Travel Guide Mannar

312 km from Colombo, 111 km from Anuradhapura, 100 km from Jaffna and 77 km from Vavuniya. The island's main town, its most important monument is the Portuguese fort built in 1560. Recovered in 1658 by the Dutch, it was reinforced but its original structure was not altered. It is accessible, but is now a dilapidated, unkempt structure. While a visit to the ruins is of little interest, the walls offer a picturesque panorama as you enter the city. The 700-year-old giant baobab is Mannar's other major attraction. The town's religious diversity is evident in the strong presence of Hindu temples, churches and mosques. The nearly one-hundred-meter bridge between Mannar and the road linking it to the mainland was rebuilt in 2010 with the help of the Japanese government.