Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Central Province
About Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
The Sri Dalada Maligawa is the spiritual centre of gravity of Sri Lanka: within its golden-roofed shrine, behind seven nested caskets, rests the left canine tooth of the Buddha - carried to the island in the 4th century hidden in a princess's hair, and so bound up with sovereignty that whoever held the relic held the right to rule. The temple as it stands, wrapped in a moat and white walls beside Kandy Lake, is the last royal shrine of the last kingdom, its octagonal Paththirippuwa tower, carved stone, ivory, and lacquered ceilings the finest ensemble of Kandyan craft anywhere. Three times daily, drummers and horn players announce the puja as pilgrims stream past the relic chamber's open doors; each August the Esala Perahera parades the relic's casket through the streets on a tusker's back in Asia's grandest procession. Crowded, solemn, and utterly essential.
Top Activities
- ✓The relic chamber at puja times
- ✓Kandyan drumming ceremonies
- ✓The Paththirippuwa octagon and royal complex
- ✓Sri Dalada Museum
- ✓Esala Perahera (August)
Nearby Attractions
Closest Places in This Guide
Straight-line distances; allow considerably longer by road, especially in the hills.
- Udawattakele Royal ParkNature · Heritage · Family< 1 km
- Bahirawakanda Buddha StatueCultural · Heritage1 km
- Hanthana Mountain RangeAdventure · Nature3 km
- Ceylon Tea MuseumHeritage · Cultural · Family3 km
- Degaldoruwa Cave TempleHeritage · Cultural4 km
- Royal Botanic Gardens, PeradeniyaNature · Family · Romantic6 km
Travel Tips
Attend the 6.30am or 6.30pm puja for the full drumming ritual.
Strict dress code: legs and shoulders covered, shoes and hats off.
Allow queue time in season - the relic chamber corridor bottlenecks.
Travel Guides That Cover Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Visiting Temples in Sri Lanka: What to Wear and How to BehaveShoulders, shoes, photographs and Buddha images - the customs that matter at Buddhist temples, Hindu kovils, mosques and churches, and the few that can get you into real trouble.
- Sri Lanka Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14-Day Routes That Actually WorkThree routes for a first trip, built around realistic travel times, the current state of the hill-country railway and the coast that is in season.
- What It Costs to Visit Sri Lanka's Big SightsSigiriya, Kandy, Anuradhapura and the national parks - what foreign visitors actually pay in 2026, and which of the best places are free.
Quick Info
Best Time
Year-round; August for the Esala Perahera
Weather
Mild Kandyan climate; puja times are busy regardless of season.
Estimated Daily Budget
7.2936°N, 80.6413°E
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