Nallur Kandaswamy Temple | Srilankan Guides
Located approximately 3 km from Jaffna town is the Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, one of the most important temples in Sri Lanka. Built in the 15th century and dedicated to Lord Murugan, the god of war, love, and beauty, the temple features impressive arches and colorful designs as part of its captivating Dravidian architecture.
The golden pillars stand out in the dry landscape, shining brightly at the entrance of the temple. As you pass through the arch, you’ll enter a large and high-ceilinged hall. In the central shrine, you’ll find the main statue of Lord Murugan, accompanied by statues of several other major deities.
The temple’s foundation was laid in 948 AD, but because of frequent invasions by foreign forces, the temple’s location shifted several times within Nallur. In the 13th century, Puvenaya Vaku, a minister to the then King of Jaffna, Kalinga Magha, finally established the temple.
