Nallur Kandaswamy Temple

Times at a glance

Checked on 16 October 2026 against the temple's official worship page and guidelines page:

• Pooja times (daily): Palliyarai 4.30 am, Ushath Kala 5.00 am, Kaala Santhi 10.00 am, Uchchi Kaala 12.00 noon, Sayaratchai 4.00 pm, Irandam Kala 5.00 pm, Artha Jama 6.00 pm.
• Open (not Fridays): 4.00 to 5.15 am, 7.00 am to 12.00 noon, 3.00 to 6.20 pm.
• Men: remove your shirt or top before entering the inner sanctum.
• Women: no sleeveless tops; keep shoulders covered everywhere on the premises.
• Everyone: footwear off, no photos or video, phones off or silent, no large bags.

The temple says pooja and opening times may change on festival days, so treat these as the normal schedule, not a promise for your date.

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, also called Nallur Kovil, is an active Hindu temple in Jaffna dedicated to Murugan.

What are the pooja times at Nallur Kovil?

The temple's official website lists seven poojas each day. Checked on 16 October 2026:

The temple adds that pooja timings may change on special festival days. Its own history page notes that the temple is known for punctual pooja, so arrive a little before the time you want rather than on the minute.

What are Nallur Kovil's opening hours?

On regular days except Fridays, the worship page lists three sessions: 4.00 to 5.15 am, 7.00 am to 12.00 noon, and 3.00 to 6.20 pm. Outside those windows, expect the temple to be closed.

Fridays are worded two ways on the same page. The timetable lists 4.00 am to 12.00 noon and 3.00 to 6.20 pm. A note further down says that on Fridays the doors stay open from 4.00 am until the 6.00 pm pooja is complete. Both versions agree that Friday has no early-morning break. If you plan to visit around midday on a Friday, ask at the temple counter.

On special days and during the Mahotsavam, the temple says opening and closing times may vary. For official enquiries the temple asks visitors to go to the Temple Counter in person; its website does not list a phone number.

What is the dress code at Nallur Kovil?

The temple publishes its rules on its guidelines page and repeats them more briefly on its homepage. Checked on 16 October 2026.

Men. Shirts and tops must be removed before entering the inner sanctum or designated areas of worship. The homepage states it plainly: men will not be allowed into the inner sanctum wearing upper garments. Wear something easy to take off, and bring a bag small enough to be allowed in (see below) or leave the shirt with a companion.

Women. Sleeveless tops are not permitted, and shoulders must be covered at all times within the temple premises. The homepage asks women entering the inner sanctum to wear modest clothing that covers from the shoulders to the knees.

Everyone. The temple encourages modest, traditional attire. It also asks for silence during worship and no public displays of affection.

For what to pack, see what to wear in Sri Lanka.

Do you have to take off your shoes?

Yes. The temple says footwear must be removed before entering, and its homepage says wearing footwear anywhere inside the temple premises is prohibited. Leave shoes outside before you reach the entrance.

Can you take photos inside Nallur temple?

Plan on no photos at all. The guidelines page says taking photographs or recording videos inside the temple premises is not allowed under any circumstances, and that filming is strictly prohibited within the temple grounds. Drones are banned. The homepage words the rule more narrowly, banning photos, video and phone calls inside the inner sanctum, so follow the stricter guidelines page.

The other rules on the guidelines page:

• Phones: switch them off or set them to silent.
• Bags: large bags, suitcases and heavy luggage are not allowed inside; only small personal items or handbags. Store luggage elsewhere first.
• Offerings: coconut breaking and camphor lighting are allowed only in the designated areas.

When is the Nallur festival?

The temple's history page says the annual Mahotsavam starts with the flag hoisting on the sixth day after Aadi Amavasai (the Shashti tithi) and runs for 25 days. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the dates move each year.

For 2026, Thamilan Win reported on 17 May 2026 that the festival programme had been handed to the Jaffna Municipal Council. It gave these dates:

• Flag hoisting (Kodiyetram): 17 August 2026
• Chariot festival (Ther), the 24th day: 9 September 2026
• Theertham: 10 September 2026

Same-day reports confirm the chariot festival took place on the morning of Wednesday 9 September 2026 (Kuriyeedu, 9 September 2026), with Theertham and the flag lowering the following day (Tamilwin, 9 September 2026). The temple's own website did not publish a 2026 programme that we could find, and some travel sites list different chariot dates, so we rely on these dated news reports.

The 2026 Mahotsavam has finished. The same dates are listed, with sources, on the Sri Lanka festival calendar. On 16 October 2026 the temple festival page still pointed at 2025-2026 documents and had not published 2027 dates. The same history page says the temple also marks Kandha Sashti every year, with the Sooran Por on the sixth day and the Thirukkalyanam the next day. It did not give a 2026 date for this, so confirm locally. Other festivals it lists include Thirukarthigai, Vaikasi Visakam, Navaratri, Thiruvathirai and Thaipoosam.

During festivals, expect large crowds, road closures and changed hours. Follow crowd controls and don't assume normal visitor access. The Sri Lanka festival calendar explains how to check other temple dates.

How do you get to Nallur Kovil?

The temple is in Nallur, Jaffna, in the Northern Province. Most visitors base themselves in Jaffna and get there by tuk-tuk or taxi.

By train from Colombo: Sri Lanka Railways resumed Northern Line services between Colombo Fort and Kankesanthurai on 9 April 2026, with the Jaffna Intercity and Jaffna Night Mail daily and the Yal Devi from 10 April (Sri Lanka Mirror, 9 April 2026). This page does not list train times or fares. Check them on Sri Lanka Railways for your date. For other ways north, see getting around Sri Lanka.

By ferry from India: the Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai ferry lands on the Jaffna peninsula. See the India to Sri Lanka ferry guide for the schedule, booking and ETA rules.

Where Nallur Kandaswamy Temple fits in your route

Nallur is a place of worship, not a museum stop. Plan your visit around a pooja and the opening sessions above, not a quick circuit. Keep Jaffna Fort as a separate heritage visit with different expectations. The Northern Sri Lanka guide covers the wider area.

If you are planning several Hindu temples, the Hindu temple circuit compares Nallur with Koneswaram and Kataragama. The general guide to visiting sacred sites explains why rules differ between temples.

On history, the temple's own site gives more than one founding account. Its pages mention 948 AD, Sembakaperumal in 1450, and Raghunatha Mappana Mudaliar's consecration of the Vel in 1734. We have not settled which date is correct, and we repeat no single founding date as fact.