LANKA EXCURSIONS HOLIDAYS
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    • Giant Stupas >
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      • Passara
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      • Kotmale reservoir
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    • Waterfalls >
      • Bambarakanda Falls
      • Diyaluma Falls
      • Dunhinda Falls
      • St. Clair's Falls
      • Devon Falls
      • Bomburu Falls
      • Dunsinane Falls
      • Huluganga Falls
      • Bopath Falls
      • Dodam Falls
      • Mannakethi Falls
      • Aberdeen Falls
      • Lakshapana
      • Kirindi Falls
      • Bambarakiri Falls
      • Ramboda
      • Ravana Falls
      • Rawan Ella
      • Lovers Leap
      • Hunas Falls
      • Diyakerella Falls
      • Jodu Ella
      • Saree Ella
      • Seven Falls Knuckles
      • Yatawatta Biso Ella
      • Wattegama
      • Rangala Natural Pool
    • National Parks >
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      • Brief Garden
      • Lunuganga
      • Gampaha
      • Kanneliya
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Nilavarai - Bottomless Well of Puttur on Jaffna Peninsula

Nilawarai Bottomless Well created by Rama 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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if not stated otherwise, texts and photos provided  by Ernst A. Sundermann, sales manager of Lanka Excursions Holidays
all rights reserved, © 2016 Lanka Excursion Holidays
  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Terms
    • payments
    • по-русски
  • About
  • Info
    • Where is Sri Lanka
    • Names of Sri Lanka
    • Travel Regions >
      • Cultural Triangle images
      • Central Highlands images
      • Western Plains images
      • Southwest Wet Zone images
      • Deep South images
      • Eastern Shores images
      • Northern Province images
    • off the beaten path >
      • highly recommended
      • around Colombo
      • around Yapahuwa
      • around Anuradhapura
      • around Jaffna
      • around Trincomalee
      • around Polonnaruwa
      • around Sigiriya
      • around Kandy
      • around Nuwara Eliya
      • around Arugam Bay
      • around Hambantota
      • around Bentota
      • all over Sri Lanka
    • Things to do
    • Slide Show >
      • Famous Places Slide Show
      • Less-known Sites Slide Show
    • Directory
  • Tours
    • 4-days classic
    • 8 days tour
    • 4 weeks honeymoon tour
    • your-price-choice
    • pinnawela+kitulgala
    • 3 days 2 nights
    • 4 days 3 nights
    • Sri Lanka Transport Service
    • 7 days with 4 hikes
    • 10 days with 7 hikes
    • 2-days trek Knuckles-5-Peaks
    • 15 days with 7 means of travel
    • Bentota beach holidays
    • Nilaveli beach holidays
    • Services >
      • Outdoor Anuradhapura
    • Tripadvisor
    • Cambodia
    • Nepal
    • deutsch >
      • 15 days with 3 surf beaches
  • Mihintale
    • Mihintale attractions
    • Guesthouse Rooms
    • Rent my Villa
    • Activities around Mihintale
    • Picnic at Kaludiya Pokuna
    • car
    • Day trips by car
    • Mihintale-sightseeing
    • Hiking in Mihintale
  • Culture
    • Food >
      • Rice
      • Breakfast
      • Kottu Roti
      • Pasta Sri Lanka style
      • Rice Noodles Sri Lanka style
      • Egg-fried rice Sri Lanka style
    • Tea
    • Ayurveda
  • Destinations
    • World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka >
      • Anuradhapura World Heritage Site
      • Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site
      • Sigiriya World Heritage Site
      • Dambulla World Heritage Site
      • Kandy Sacred City
      • Galle Fort
    • Cities of Sri Lanka >
      • Colombo
      • Nuwara Eliya
      • Trincomalee
      • Ratnapura
      • Batticaloa
      • Kurunegala
      • Matale
      • Kalutara
      • Tangalle
      • Hambantota
      • Puttalam
      • Chilaw
      • Matara
      • Avissawella
      • Badulla
      • Pussellawa
      • Tissamaharama
      • Kalmunai
      • Embilipitiya
      • Habarana
      • Kilinochchi
      • Bibile
      • Pottuvil
      • Giritale
      • Rattota
    • Sacred Places >
      • Kataragama
      • Mahiyangana
      • Seruwila
      • Somawathiya
      • Sita Eliya
      • Maha Saman Devale
      • Kelaniya
      • Nelligala
      • Munneshvaram
      • Ketheesvaram
      • Kanniyai
      • Manavari
      • Adisham Hall
      • Madampe
      • Seenigama
      • Divurumpola
      • Bhadravathi
    • Ancient Temples >
      • Ritigala
      • Thiriyai
      • Yapahuwa
      • Haththikuchchi
      • Velgam Vehera
      • Medirigiriya
      • Sithulpahuwa
      • Pidurangala
      • Nalanda
      • Mulkirigala
      • Panduwasnuwara
