Tooth Temple ( Dalada Maligawa)

Overlooking the north the shore of Kandy Lake, in the centre of town, the temple of the Tooth is a place of pilgrimage for millions of devout Buddhists from all over Sri Lanka, and is regarded by Buddhist Sri Lankans as the treasury of their entire Culture. Sri Lanka's premiers and presidents traditionally deliver their first post-election speeches from its balcony, and lesser politicians too make thanksgiving visits to the temple on election.

The Tooth Relic itself is Claimed to have come to Sri Lanka some 1600 years ago, when a certain princess from southern India brought it to Anuradhapura, which was then the kingdoms rose and fell, it finally ended up in Kandy around Ad1100. Over Centuries, as the sinhalese came under increasing pressure from invasion, it became more and more symbolic of Sri Lankan freedom and independence.

The existing temple was begun in 1687 and added to by a succession of Kandyam kings over the next 95 years. Painted plae rose, surrounded by walls adorned with elephant carvings and a moat, and roofed with terracotta tiles, the temple receives a steady flow of pilgrims and tourists. Dress modestly (no shorts or singlets) and leave your shoes at the entrance before joining the never-ending line that shuffles through the decorated halls and eventually moves into the darkened, gilt-roofed relic chamber which is the temple's holy of holies. Within two monks stand sentinel before a gold reliquary, all that you will be allowed to see of the holy molar. Don't leave however, without seeing the library od ola (palm-leaf) manuscripts housed in the pagoda-like moat tower. The temple is open Daily 24 hours; the library is open 09.00 - 17.00 Daily.