Kandy to Jaffna by bus
Jaffna lies 273 km (170 mi) north of Kandy, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
A coach takes about 5 h 9 min including stops, over roughly 333 km (207 mi) of road.
| Kandy | Jaffna | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka |
| Population | 111,701 | 169,102 |
| Elevation | 500 m (1,640 ft) | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+5:30 (Asia/Colombo) | UTC+5:30 (Asia/Colombo) |
| Postal codes | 20000 | 40000 |
Where to book buses from Kandy to Jaffna
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Staying in Jaffna
Live rooms and prices for Jaffna are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Jaffna
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Jaffna from Kandy?
273 km (170 mi) in a straight line, north of Kandy; by road roughly 333 km (207 mi).
How long does it take to get from Kandy to Jaffna by bus?
About 5 h 9 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Kandy and Jaffna?
No, both are on Asia/Colombo at the moment.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.