Hanuman 2018

Back to the Indian subcontinent for two months in Spring 2018.

With Sri Lanka, Mumbai, the Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Amritsar and Delhi on the menu, we had many sweet experiences sprinkled with some sour ones.

Read on to learn how we fared.

Full map of all Hanuman 2018 pages

Other Things

Thinking of our next destination: Italy and Portugal come to mind, or maybe the time has finally come for a US road trip…

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Tamil Jaffna

(vero;2018-Oct-20)

Jaffna was our last Sri Lankan destination before heading back to Colombo and Negombo and fly to India. We liked the place, its many hindu shrines and temples and the fact that we were at last in a town environment. We have a blog entry about our Jaffna experience, the highlight being the day we toured the islands west of Jaffna.

The gopuram (gateway) of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, Jaffna's big Hindu temple.

The entrance of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil.

Lady reading at the door of Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil.

Inside the church of Our Lady of the Refuge.

Seen in the yard of the church of Our Lady of the Refuge.

Tomb inside the church of Our Lady of the Refuge.

Jaffna's public library, destroyed in 1981 by pro-government forces, it became an icon of Tamil culture and resistance and was one of the first buildings to be rebuilt after the end of the civil war.

This is the “ferry” which brought us to the island of Nainativu. Passengers are staying under deck, with two rickety steep ladders to go in and out, quite narrow slits to let the air in, you can tell that safety is not much of an issue here.

Inside the ferry, Thomas hoping for the best.

Altar fitted below the prow, first aid kit Sri Lankan version?

Our fellow passengers in the ferry; they are on their way to the temple and the plastic bags they are holding contain their offerings to the Gods.

Inside the ferry, the passengers are wearing blue safety jackets, we doubt they would have been of a great help.

Nagadipa Buddhist temple on Nainativu, the only Buddhist pilgrimage site in the North.

Nagadipa temple: statue featuring Buddha in the Bhumisparsha posture under the protection of Mucalinda, a naga which protected the Buddha from the elements after his enlightenment. The Bhumisparsha posture is the posture adopted by the Buddha when having attained enlightenment he summoned the earth to bear witness to his victory over the temptations of the world.

Young man painting the exterior frieze surrounding Nagadipa temple.

Exterior frieze on the low wall surrounding Nagadipa temple.

Nainativu, the entrance gopuram of Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil under menacing skies.

Details of the figures adorning Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil.

Multi-armed and multi-faced god at Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil.

Buddha statue in a square inland of Nainativu.

Looking back at Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil as our ferry leaves Nainativu.

Feeling much safer on the “ferry” connecting Kayts to Karaitivu.

The outboard engine of the Kayts-Karaitivu ferry.

Crossing the sea channel between Kayts and Karaitivu.

Go back to The Ancient Cities or go on to Day Trip to Colombo or go up to Photos