Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
A tooth of the Buddha, brought to the island in the 4th century, kept in seven nested caskets — and for a thousand years the object that decided who could call himself king.
What Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic actually is
Sri Dalada Maligawa holds a relic that has shaped Sri Lankan politics for sixteen centuries. Possession of the tooth traditionally legitimised the ruler, which is why it has been hidden, moved, fought over and, according to Portuguese accounts, publicly destroyed — a claim Sinhalese tradition rejects, holding that a replica was burned.
The temple you walk into is largely 17th and 18th century, built inside the royal palace complex of the last Kandyan kings, with a golden canopy added in 1987 and repairs following a 1998 bombing. Drummers play in the corridor before each ceremony, and the doors of the inner chamber open for roughly an hour.
Set expectations properly: you will not see the tooth. It sits inside seven nested gold caskets, and only the outermost is briefly visible as the queue files past. What you are there for is the ritual around it — the drumming, the offerings of lotus and frangipani, and several hundred people in white moving through a working shrine rather than a monument.
Worth your attention
The evening puja
6:30pm is the one most visitors choose. Arrive by six; the corridor past the casket becomes a slow single file and the doors close on time.
The drummers
Hevisi drumming in the corridor announces each ceremony. Two or three minutes, and the most memorable sound in the building.
The Alut Maligawa
The newer two-storey hall alongside, lined with Buddha images donated by Buddhist countries, plus a museum on the upper floor.
Raja the elephant
The tusker who carried the relic in the Perahera for fifty years, now preserved in his own small museum. Odd, affecting and much visited by locals.
Before you go
Do this
- Arrive 30 minutes before the puja you want
- Wear white if you can; modest dress otherwise, with shoulders and knees covered
- Leave shoes at the counter outside — there is a small charge
- Allow time for the security check at the entrance
- Combine it with Peradeniya gardens earlier in the day
Know this first
- You will not see the tooth itself — only the outer casket, briefly
- This is active worship, not a performance; photographing yourself posing with your back to a Buddha causes real offence
- Poya days and the Perahera bring enormous crowds
- Guides offering their services at the gate are unofficial and unregulated
Getting to Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic sits within reach of Kandy, so almost everyone visits it as part of a stay there rather than as a trip in its own right. Our Kandy guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.
Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Kandy — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
Read the full Kandy guideFrom Colombo Airport
Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic — frequently asked
What time is the puja at the Temple of the Tooth?
Three daily ceremonies at roughly 5:30am, 9:30am and 6:30pm, each opening the inner chamber for about an hour. The evening puja draws the largest crowd; arrive by 6pm if you want to be through the corridor before it closes.
What is the dress code?
Shoulders and knees covered for everyone, shoes and hats removed before entering. White clothing is traditional and appreciated. A scarf in your day bag is enough to solve it if you have come from the coast.
Can you see the actual tooth relic?
No. It is held inside seven nested gold caskets and only the outermost is visible as the queue passes, and then only briefly. The relic itself is displayed publicly only on extremely rare occasions.
How much does it cost to enter?
Around LKR 2,000 for a foreign adult, which includes the temple complex and the museums. Prices are set in rupees and have risen periodically.
Other places worth the detour
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