Mullaitivu

Is Mullaitivu worth visiting?

Quick answer: Mullaitivu is worth it if you want a quiet coast and are driving between Trincomalee and Jaffna. The town is about 118 km north of Trincomalee and 116 km south east of Jaffna by road. Plan one night or a long stop for Nanthi Kadal lagoon, the Oddusuddan Shiva temple and a walk on the beach.

Mullaitivu is the main town of the district of the same name, on the east coast of the Northern Province. It is far from the main A9 corridor, so it sees fewer visitors than Jaffna or Trincomalee.

What is there to see in Mullaitivu?

The Northern Province tourism bureau lists these sights in Mullaitivu district. Directions and distances are the bureau's own.

What is Nanthi Kadal lagoon?

The bureau says Nanthi Kadal means the sea of conches. It is 10.7 km from Mullaitivu town: take the A35 Paranthan road through Vadduvakal and Mullivaikkal. It is a working lagoon, not a park, so there are no official opening hours or tickets that we could find.

What is the Oddusuddan Shiva temple?

The bureau tells the story of Thanthontreeswaram. A farmer cleared jungle to grow maize and burned the stubble after the harvest. One patch in the middle would not burn, and when he cleared it he found a Shiva lingam. The name Thanthontreeswarar means the god who was not made by anyone. A local Vanni chief built the first temple on the spot, and the bureau says it has been rebuilt and renovated many times since.

It is 25 km from the Mullaitivu bus stand along the A34, through Mulliyawalai, Kulamurippu and Oddusuddan town. Muttiyankaddu tank is further along the same road, 31 km from the bus stand. Our guide to visiting sacred sites covers temple dress.

Where can you see birds near Mullaitivu?

The bureau says the Kokkilai lagoon and the land around it were made a bird sanctuary on 18 May 1951 under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. It covers 1,995 hectares. Cormorants, ducks, egrets, flamingos, herons, ibis, pelicans and storks are listed, and elephants also live in the sanctuary. The bureau gives no visitor hours or fees. Go with a local driver and keep your distance from elephants.

Is the sea at Mullaitivu safe?

Check the sea forecast on the day. The Department of Meteorology forecast at 5.30 am on 28 October 2026 said the sea area from Puttalam to Mullaitivu via Kankesanthurai could be very rough at times, with winds of 60 to 65 kmph. We found no official information on lifeguards on Mullaitivu beaches. If the sea looks rough, stay on the sand.

How do you get to Mullaitivu?

By road. OpenStreetMap routes with no traffic, checked on 28 October 2026:

By bus. NTC fares in force from 6 July 2026:

The table gives fares, not times. Our Sri Lanka bus routes guide explains how to read it.

By taxi from the airport. The Colombo airport fixed-fare card has no Mullaitivu row. The nearest rows are KILINOCHCHI at Rs 50,004 and VAUNIYA at Rs 40,716, read on 28 October 2026. Agree a fare in writing before you set off.

What is the weather like in Mullaitivu?

The Northern Province tourism bureau says the north and east get their monsoon between October and January, and names April to November as the dry season on the east coast. There is no WMO station with published normals in Mullaitivu. For the seasons across the island, see our monsoon seasons guide.

How can you fit Mullaitivu into a route?

• The coast road from Trincomalee. Drive north from Trincomalee to Mullaitivu, then on to Jaffna by the A35 and A9. This joins an east coast trip to the north.
• The Vanni road trip. Our Colombo to Jaffna road trip spends a night here between Vavuniya and Kilinochchi.
• A longer northern week. Add a Mullaitivu night to Jaffna and the North in 7 Days if you have a car.