Sri Lanka has a wide range of ancient and renowned Buddhist sites, but out of all of them, the Temple of the Tooth is widely considered as being the most sacred and for good reason too.
History of the Temple
As far as the temple, Sri Dalada Maligawa, and its various buildings are concerned they are not as ancient as people might expect, since they were built during the 16th century. The true significance of this temple is tied to the tooth relic within it which belongs to the Lord Buddha himself.
The Tooth Relic
The legendary tooth relic was brought to Sri Lanka in secrecy from India by Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha, her husband. They were acting under instructions given by King Guhasiva. The relic was placed under the protection of various temples before being brought to Sri Dalada Maligawa.
The Royal Palace
This was the residence of the last king of Sri Lanka and is situated towards the north of the temple. Following British occupation it was utilised by many governors before being converted into a museum.
Esala Perahera
Alternatively known as The Festival of the Tooth, this is a historical celebration and procession held annually as tribute to the tooth relic and Lord Buddha. This celebration is iconic of the nation and many Sri Lanka tours providers such as Connaissance de Ceylan always have packages involving this procession.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
