Ferry between Sri Lanka and southern India

It seems there’s a ferry from Nagapattinam to Jaffna in India. Has anyone here taken this ferry before? My main question is how to get to Nagapattinam—by train, bus? And from which town further south, of course. Thanks, friends!

Gaston

The ferry connects southern India and northern Sri Lanka directly:

Departure in India: Port of Nagapattinam (in the state of Tamil Nadu).

Arrival in Sri Lanka: Port of Kankesanthurai (also called KKS, located very close to the city of Jaffna).

Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months after your travel date.

Visas: You must absolutely obtain your visas or travel authorizations (such as the ETA for Sri Lanka or the e-Visa for India) before boarding. No visas are issued on board or at the ports upon arrival.

Check-in: It is required to arrive at the port at least 3 hours in advance to complete security, customs, and immigration checks.

Frequency: The crossings generally take place daily. The ship leaves very early in the morning from India (around 7:00 AM) to arrive in late morning in Sri Lanka, before making the return trip in the afternoon.

3. Fares and Baggage

Ticket price: The fare usually ranges between 60 € and 85 € (around $70 to $90 or 6,500 to 7,600 INR) for a one-way trip, taxes included.

Baggage allowance: One of the big advantages of the ferry over flying is the very generous baggage policy, often allowing up to 40 kg per passenger.