Sri Lanka›From Colombo›Jaffna
Colombo to Jaffna by train, bus or road
About 395 km. The train is fastest at 7 h; the train is cheapest, from ₹190 per person.
Fastest
Train
Intercity train to Jaffna (Yal Devi / Uttara Devi)
7 h door to door
Cheapest
Train
Intercity train to Jaffna (Yal Devi / Uttara Devi)
from ₹190 per person
Best value
Train
Intercity train to Jaffna (Yal Devi / Uttara Devi)
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Intercity train to Jaffna (Yal Devi / Uttara Devi) | 7 h | ₹190–₹1,150per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Bus | Overnight air-con bus to Jaffna | 9.5 hovernight | ₹330–₹1,300per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Private car | Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | 7.5 h | ₹12,200–₹23,530per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
- Train, Intercity train to Jaffna (Yal Devi / Uttara Devi): Several trains a day on the Northern Line via Anuradhapura; the intercity trains have reserved air-con 1st class and 2nd class. Book on eticket.railway.gov.lk.
- Bus, Overnight air-con bus to Jaffna: Leaves Colombo in the evening and arrives early morning.
- Private car, Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle: Via the A9 and Vavuniya.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Train · Intercity train to Jaffna (Yal Devi / Uttara Devi) | ₹380–₹2,300 | ₹760–₹4,600 |
| Bus · Overnight air-con bus to Jaffna | ₹660–₹2,600 | ₹1,320–₹5,200 |
| Private car · Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | ₹12,200–₹23,530 | ₹12,200–₹23,530 |
Once you’re in Jaffna
- Best time: January – September
- Typical stay: 2 days
- November: Mixed month: November is outside the recommended season (January – September). Against it: Jaffna Rainy Season. Deepavali can fall this month.
Related
Plan Colombo and Jaffna
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.