Jaffna in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka has been named among CNN Travel’s 18 most underrated places in Asia.
Describing Jaffna, CNN Travel says most foreign tourists head to Sri Lanka’s beautiful south coast or into its central tea country, both of which are fairly easy to reach from the main city of Colombo and beloved by Instagrammers who come to ride the famous rails.
The northern patch of the island is worth the sometimes-challenging car or bus trip to get there.
Jaffna is the primary home of the country’s Tamil-speaking population and still has glimmers of its Indian and Dutch colonial past, resulting in a fascinating, complex culture.
CNN Travel urges tourists to start with architecture: the ornate, bright gold Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil Hindu temple and sprawling white Colonial-era Jaffna Library are both exceptional.
Then, indulge in the food: bananas and mangoes fresh off the trees combined with curries, pickles and rice dishes for filling, inexpensive meals.
Ipoh in Malaysia, Isaan in Thailand, Leshan and Tengchong in China, Skardu in Pakistan, Nikko in Japan, Dalat and Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam, Davao in Philippines, Meghalaya in India, Pulau Ubin in Singapore, Samosir Island in Indonesia, Pakse in Laos, Bangladesh, Gogunsan Islands in South Korea, Kenting in Taiwan, and Banteay Chhmar in Cambodia are the other underrated places in Asia listed by CNN Travel. (NewsWire)