Steeped in history, Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka features traditional architecture which also showcases intricate design elements that help bring out the site’s rich heritage.
Location
The temple is also a tourist hotspot, with hundreds of tourists visiting, thanks to its central location and proximity to several hotels, such as Kings Pavilion Kandy a well-known hotel in Kandy, which overlooks the city.
History
Set amid the lush greenery of the Kandyan countryside, long regarded as an important centre of Buddhism, is the stunning 17th-century temple of the sacred tooth relic locally known as Sri Dalada Maligawa. It is home to the country’s most sacred Buddhist relic.
Significance
Aside from its spiritual significance, the tooth relic has also played a significant role in politics as it was believed whoever held the relic, held governance over the island. Each successive king guarded the relic in their respective capital before it finally made its way to Kandy, during the reign of King Vimaladharmasuriya.
The tooth relic
The tooth relic is housed within a two-story inner shrine behind two large elephant tusks. While visitors are allowed in to pay their respects, you can’t actually see the relic, as it is permanently encased in a jewelled casket. It’s only moved out of its special chamber once a year, for the Esala Perahara festival.
Damon Starky is a creative nomadic travel writer, who is well informed and experienced on a wide range of interests that would connect to the needs of any type of traveler. Google+ A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, Joanna James ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought. Her interests include Politics, law and Philosophy. Google+