Nagadeepaya
Overview
Nagadeepaya is a sacred island where Buddhist and Hindu heritage coexist.
Highlights
Located off the Jaffna coast, it is one of Sri Lanka’s most spiritually significant sites.
Explore Nagadeepaya
Nagadeepa (also known as Nainativu Island) is a small but spiritually powerful island located about 30 km off the Jaffna coast. The island is one of the few places in the world where two of the holiest sites for two different religions are located within walking distance of each other.
Nagadeepa Purana Vihara (Buddhist). This is one of the Solosmasthana (16 most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka). According to the Mahavamsa chronicle, the Buddha visited this island five years after his Enlightenment to settle a dispute between two Naga kings, Chulodara and Mahodara, who were at war over a gem- studded throne.