Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine, home to a tooth relic of the Buddha and the heart of Kandy's famous Esala Perahera.
On the shore of Kandy Lake, the golden-roofed Sri Dalada Maligawa guards a tooth relic of the Buddha that, by tradition, was smuggled to Sri Lanka in the 4th century hidden in a princess's hair. Whoever held the relic held the right to rule, so it moved with the island's capitals until it came to Kandy, the last royal city. The Sacred City of Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inside the temple
The relic itself is never shown. It rests in a series of nested golden caskets inside an inner shrine, and during the daily puja ceremonies the doors are opened to the casket while drummers play and pilgrims queue with lotus flowers. The evening ceremony is the most atmospheric.
Beyond the main shrine, take time for the Audience Hall, the museum of the relic's history and the World Buddhism Museum next door.
The Esala Perahera
For ten nights each July or August, Kandy holds one of Asia's great festivals. Dozens of decorated elephants, whip-crackers, fire dancers and drummers parade through the streets, and on the final nights a casket representing the relic is carried by the lead tusker. Book accommodation months ahead if you plan to see it.
Etiquette
- Cover shoulders and knees; a sarong or shawl is fine.
- Remove shoes and hats before entering. Socks help on hot stone.
- Never pose with your back to a Buddha statue for photos.
Around the temple
Walk the 3 km path around Kandy Lake, built in 1807 by the last king of Kandy, then head to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, 6 km away.
