Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)

Sri Lanka's holiest Buddhist shrine, enshrining a tooth relic of the Buddha inside the former royal palace complex.

Overview

The Sri Dalada Maligawa houses the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, the most venerated object in Sri Lankan Buddhism. Three daily pujas (offering ceremonies) open the inner shrine to a tide of pilgrims bearing lotus flowers. The golden-roofed relic chamber, painted ceilings, and the adjoining Royal Palace museums reward a slow visit.

History

Whoever holds the tooth relic was traditionally seen as the rightful ruler of the island, so the relic travelled with successive capitals before finding its permanent home in Kandy. The present temple was built between 1687 and 1782 by the Kandyan kings. It forms the centrepiece of the Sacred City of Kandy, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.