Jaffna, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka’s Tamil community in the far north, is a city of proud resilience, distinctive culture and deeply rooted Hindu tradition. The city’s skyline is punctuated by the elaborate towers of ancient kovils – Hindu temples of Dravidian craftsmanship, while its streets carry an atmosphere and identity entirely distinct from the Sinhalese south, shaped by its proximity to South India and the particular history of its people.