Nagadeepa on Navam Poya 2016

Year and Month	February, 2016
Number of Days	2
Crew	2 Adults ( Friends)
Guide	Hotel Clock Tower, Jaffna
Accommodation	N/A
Transport	By train and by a hired Car and a Bus
Activities	Worship Nagadeepa on Poya-day
Weather	Sunny day
Route	Kottawa -> Colombo -> Jaffna –> Nagadeepa
Tips, Notes and Special remark	Bottled Water is recommended
Author	GN
Comments	Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread Nagadeepa on Navam Poya 2016

I and my friend decided to visit Jaffna and Worship Nagadeepa temple on Full moon day 22^nd February. We left home somewhere around 4.00 clock in the morning on 21st. Our plan is to travel Jaffna by Train. But It was found that the intercity AC train from Colombo fort at 5.35 am is fully booked and no seats available, Therefore we decided to take the next train Yal Devi that leaves Colombo Fort at 6.30am and reaches Jaffna about 3.15 pm. it is worth saving time in a this nature of trip and advisable to book the intercity AC train reaches Jaffna about 12.30pm

We had already booked an accommodation in Jaffna through booking.com, Hotel clock tower which is located very closer to Jaffna Bus stand (200 meters to Bus stand). They provide only accommodation. But they will generously help you to find good places for meal or even yon can bring and have the meal in their dining area. This is a budget place you can reserve an AC room for very attractive rate. Better to give a call and book. It reduces additional cost. Phone +94776259980 or web www.hotelclocktower.com email hotelclocktower@gmail.com. Language barrier is a little problem but they can understand English.

We had our lunch at Jaffna and decided to visit Kadurugoda Temple and Dambakolapatuna Temple which is located about 15 and 20 Km away from Jaffna. We hired an AC Car, very attractive rate Rs 50/= a Km. The Car owner is a very good person who can speak Sinhala well. He is Mr.Raj Kumar ( 0775998255 and 0775541668). He is very helpful. No additional charges because of long stoppages at temples. He is willing to help you depend on your programme objective.

We left Jaffna about 4pm and first visited Kadurugoda Temple, then Keeramalei Natural water spring and finally Damakolapatna temple. It was little dark when we reached Damabkolapatuna. In this nature of short evening trip, to visit main Buddhist places, it is better to leave at least 3.00pm from Jaffna.

Kadurugoda Temple

Keeramalai

Keeramalai Natural Water Spring

Keeramalai water spring -Historical story ( 3 pictures below depicting the historical legend )

.	Dambakolapatuna Temple -Sangamith Teraniyo statue

Dambakola Patuna Dagoba

Arrival of Sangamith Teranio to Dambakolapatuna (creation)

Our dinner, we had at the Hotel clock tower and they helped us to get the meal form a good place. Mr. Jesipadaran a three wheeler owner who has some relationship with the Hotel willingly helped us to buy the meal. He is very innocent young boy. He charges Rs 40/=per Kilometer and it is same as Colombo. He is very helpful, he went and checked the early morning bus to Kurikadduwan (Place where boat service begins) and informed us to take the early bus form Jaffna because next day is a Full Monday and there will be a lot of Visitors, Devotees. We took the first bus from Jaffna to Kurikadduwan early next morning. The CTB bus leaves at 630am but the private bus leaves at 6.15 am form Jaffna bus Stand

It takes about one hour for Bus to reach Kurikadduwan Jetty. From there it is about 20-25 minutes boat travel to Nagadeepa Temple. There were lot of devotees visiting to Observe Sil at Nagadeepa. This was my first visit to Nagadeepa, We participated some meritorious deeds at the temple including Chanting Pirith and meditation. We returned form there after spending about 4 hours. There is a Large Hindu temple in Nagadeepa and we went there on our return way to Nagadeepa Jetty. This Kovil is located about 500 meters away from the temple. This is known as Naga Pooshani Ambal Kovil, ( Kovil of the Wife of Lord Shiva ).

We wanted to catch the Intercity Train leaves form Jaffna at 1.45pm because we were able to get two tickets form visitors who are not travelling for some reason. Hotel people helped in this regard. You can call the Car or Three wheeler (above mentioned) and arrange your travel requirement, it is very convenient.

We reached Colombo Fort railway station at about 8.20pm this was a very calm an quiet religious trip.