Kandy Temple of Tooth Relic

 Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy

Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic or Sei Dalada Maligawa is a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former kingdom of Kandy. It is declared as a UNESCO world heritage in 1988.

The temple carries a lot of value to Buddhists all over the world as there the left tooth of Gautama Buddha is enshrined. It is a world renowned place of worship because of that. 

There are daily Theva / services at morning, midday and evening. If you are there at that time you will be able to listen to the traditional sound offerings and you will be able to see the golden vessel when as the doors will be open.

Morning Service.             5.30 a.m. - 7.00 a.m.

Midday Service                9.30 a.m - 11.00 a.m.

Evening Service.              6.30 p.m - 8.00 p.m.

How to reach there

If you are going from Colombo you can either go via train or bus. I recommend going from train as it will give you another experience when you the train go through all the tunnels. If you go by train you will have to go to the temple of Sacred Tooth Relic, you can ask someone and go by foot it is a short walk or you can get a tuck. If you go by bus, you will have to do the same after getting down from 'Goodshed' bus stand, Kandy.

Compulsory dress code

• All the visitors have to wear a long trousers or a skirt which covers your legs. If you are wearing shorts, short skirts  you will be given sarongs to be worn during the visit.
• All the visitors have to wear a top with sleeves. Visitors with sleeveless tops also will be given a cloth to cover there shoulders during the visit. 
• Well covered light coloured clothing is most appropriate. 
• You should remove your footwear and head wear at the point of entrance to the temple complex and there is a place for safe keeping of those items. 

What to see there

Wedahitina maligawa - Main Chamber 

The main chamber enshrines The Sacred Tooth Relic which is kept encased within a series of seven gemstone studded golden caskets which are diminishing in size. The timber doors are decorated and carved with bronze.

Paththirippuwa - Octagon

The octagon has made in the rule of the last king in Sri Lanka, Sei Wikrama Rajasinghe and he used to announce and talk to people from there. Now ot has become a part of the temple.

Ambaruwa- Tunnel

It is a stone made hallway which is 29 ft and 8 inches in length and 8 ft in width. Its interior is decorated with paintings.

Magul maduwa - audiunce hall

Magul maduwa has a prominent place in wooden architecture in the Kandyan period.

Temple of Tooth museum 

Two upper storeys of the building has been organised as a museum exhibiting things donated to Dalada Maligawa over the centuries. It includes diverse antiques and ritual objects.

Details

Hours : 5.30am to 8.00 pm

Entrance fee for foreigners : 1500 LKR