Keerimalai Springs

Keerimalai sits at the northernmost edge of the Jaffna peninsula, where freshwater springs emerge at the boundary between land and ocean. The springs have been in use for ritual bathing since at least the 7th century CE, mentioned in early Tamil literature as a place of healing and purification.

The bathing area is divided into two separate pools: one for men and one for women, separated by a wall. The pools are fed by the natural springs and drain into the ocean just a few metres beyond. The water is clean, cool relative to the ambient temperature, and clear enough to see the bottom. The combination of fresh spring water and immediate proximity to the open sea is unlike any bathing experience you are likely to have had elsewhere.

The Maviddapuram Kanthaswamy Temple stands immediately adjacent to the pools, a working Hindu temple that administers the site. Pilgrims come to bathe and to pray, usually in combination. The site is busiest on festival days and on weekend mornings.

Dress modestly when visiting. The women's pool requires full coverage when entering and bathing. Photography inside the bathing areas is not permitted. The Naguleswaram Temple, one of Sri Lanka's five major Shiva shrines, is a ten-minute walk from the springs.