Mannar Hotels & Mannar District Travel Guide

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Let’s see what we can do in Mannar. Mannar is in the Northern Province. Mannar offers a variety of facilities to people, such as a Mannar Hospital, a Mannar Police Station, a Mannar Railway Station, and a Mannar Bus Station. Mannar postal code is 61000.

Mannar offers a range of hotels and accommodation options, from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxurious resorts. You can book Mannar hotels from hotelexpress.lk, and also check out Mannar tours. So let’s continue, best tour guide.

Mannar Weather. 

Mannar district, located in the northern part of Sri Lanka, is affected by the northeast monsoon for most of the year. It experiences humid, windy, and mostly cloudy weather. The temperature is around 27°C (82°F) and the humidity is around 95%. Wind speeds of around 12 miles per hour and clouds are a nearly constant feature.

The way from COLOMBO to MANNAR.

• The bus journey from Colombo to Mannar takes approximately 7 hours and 59 minutes.

• The train journey from Colombo Fort to Mannar Railway Station takes approximately 7 hours and 10 minutes.

• Traveling by car or taxi takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes.

 Mannar Visiting Places.

There are many historical and scenic attractions for tourists to see in Mannar. Let’s see what there is to see in Mannar.

1. Mannar Island.

        Mannar Island, located in the northern province of Sri Lanka, is a wonderful place. This island has an area of about 125 square kilometers. There is a lot to see on this island. Among them, the 700-year-old baobab trees and the Talaimannar Lighthouse are the most famous. This island also has white sand and palm tree forests. These palm tree forests are home to several monkey tribes. The best time to visit Mannar Island is between July and September and between December and February.

2. National Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu.

        The Roman Catholic Shrine of the Virgin Mary is located in the Mannar district of Sri Lanka. It is currently considered the holiest Catholic shrine. The shrine has a history of over 400 years. The church that accompanies the shrine was built in 1872. Today, it includes a spacious chapel, a chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, and a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. The shrine is a place that attracts tourists and pilgrims alike.

3. Thiruketheeswaram Kovil.

       Thiruketheeswaram Kovil is located in Mannar, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. This Kovil is an ancient Hindu temple. It is one of the five Ishwarams of the island. There are many legends about this Kovil. It has a history of about 2400 years, and there is no specific year of its construction. In the 16th century, when the Portuguese attacked Sri Lanka, this Kovil was slightly destroyed and was renovated again about 400 years later in the early 20th century. Then it was renovated again in the 1950s with the help of the Thiruketheeswaram Restoration Association.

4. Doric Bangalow.

        The Doric Bungalow at Arippu, about 40 km south of Mannar Island, was the home of Frederick North, the first British Governor of Sri Lanka. It was built between 1801 and 1804. The main reason for its construction was to help revive the pearl fishery in Sri Lanka. The two-storey building is called "Doric" because of its columns, which are designed in the image of the ancient Greek Doric order. The bungalow is two-storeyed, with two rooms on the upper floor and four rooms on the lower floor. There is also a dining room that can seat about 20 people at a time. Today, the Doric Bungalow is declared a protected archaeological monument. Due to its exposed position on the coastal cliff, the building has become an impressive ruin.

5. Mannar Bird Sanctuary. 

      The Mannar Bird Sanctuary, located in the Mannar district of Sri Lanka, is a must-see place to visit. Because it is home to many species of birds and many species of animals. Especially birds living in Asia, birds native to Europe, and Africa, come to the Mannar Bird Sanctuary at certain times for their breeding process. Also, this bird sanctuary is home to both local and foreign birds. There are also many beautiful trees and grasses here. If you come to Mannar, do not forget to visit this bird paradise. 

6. Mannar Dutch Fort.

       Mannar Fort is located in the Mannar district. The fort was built by the Portuguese in the mid-16th century. It was then captured by the Dutch in 1658. In 1795, the Dutch surrendered to the British, and the fort was later occupied by British forces. The Mannar Fort reaches a height of about 3.5 meters, has thick walls of approximately 1.5 meters, and a rampart of about 14.5 meters in length. It is currently managed by the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka. The view of the sea from this fort is breathtaking.

7. Keeri Beach.

        Keeri Beach is a very beautiful beach located in the Northern Province. This beach is famous for being a secluded beach. The Keeree Sea is located five kilometers from the main city. A large number of monkeys live here. This beach has golden sand. It is also a very beautiful beach. The months of July to September are known as the best time to visit this beach. Also, if you come to this beach in March and August, you can see the rare flamingo birds. If you want to spend a relaxing holiday, definitely come to Keeree Beach.

8. Yodha Wewa. 

        The Yoddha Wewa, located in the Mannar district, is said in history books to have been built by King Dhatusena during his reign. The embankment of the Yoddha Wewa is seven miles long and 44 feet high. The tank is built across the Malwathu Oya. This tank is the second largest tank in Sri Lanka and the third largest tank in the world. The water capacity of the Yoddha Wewa is 26,000 acre feet and the people living on 14,771 acres are fed by this tank.

9. Talaimannar Lighthouse. 

        The Talaimannar Lighthouse is a famous tourist attraction in the Mannar district. The lighthouse is located near the old jetty. There are also ruins of an old railway line near the lighthouse. The new railway Station was also built near this lighthouse. The Talaimannar Lighthouse was built in 1915 and is 19 meters high. If you are going to visit this lighthouse, it is more convenient to go by train because the train goes very close to the lighthouse.

Mannar Tourist Places.

• Mannar Beach:

       Pesalai Beach, Talaimannar Beach, Thalvupadu Beach, Keeri Beach, Vankalai Beach, Silawathurei Beach

• Hiking places:

       Talaimannar Island View Point, Mannar Island’s coastal landscape

• Historical Places:

       National Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, Thiruketheeswaram Kovil

• Sanctuary:

       Vankalai Sanctuary

• Tank:

       Kattukkarai kulam, Thekkama Amuna, Periyamadu Tank, Yodha Wewa

• Fort:

      Mannar Dutch Fort, Arippu Dutch Fort

• Pier:

      Talaimannar Pier

• Mannar Bridge:

       Adam’s Bridge

• LightHouse:

       Minara Lighthouse, Talaimannar Lighthouse, Talaimannar Old Lighthouse 

• Others:

       Bird Watching Tower, Baobab Tree, Doric Bangalow

Cities in the Mannar District.

• Madhu

• Mannar

• Manthai

• Nanaddan

• Palampiddi

• Silavathurai

• Thalladi

• Velankulam

• Vidattaltivu

Are you ready to visit the Mannar District ?

Although there are several things to do in the Mannar District, your involvement in such activities during your visit to the Mannar District will surely become an unforgettable experience for a lifetime.