Kankesanthurai

Kankesanthurai காங்கேசன்துறை කන්කසන්තුරේ
Town
Coordinates: 9°48′55″N 80°02′40″E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Northern
District	Jaffna
DS Division	Valikamam North

Kankesanthurai (Tamil: காங்கேசன்துறை, romanized: kāṅgēsanduṟai काङ्गेसन्दुऱै, lit. Port Kankesan), commonly referred to as KKS, is a port suburb, fishing division, and resort hub located in the Jaffna District of Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Once designated as an electoral district, Kankesanthurai is known for its scenic Kankesanthurai beach, the Keerimalai Naguleswaram temple (a Pancha Ishwaram), and the Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple.

The harbour at Kankesanthurai has historically served as an arrival and departure point for pilgrims since classical antiquity, and it is named after the Sri Lankan Tamil deity Murukan. The suburb features numerous fishing villages and is administered by Grama Niladhari (village officers). Kankesanthurai is situated in the northern part of Valikamam, one of the three ancient habitation regions on the Jaffna peninsula, located on the peninsula's northern coast, approximately 19.2 kilometres from Jaffna city, 136 kilometres from Mannar, and 248 kilometres from Trincomalee.

Kankesanthurai is a well-known tourist spot, celebrated for its temples, picturesque sandy beaches lined with palm trees, and the famous Keerimalai Springs. Other notable attractions in the suburb include its natural harbour, as well as the historic fort and lighthouse.

Etymology

In the 8th century, the Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple underwent renovations led by the Chola-Pandyan princess Mathurapuraveeravalli. During this time, the statue of Kankesan (Murugan) was transported through the port of Gayathurai, which was subsequently renamed Kankesanthurai in his honour. In Tamil, the term thurai translates to '"port.