Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

The crowning jewel of the city, the Sri Dalada Maligawa is a grand royal palace complex that houses the most sacred object in the Buddhist world: a tooth relic belonging to Gautama Buddha. Brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD hidden in the hair of a royal princess, the relic has long represented a powerful symbol of divine authority. Historically, whoever held the tooth relic held the legitimate right to rule the island, prompting successive kings to build beautiful, highly secure temples to protect it.

The temple features classic Kandyan architecture, characterized by sloping tiled roofs, intricate granite carvings, and moonstones placed at entryways. It is surrounded by a peaceful moat and a classic cloud-drift stone wall. Visitors enter through a beautifully carved tunnel into the main two-story shrine room, where the air is heavy with the scent of jasmine flowers and the sound of traditional drumming (hewisi).

The sacred tooth relic itself is kept in the inner chamber on the upper floor, safely guarded inside seven nested gold caskets shaped like stupas and encrusted with precious rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. While the relic is rarely exposed directly to the public, the gold casket can be viewed through a heavy, gold-plated doorway during the daily pooja (prayer) services held at dawn, noon, and evening. Pilgrims clad in simple white clothing travel from across the globe to offer lotus blossoms and meditate before the shrine, creating a deeply spiritual atmosphere. The complex also includes the historic Royal Palace ruins, the Audience Hall with its beautifully carved wooden pillars, and a museum that shares the fascinating journey of the relic across South Asia.