🦷 Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
Sri Lanka
About This Sacred Site
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy is the most important Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka, housing a tooth of the Buddha that has been a symbol of sovereignty since ancient times. The relic was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE, hidden in the hair of a princess. Throughout Sri Lankan history, whoever held the tooth relic was considered the legitimate ruler. The temple, set within the Royal Palace complex beside Kandy Lake, is the focus of the annual Esala Perahera festival, one of Asia's most spectacular processions featuring elaborately decorated elephants, dancers, and drummers.
Key Facts
- •Houses a tooth relic of the Buddha, symbol of Sri Lankan sovereignty since the 4th century CE
- •The tooth was brought from India hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamala
- •The annual Esala Perahera is one of Asia's grandest religious processions
- •Possession of the relic traditionally conferred the right to rule Sri Lanka
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Sacred City of Kandy
Location
Coordinates: 7.2936, 80.6413
Related Holy Sites
☸️Bodh Gaya (Mahabodhi Temple)
Where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha.
🛕Angkor Wat
The largest religious monument in the world, originally Hindu then Buddhist.
🪷Shwedagon Pagoda
Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist pagoda, gilded with 60 tons of gold.
☸️Lumbini
The birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha.
🪷Borobudur
The world's largest Buddhist temple, with 2,672 relief panels.
🏯Potala Palace
Former winter residence of the Dalai Lama, towering over Lhasa.