagapooshani18 km

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