      • Padeniya
      • Padavigampola
      • Namal Uyana
      • Arankale
      • Menikdena
      • Manakanda
      • Nillakgama Bodhigara
      • Panavitiya
      • Gadaladeniya Temple near Kandy
      • Lankatilaka
      • Embekke
      • Dimbulagala
      • Lahugala
      • Kudumbigala
      • Hanguranketa
      • Dambadeniya
      • Kiralagala
      • Kalupokuna
      • Degaldoruwa
      • Ramba Vihara
      • Medawala
      • Dadagamuwa
      • Buddhangala
      • Dematamal Viharaya
      • Pilikuttuwa
      • Handagala Kanda
      • Dodanwela
      • Andankulam
      • Beligala
      • Bogoda
      • Barandiya Kovil
      • Kokabe
      • Divulwewa
      • Madagama
      • Pettagangala
      • Isenbessagala
      • Kuruwita
      • Koskandawala
      • Attanagalla
      • Kadadora
      • Gurulupotha
      • Thammennakanda
      • Kalpe
      • Alawwa
      • Awariyawala
      • Karagahagedara
    • Historical Caves >
      • Ridigama
      • Salgala
      • Veheragala
      • Wavulpone
      • Sankapala
      • Varana
      • Aluvihara
      • Hindagala Temple
      • Anamaduwa
      • Aluthepola
      • Maligatenna
      • Divaguhawa
      • Batadomba Lena
      • Beli Lena
      • Pahiyangala
      • Maradankadawala
      • Wilandagoda
      • Gonagiri
      • Thambalagollewa
      • Shtripura Caves
    • Giant Stupas >
      • Yudaganawa
      • Dedigama
      • Dighavapi
      • Kotmale Maha Seya
      • Sandagiri Maha Seya
    • Rock Buddha statues >
      • Gal Vihara
      • Aukana Buddha
      • Sasseruwa Buddha
      • Buduruwagala
      • Dowa
      • Maligawila
      • Kushtaraja Statue
      • Thanthirimale
      • Bakamuna
      • Maboda Temple
      • Rambodagalla statue
    • Mountains >
      • Adam's Peak
      • Horton Plains
      • Hunnasgiriya
      • Pidurutalagala
      • Dolukanda
      • Hanthana Range
      • Knuckles Range
      • Sinharaja
      • Haputale
      • Ella
      • Riverston
      • Meemure
      • Chariot Path
      • Lakegala
      • Mathalagala
      • Uda Pathana
      • Namunukula
      • Peacock Hill
      • Kondagala
      • Madulsima
      • Deanston
      • Pitawala Patana
      • Hulangala
      • Ambuluwawa
      • Bible Rock
      • Medamahanuwara
      • Hakgala
      • Mani Katthitheri
      • Katupotha Kanda
      • Corbett's Gap
      • Kadugannawa
      • Moon Plains
      • Uda Pussellawa
      • Frotoft Estate
      • Passara
      • Narangamuwa
      • Retiyagama
      • Kotmale reservoir
      • Victoria Lake
      • Rothschild Tea Estate
      • Gomara
    • Waterfalls >
      • Bambarakanda Falls
      • Diyaluma Falls
      • Dunhinda Falls
      • St. Clair's Falls
      • Devon Falls
      • Bomburu Falls
      • Dunsinane Falls
      • Huluganga Falls
      • Bopath Falls
      • Dodam Falls
      • Mannakethi Falls
      • Aberdeen Falls
      • Lakshapana
      • Kirindi Falls
      • Bambarakiri Falls
      • Ramboda
      • Ravana Falls
      • Rawan Ella
      • Lovers Leap
      • Hunas Falls
      • Diyakerella Falls
      • Jodu Ella
      • Saree Ella
      • Seven Falls Knuckles
      • Yatawatta Biso Ella
      • Wattegama
      • Rangala Natural Pool
    • National Parks >
      • Yala NP
      • Wilpattu NP
      • Maduru Oya NP
      • Gal Oya NP
      • Udawalawe NP
      • Minneriya NP
      • Kaudulla NP
      • Kumana NP
      • Bundala NP
      • Ussangoda
      • leopards
    • Activity Attractions >
      • Kandy Perahera 2024
      • Kithulgala
      • Pinnawela
      • Madu Ganga
      • Muthurajawela
      • Meetiyagoda
      • Rekawa
      • Induruwa
      • Brief Garden
      • Lunuganga
      • Gampaha
      • Kanneliya
      • Bodhinagala
      • Mahapalessa Hot Springs
      • Thoppigala
      • Rufus Kulam
      • Wewurukannala
      • Kalawewa
      • Kandalama
    • Beaches >
      • Beruwela
      • Bentota Beach
      • Balapitiya
      • Ambalangoda
      • Hikkaduwa
      • Unawatuna
      • Weligama
      • Mirissa
      • Dondra
      • Hiriketiya
      • Hoomaniya Blowhole
      • Kirinda
      • Okanda
      • Arugam Bay
      • Thirukkovil
      • Pasikuda
      • Thennadi Bay
      • Nilaveli Beach
      • Kuchchaveli
      • Pulmoddai
      • Mannar Island
      • Kalpitiya Peninsula
      • Marawila
      • Negombo
    • Jaffna Peninsula >
      • Jaffna
      • Nallur
      • Kandarodai
      • Nilavarai
      • Point Pedro
      • Manalkadu
      • Naguleshvaram
      • Jambukola
      • Nainativu
      • Delft Island
      • Elephant Pass
    • top 20 attractions >
      • top 20 in Colombo
      • top 20 in Kandy
    • Sri Lanka off the beaten track
  • Blog
  • Reviews
    • Reviews since 2020
    • Tripadvisor Reviews
    • Reviews 2015-2020
    • instagram
  • Contact