Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

ශ්‍රී දළදා මාළිගාව

Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist temple, which houses the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. Visitors can get close to the relic shrine during the three daily offering ceremonies (Puja).

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic lies within the former royal palace complex on the north shore of Kandy Lake. According to tradition, the tooth relic of the Buddha arrived in Ceylon from India in the 4th century. Whoever possessed the tooth was believed to hold the right to rule. It has been enshrined in Kandy since 1592, and the entire sacred city of Kandy became a World Heritage Site in 1988. The relic is kept in a golden shrine in the inner sanctum on the second floor. The doors open only during the three daily offering ceremonies (at 5:30, 9:30 and 18:30). Worshippers queue to walk past the shrine, where they can see the golden reliquary (the tooth itself is not displayed). The temple also has an octagonal library, the royal palace hall, a World Buddhist Museum and a memorial hall for Raja, the elephant that once carried the tooth in procession. Admission for foreigners is 2,000 rupees (about US$7), and the temple is open 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ceremony times are the busiest but also the most crowded, so visiting at 6:30 p.m. for the evening ceremony, with drums and horns, is recommended. Dress requirements are strict: wear long trousers or a long skirt, cover your shoulders, and remove your shoes. Shoe storage is supervised by attendants, who expect a tip. White clothing is customary. During the Esala Perahera festival in July and August, elephants and dancers process for ten consecutive nights, so book accommodation in advance. Outside the temple, you can walk around Kandy Lake, where you'll find the ruins of the royal palace and the British-era gardens. It is about a 15-minute walk from the railway station.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

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