5/5 Mohamed A. 3 years ago on Google • 169 reviews
Jaffna
in
contemporary
Sri
Lanka
could
be
surmised
as
the
epitome
of
the
Hindu-Tamil
culture
in
Sri
Lanka.
However
from
the
archaeological
evidence
available
it
could
be
confirmed
that
in
the
ancient
times
Buddhist
culture
had
spread
to
the
north
as
well
as
to
other
places
of
Sri
Lanka.
With
the
fall
of
the
Polonnaruwa
kingdom
in
the
13th c.
A.D.
a
separate
political
administration
emerged
in
the
Jaffna
peninsula,
also
known
as
Nagadipa
and
its
survival
was
established
by
being
the
controlling
centre
of
the
trade
route
between
India
and
Sri
Lanka.
In
this
manner
Jaffna
was
able
to
build
up
an
independent
state
to
exert
at
present
a
strong
political
influence
over
the
administration
of
Sri
Lanka
as
in
the
ancient
times.
The
historicity
of
Jaffna
and
its
residual
evidence
is
exemplified
by
the
existence
of
the
Dutch
Fort
and
the
host
of
other
archaeological
monuments
associated
with
it,
though
they
are
seen
to
the
present
day
as
ruins.
The
Jaffna
Fort
and
the
buildings
that
had
come
up
during
the
occupation
of
the
island
by
the
Portuguese,
Dutch
and
the
British
shows
the
architectural
features
relevant
to
those
periods
of
construction.
These
buildings
have
been
destroyed
during
the
30
year
old
internal
strife
that
ravaged
the
country.
Jaffna
Fort,
the
second
biggest
Dutch
fort
built
in
Sri
Lanka
is
an
archaeological
monument
that
has
had
a
direct
onslaught
as
a
result
of
the
recent
30
year
of
armed
conflict.
Although
a
portion
of
its
seaside
rampart
had
been
destroyed
due
to
a
continuous
offensive
from
the
LTTE
the
fort
taken
as
a
whole
has
not
undergone
a
severe
destruction.
An
outer
moat
exists
outside
the
ramparts.
Outside
the
moat
is
the
outer
rampart
which
has
built
in
to
it
five
tunnels
each
in
a
twin
formation.
Although
the
tunnels
are
in
good
preservation
they
are
presently
void
of
doors.
However
they
show
signs
that
they
have
had
doorways
in
the
past.
The
monuments
within
the
fort
had
been
destroyed
during
the
conflict
that
raged
in
the
area.
Of
these
the
monument
named
the
Queen’s
Palace
is
in
sufficient
level
of
preservation
than
the
rest
as
it
could
be
identified.
Its
superstructure
is
completely
destroyed
and
the
remaining
walls
are
in
the
process
of
being
destroyed
due
to
the
presence
of
invasive
plants
having
taken
roots
in
them.
The
short
parapet
wall
constructed
to
the
style
of
Dutch
architecture
in
front
of
this
building
has
by
and
large
been
spared
of
destruction.
Behind
the
building
is
an
access
to
the
rampart
with
an
ornate
trellis
balustrade.
This
access
may
have
been
used
by
the
Dutch
to
transport
arms
to
the
rampart.
There
is
evidence
to
show
that
a
verandah
with
two
ponds
of
the
Dutch
architectural
style
had
existed
in
front
of
the
Queen’s
Palace.
The
Dutch
church
located
within
the
fort
had
been
bombed
and
completely
destroyed.
As
this
structure
had
been
documented
its
ancient
layout
could
be
identified.
Its
broad
walls
had
been
constructed
in
limestone.
The
other
buildings
such
as
the
old
prison,
the
hospital
and
the
ancillary
buildings
have
undergone
much
destruction.
The
belfry
on
the
inner
rampart
is
similar
to
those
found
in
other
Dutch
forts.
Presently
their
walls
are
missing.
Close
to
the
boundary
of
the
seaside
rampart
are
a
well
believed
to
have
been
constructed
during
the
Dutch
era
and
a
Hindu
temple
built
at
a
later
date.
Source
:-
Department
of
Archeology
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