A.Savin, FAL (Free Art License), via Wikimedia Commons

Sacred City of Kandy

ශ්‍රී දළදා මාළිගාව (Sri Dalada Maligawa)

Also known as: Kandy, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Maligawa, Senkadagalapura

Kandy, Sri Lanka|View on Map (7.2936, 80.6414)

Religions: Buddhism | Place Type: Sacred city | Region: Asia | UNESCO World Heritage Site

Overview

Kandy, historically known as Senkadagalapura, is Sri Lanka’s primary center for Buddhist pilgrimage. The city’s significance centers on the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic), located within the former Royal Palace complex, which houses a tooth relic of the Buddha. Having served as the final capital of the Sinhala kings from 1592 to 1815, Kandy remains a site of active devotion where daily rituals and centuries-old traditions are maintained by the Buddhist clergy and practitioners. Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Present

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic remains an active site of daily worship managed by the Diyawadana Nilame, a lay custodian appointed by the Sri Lankan government. Three daily puja ceremonies (5:30-7:00 AM, 9:30-11:00 AM, and 6:30-8:00 PM) draw large crowds of devotees who queue to catch a brief glimpse of the golden casket chamber, visible only through the doorway for a few moments.

The temple complex includes the National Museum of Kandy, housed in the former royal palace quarters, displaying royal regalia, weapons, and artifacts from the Kandyan period. The British Garrison Cemetery and several Buddhist and Hindu temples dot the surrounding hills.

Kandy remains Sri Lanka's cultural capital and second-largest city after Colombo, with a population of approximately 125,000. The sacred area includes not only the temple but also the Malwatte and Asgiriya monasteries, traditional seats of Buddhist learning. The city's cultural significance extends beyond religion—the Kandy Esala Perahera was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.

Conservation efforts address challenges from humidity, air pollution, and heavy visitor traffic. Photography is prohibited inside the main shrine room. The temple survived a 1998 truck bomb attack by Tamil separatists that killed eight people but left the Tooth Relic unharmed.

Religious Significance

Buddhism

The Sacred Tooth Relic is believed to be the left upper canine tooth of Gautama Buddha, preserved after his cremation in 543 BCE. According to Buddhist tradition, the tooth was taken from Buddha's funeral pyre and brought to Sri Lanka in 313 CE, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the destruction of Kalinga (ancient India).

The relic has been venerated for over 1,700 years as one of the most important Buddhist relics in existence. In Sri Lankan tradition, whoever holds custody of the Tooth Relic holds the governance of the country, making it both a religious and political symbol. The relic is enshrined within seven nested gold caskets inlaid with precious gemstones, housed in the inner chamber of the temple. Ordinary devotees never see the actual tooth—they pay respects to the casket during three daily puja (worship) ceremonies at dawn, midday, and evening, when the chamber doors are opened and drumming, chanting, and offerings take place.

The Esala Perahera, a spectacular annual festival held in July-August, features ten nights of processions with decorated elephants, dancers, drummers, and fire performers parading through Kandy's streets. A replica casket of the Tooth Relic is carried on the back of the lead elephant, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and spectators. This festival, dating back to the 4th century CE, is one of Asia's oldest and grandest Buddhist celebrations.

The temple attracts both devout Buddhist pilgrims who prostrate themselves in worship and general visitors from around the world. For Sri Lankan Buddhists, visiting the Temple of the Tooth is a sacred pilgrimage undertaken at least once in a lifetime. The site represents the physical presence of Buddha and the continuity of Buddhist teaching (Dharma) in Sri Lanka for over two millennia.

History & Structure

The tooth relic arrived in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's ancient capital, in the 4th century CE and was moved multiple times as capitals shifted during periods of war and invasion. When King Vimala Dharma Suriya I established Kandy as his capital in 1592, the tooth relic followed, conferring legitimacy on the new kingdom. The current two-story temple was constructed between 1687 and 1707 during the reign of King Vira Narendra Sinha. The octagonal Paththirippuwa tower was added in 1803 by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, originally serving as the royal announcement pavilion.

The temple complex includes multiple buildings arranged around a central courtyard: the main shrine room housing the Tooth Relic, audience halls, the royal palace, and subsidiary shrines. The architecture exemplifies Kandyan style, featuring white walls, red-tiled roofs, and intricate wooden carvings depicting Buddhist motifs. The temple is surrounded by a moat (added for protection) and sits adjacent to the sacred Kandy Lake, an artificial lake created in 1807 by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The British captured Kandy in 1815, ending 2,358 years of Sinhalese monarchy.

The Kandyan Convention signed that year guaranteed protection of Buddhism and the Tooth Relic, a promise the British honored. During World War II, the Supreme Allied Command established headquarters in Kandy. UNESCO designated the Sacred City of Kandy as a World Heritage Site in 1988, recognizing it as "the last royal capital of Sri Lanka whose independence was finally sacrificed to the British in 1815" and for its role in preserving Dinahala (Sinhalese) culture and Buddhism.

Practical Information

Admission: Foreign adults: LKR 2,000 (approximately USD 6-7). SAARC nationals: LKR 1,500. Children under 12: free. Tickets valid for the day.
Best Time: Early morning (opening time) to avoid crowds and heat. Avoid puja times if you want to move through quickly.
Dress Code: Shoulders and knees must be covered. Sleeveless tops, shorts, and short skirts prohibited. Free loaner clothing available at entrances. Remove shoes before entering (shoe storage provided). Socks recommended as temple floors are hot in sunlight.
Etiquette: Maintain respectful silence. Do not point feet toward Buddha images. Hats must be removed.
Events: Visit during Esala Perahera festival (July-August) for spectacular processions, but book accommodation months in advance.
Getting Around: Tuk-tuks and taxis available within Kandy.
Getting There: From Colombo, take a train (3 hours, scenic mountain route, LKR 500-1,500 depending on class) or bus (2.5-3 hours, LKR 200-400).
Hours: Daily 5:30 AM - 8:00 PM. Puja ceremonies: 5:30-7:00 AM, 9:30-11:00 AM, 6:30-8:00 PM. Arrive during puja for the full ceremonial experience but expect larger crowds.
Location: Kandy is located in Sri Lanka's Central Province, 115 km northeast of Colombo. The temple is in the city center near Kandy Lake.
Nearby: Kandy Lake (free to walk around), Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue (hilltop viewpoint), Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya (6 km away, LKR 1,500 foreigners).
Photography: Permitted in outer courtyard areas and museum. Strictly prohibited inside the main shrine room where the Tooth Relic is housed.