Kandy · Cultural Triangle
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy: A Complete Visitor’s Guide
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic — Sri Dalada Maligawa — sits at the heart of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, and is the most important place of worship for Buddhists across the island. Inside its inner shrine, a tooth relic of Gautama Buddha rests in a gilded casket, surrounded by flowers, jewels and a constant stream of devotees. This guide covers the temple’s history, what you’ll actually see inside, the dress code, entrance fees, and how to fit it into a Sri Lanka itinerary.
Quick Facts for Visitors
The story behind the Sacred Tooth Relic
According to Buddhist tradition, Lord Buddha advised his personal attendant Ananda Thero that relics should be recovered from his ashes after his passing and shared with Buddhist lands. After the Buddha’s Parinirvana and cremation, four teeth were retrieved and preserved as the holiest relics in Buddhism.
Those four tooth relics were divided among four kingdoms that wished to worship them:
- One was said to have been carried to the world of the gods
- Another to the land of the Nagas
- A third to the kingdom of Gandhara, in modern-day Pakistan
- The upper-left canine tooth to the Kalinga kingdom in Eastern India
It is that final tooth — the Kalinga relic — that is enshrined in Kandy today. Its significance made it a target: several Kalinga kings are said to have attempted to destroy it, and in every account it survived. When a neighbouring kingdom declared war on Kalinga, the king made the decision that changed Sri Lankan history — he smuggled the relic out of India.
How the relic reached Sri Lanka
The relic was hidden in a princess’s hair and carried across the sea by the Kalinga king’s own children, Prince Danta and Princess Hemamali. The scene of the two royals bringing the tooth relic to the island is one of Sri Lanka’s most reproduced historical images, appearing in murals and temple art across the country.
A relic that travelled with the crown
For centuries, whichever king held the Tooth Relic was considered the rightful ruler of the island — so the relic moved with the capital. Its journey traces the shifting kingdoms of Sri Lanka:
- AnuradhapuraThe relic’s first home in Sri Lanka
- Polonnaruwa → Rohana → Kotmale → BeligalaMoved repeatedly for safekeeping during periods of invasion
- Dambadeniya → Yapahuwa → Kurunegala → GampolaEach new capital built a shrine to house it
- Jayawardenapura Kotte → SitawakaThe final stops before the hill country
- KandyWhere the present Sri Dalada Maligawa stands today
Building Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy
The temple you see today is the survivor of several earlier buildings, each destroyed and rebuilt across the colonial era:
| Ruler | Reign | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| King Wimaladharmasuriya I | 1592–1604 | Built the first Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy; later destroyed during Portuguese invasions |
| King Rajasinghe II | 1635–1687 | Built the second temple, which was destroyed by the Dutch |
| King Wimaladharmasuriya II | from 1687 | Built a three-storeyed temple that decayed over time |
| King Sri Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe | 1707–1739 | Built the Dalada Maligawa that stands today |
| King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe | 18th century | Rebuilt and enhanced the temple to its present form |
| King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe | 1798–1815 | Added the Paththirippuwa (Octagonal Pavilion) |
To this day, the relic is guarded and its rituals performed without pause, under the supervision of the three chief custodians: the Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters, and the Diyawadana Nilame, the lay custodian of the temple.
Architecture and what you’ll see inside
The temple is built in the classic Kandyan architectural style, drawing on the design of earlier Dalada Maligawas that held the relic in previous kingdoms. Once inside, you’ll notice intricate carvings in wood, gold, silver, ivory and bronze, and hallways lined with colourful flags and brightly lit chandeliers.
The relic itself is kept in a chamber on the temple’s upper floor, behind a magnificent door inlaid with ivory and silver carvings. The tooth is never displayed to the public — it rests inside a golden casket containing six smaller, ornately designed caskets. During puja, devotees are shown these caskets in the inner room, three times a day: morning, midday and evening.
To the north of the temple stands the Royal Palace, part of which is now an archaeological Buddhist museum holding Buddha statues and artefacts connected to the relic’s history.
What to see within the complex
Ceremonies and the Esala Perahera
Special religious programmes are held at the temple on every Full Moon Poya day, alongside the daily, weekly and monthly rituals. Four major ceremonies anchor the temple’s calendar each year:
The new rice ceremony, offering the first harvest.
Marking the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April.
The most important of the four — the great July/August festival.
The festival of lights held later in the year.
