Sri Dalada Maligawa
Located in the heart of Kandy, Sri Dalada Maligawa — widely known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic — is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka. Nestled within the Royal Palace Complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, the temple houses what is believed to be the left upper canine tooth of Gautama Buddha, a relic that has played a central role in Sri Lankan history and politics for centuries.
According to tradition, the possession of the Tooth Relic symbolized the divine right to rule the island, and it was safeguarded by generations of Sinhalese kings. The relic was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE by Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha, hidden in the princess’s hair, after fleeing the Indian kingdom of Kalinga.
Today, the temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, drawing pilgrims and tourists from around the world. Daily rituals are performed by Buddhist monks from the Malwathu and Asgiri chapters, three times a day — at dawn, noon, and evening. On Wednesdays, a special ceremony called Nanumura Mangallaya is held, where the relic is symbolically bathed with scented herbal water, which is believed to hold healing powers.
The temple is also the focal point of the Kandy Esala Perahera, a magnificent annual procession that honors the Tooth Relic with dancers, drummers, elephants, and ancient rituals — one of the grandest Buddhist festivals in Asia.
The current temple complex, with its iconic octagonal structure known as the Paththirippuwa, was built during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the last king of Kandy. Over the centuries, the temple has withstood invasions, relocations, and restorations, yet remains a powerful symbol of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage and royal history.
