Visit Nallur Kandaswamy Temple - A famed symbol of Hinduism
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is one of Jaffna’s most significant Hindu temples, located in the ancient capital town of Nallur, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Devoted to Lord Murugan, the god of war, love and beauty, this sacred site dated back to 948 AD, but after several constant invasion by foreign forces, it was rebuilt multiple times within Nallur. The current temple was erected in 1734 AD by Don Juan and it started the “'Golden Period” in the latter 1890s with the takeover of the temple administration by Arumuga Maapaana Mudaliyar; who brought it back to its earlier magnificence. As visitors walk through the main entrance, you will see an ornately carved five-story tower in enthralling Dravidian architecture with grand arches and vibrant hues. The central shrine contains the prominent statue of Lord Murugan, and you will also find other shrines for Lords Ganesh, Vairavar, Sun and Sandana Gopala. Every year, the temple hosts the annual festival during the full moon in August which begins with a flag-hoisting ceremony – the Kodiyetram. The colorful festival carries on for 25 days and attracts tens of thousands of people from around the world.