The Esala Mangallaya is the one visitors plan trips around. Esala falls in July/August on the Sinhalese calendar, and the whole of Kandy shifts into a festive mood — the Maligawa and its surroundings are lavishly decorated, and people arrive from all over the world. The highlight is the Kumbal Perahera, which begins on the fifth day and runs for ten consecutive nights, as the sacred relic casket is paraded through Kandy’s streets accompanied by costumed dancers, drummers and caparisoned elephants.
Kandy’s hotels sell out months ahead for the Esala Perahera, and street-side viewing positions fill up hours before the procession starts. If you’re travelling in July or August, book early — we can secure both accommodation and reserved viewing as part of your tour.
What to wear when visiting the temple
The Temple of the Tooth compound is a living place of worship, busy with devotees dressed head to toe in white and Buddhist monks in orange robes from around the world. A light-coloured, conservative outfit is always the better choice.
- Cover shoulders and knees. Anyone dressed revealingly will not be permitted to enter.
- Forgot to cover up? Small shops around the temple sell sarongs and long cloths you can wrap over your clothes.
- Remove footwear before the main door. There’s a dedicated hut where shoes can be stored safely for a small fee.
- Hats off and keep your voice low inside the shrine areas.
How to get to the Temple of the Tooth Relic
Kandy lies 122 km from Colombo — around three hours by road, which makes the temple doable as a long day trip, though it’s far better enjoyed with an overnight stay. The temple complex itself sits in the centre of Kandy, roughly 2 km from the railway station.
| Option | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Budget travel | The cheapest way to reach Kandy, but the slowest and busiest |
| Train | Scenery | Costs a little more than the bus but is faster and far more comfortable |
| Private driver | Families & couples | Door-to-door, air-conditioned, and lets you stop at Pinnawala or a spice garden en route |
Where to stay in Kandy
Only a handful of properties combine good city views with a location close to the Perahera route. These are the ones we return to most often:
- Hotel Suisse — colonial character right on the lake
- The Queen’s Hotel — historic and about as central as it gets
- Elegant Hotel — comfortable mid-range base
- The Stone House — quieter, with hillside views
- Villa 92 — good value for small groups
- Clock Inn Hostel — for backpackers and solo travellers
Other things to do in Kandy
Give Kandy a full day and there’s plenty beyond the Maligawa:
Gadaladeniya Viharaya, Embekke Devalaya and Lankathilaka Viharaya — easily combined in one half-day loop.
Sri Lanka’s tallest Buddha statue at 88 feet, with sweeping views over the city.
A 15-minute drive from the city and one of the best photo stops in the hill country.
A gentle walk right beside the temple — ideal in the cool of the early evening.
Ceylon Hunt tours that include the Temple of the Tooth
Every one of our round tours stops at the Sacred Tooth Relic Temple, with an SLTDA-approved guide who can explain the rituals as they happen — something you’ll miss visiting on your own.
Frequently asked questions
Can you actually see the Buddha’s tooth?
No. The relic is never shown to the general public. It rests inside a golden casket that holds six smaller caskets, and during puja devotees are shown these caskets in the inner shrine room — three times a day, morning, midday and evening.
What time should I arrive?
Aim to arrive 20–30 minutes before a puja: 5.30 am, 9.30 am or 6.30 pm. The evening puja is the most atmospheric, with drumming and a large crowd of devotees. The temple is open from 5.30 am to 8.30 pm.
How much is the entrance fee?
LKR 1,500 for foreign visitors, roughly USD 7.50 or GBP 5.50. Fees are set by the temple and can change, so it’s worth confirming the current rate before you travel.
Can I visit as a day trip from Colombo?
Yes. Kandy is 122 km from Colombo, about three hours each way by road. It works as a day trip, but an overnight stay lets you catch the evening puja and see the city without rushing.
Is photography allowed?
Photography is generally permitted in the outer areas of the complex, but never pose with your back to a Buddha image, and follow any signage or instruction from temple staff inside the shrine rooms.
When is the Esala Perahera held?
During the month of Esala on the Sinhalese calendar — July/August. The Kumbal Perahera, the festival’s main attraction, begins on the fifth day and runs for ten consecutive nights.
Planning a trip to Kandy?
Tell us your dates and we’ll build an itinerary around the Temple of the Tooth — with an SLTDA-approved guide, A/C vehicle, hotels and meals sorted. Free quote within 24 hours.
