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Nilavarai Well - the Bottomless Well of Puttur on Jaffna Peninsula

Nilavarai well near Puttur on Jaffna Peninsula
Nilawarai, also spelt Nilavarai or Nilavari,  is located in Puttur 14 kms northeast of Jaffna town. Nilawari is the largest freshwater well on Jaffna Peninsula. The water is slightly brackish but drinkable. The Nilawarai well is famous for never drying up, not even during severe droughts. Nilawarai is known as the „bottomless well“ by Tamil people. Indeed, it is 44 m deep, as H.F. Tomlin found out in 1895.. The rectangular bassin surrounded by rock surface is 13 meters long and 10 m wide. Pumping station supply water for irrigation canals now.   

Nilawarai is a tidal well, the level of the water surface fluctuates a few centimeters every 12 hours. This phenomenon is easily explained by a subterranean link to the ocean. Legend has it, that there is a tunnel between Nilawarai and Keerimalai, the two most significant freshwater wells of Jaffna Peninsula.As a matter of fact, the salinity of the water is higher at the bottom of the Nilawarai well, whereas the best freshwater is at the surface. This is caused by an influx of freshwater from subterranean springs which are higher than the bottom of the well.

The Nilawarai well as an obvious miracle has been a sacred place since ancient times. The modern shrine called Navasaila Oswaran Kovil was built at an ancient site. Legend has it, that there was an ancient cave where Hindu saints led a contemplative life. A broken Buddha statue found at the Nilawarai well is now on display in the Jaffna Museum. Remnants of Buddhist and Hindu temples have been found close to the well. When the British colonial rulers attempted to establish a leprosy sanatorium near Nilawarai, the locals revolted against this plan, because they regarded this as a desecration of the sacred site.

Nilawarai is a destination of Ramayana Trail pilgrims, as its origin is connected to the arrival of Lord Rama on the island of Lanka. It is told that when Lord Rama's army entered Lanka they took positions on different sides. The army situated in the northern dry zone faced a severe water crisis. Then Lord Rama shot a magic arrow into the ground. Water sprung out immediately. Another version of the legend has it that the arrow was shot by Hanuman to satisfy the thirst of Rama.


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Sri Lanka destinations A-Z
famous attractions are marked bold, highly recommendable hidden treasures in bold italic letters
Aberdeen Falls
Activity Attractions
Adam's Peak
Adisham Hall
Alawwa
Aluthepola
Aluvihara
Ambalangoda
Ambuluwawa
Anamaduwa
Ancient Temples
Anuradhapura
Arankale
Arugam Bay
Attanagalla
Aukana
Avissawella
Awariyawala

Badulla
Bakamuna
Bambarakanda Falls
Bambarakiri Falls
Barandiya Kovil
Batadomba Lena
Batticaloa
Beaches
Beli Lena
Beligala
Bentota
Beruwela
Bible Rock
Blowhole
Bodhinagala
Bogoda Bridge
Bopath Ella
Brief Garden
Buddhangala
Buduruwagala 
Bundala NP

Cave Temples
Chilaw
Cities
Colombo
Dadagamuwa
Dambadeniya
Dambulla
Danthure
Deanston
Dedigama
Degaldoruwa
Delft Island
Dematamal Viharaya
Devon Falls
Dighavapi
Dimbulagala
Divaguhawa
Divulwewa
Divurumpola
Diyaluma Falls
Dodan Falls
Dodanwela
Dondra Head
Dowa
Dunhinda Falls

Elephant Pass
Ella
Embekke
Embilipitiya

Gadaladeniya
Gampaha
Gal Oya NP
Gal Vihara
Galle Fort
Giritale

Habarana
Hakgala
Hambantota
Hanguranketa
Haputale
Hatthikucchi
Highlands
Hikkaduwa
Horton Plains
Hunas Falls
Hunnasgiriya

Induruwa
Isenbessagala

Jaffna Peninsula
Jaffna town
Jambukola
Kadugannawa Pass
Kalawewa
Kalmunai
Kalpitiya Peninsula
Kalupokuna
Kalutara
Kandalama
Kandarodai stupas
Kandy Festival
Kandy Sacred City
Kanneliya Forest
Kanniyai Hot Wells
Karagahagedara
Kataragama
Kaudulla NP
Keerimalai
Kelaniya
Kilinochchi
Kiralagala
Kirinda
Kirindi Falls
Kitulgala
Knuckles Range
Kokabe
Koskandawala
Kudumbigala
Kumana NP
Kurunegala
Kuruwita
Kushtaraja statue

Lahugala
Lakshapana Falls
Lankatilaka
Leopards
Lunuganga Gardens

Maboda
Madagama
Madampe
Madu Ganga
Maduru Oya NP
Mahapalessa Hot Wells
Mahiyangana
Maligatenna
Maligawila
Manakanda
Manalkadu
Manavari
Mannakethi Falls
Mannar Island
Maradankadawala
Marawila
Matale
Matara
Medamahanuwara
Medirigiriya
Menikdena
Mihintale
Minneriya NP
Mirissa
Moonstone Mine
Mulkirigala
Munneshvaram
Muthurajawela
Nainativu Island
Nalanda Gedige
Nallur
Namal Uyana
Namunukula
National Parks
Negombo
Nilavarai Well
Nilaveli Beach
Nillakgama
Nuwara Eliya

Okanda Beach

Padavigampola
Padeniya
Pahiyangala
Panavitiya
Panduwasnuwara
Pasikuda
Passara
Pettagangala
Pidurangala
Pidurutalagala
Pilgrimage Places
Pilikuttuwa
Pinnawela
Point Pedro
Polonnaruwa
Pulmoddai
Pottuvil
Puttalam

Ramba Vihara
Ramboda
Rasvehera
Ratnapura
Ravana Falls
Rekawa
Retiyagama
Ridigama
Ritigala
Rock-cut Buddhas
Rufus Kulam
Salgala
Saman Devale
Sankapala
Seenigama
Seruwila
Sigiriya
Sinharaja Forest
Sita Eliya
Sithulpahuwa
Somawathiya
St. Clair's Falls
Stupas

Tangalle
Tantirimale
Thennadi Bay
Thiriyai
Thirukkovil
Thoppigala
Tissamaharama
Trincomalee

Uda Pussellawa
Udawalawe NP
Unawatuna
Ussangoda

Varana
Veheragala
Velgam Vehera
Victoria Lake

Waterfalls
Weligama
Wewurukannala
Wilandagoda
Wilpattu NP
World Heritage

Yala NP
Yapahuwa
Yudaganawa

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