Exploring Kandy: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Royal Gardens & Culture
- Experience the spiritual aura of Sri Dalada Maligawa housing Buddha’s tooth relic
- Stroll the world-renowned Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya with giant bamboo & orchids
- Take a serene walk around the scenic mist-shrouded Kandy Lake
- Watch vibrant traditional Kandyan fire dancers and master drummers
Kandy: The Spiritual Heart of Sri Lanka
Nestled amidst tranquil green hills surrounding a peaceful man-made lake, Kandy stands as the last royal capital of Sri Lanka. Defiantly resisting Portuguese and Dutch colonial forces for over two centuries before finally succumbing to the British Crown in 1815, Kandy preserved the country’s ancient customs, arts, music, and sacred religious traditions with ferocious pride.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage City in 1988, Kandy remains the cultural and spiritual nucleus of the island, drawing millions of Buddhist pilgrims and curious global travelers every single year.
Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic)
At the center of Kandy’s spiritual reverence is the Temple of the Tooth Relic, which safeguards the left canine tooth of Lord Buddha, retrieved from his funeral pyre in India in 543 BC and smuggled to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamala.
In ancient Sri Lanka, whoever possessed the sacred relic held the divine right to rule the kingdom. Today, the tooth is enshrined within seven nested golden caskets encrusted with precious diamonds, rubies, and emeralds inside the inner sanctum (Vadahitina Maligawa).
The Daily Thevava (Pooja Ceremonies)
While the tooth relic itself is kept sheltered inside the golden caskets, visitors can attend the solemn, rhythmic Thevava (worship rituals) held thrice daily:
- Morning Pooja: 5:30 AM – 7:00 AM
- Midday Pooja: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Evening Pooja: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
During these hours, the doors to the upper chamber are opened to the sound of ceremonial hewisi drumming, conch shell blowers, and wafting scents of burning incense and fresh jasmine flowers.
Temple Dress Code & Etiquette
All visitors must dress respectfully in attire covering both shoulders and knees. White clothing is traditional and warmly welcomed. You must remove your footwear at the security entrance (shoe storage counters are provided for a small nominal donation). Hats and sunglasses should also be removed inside temple grounds.
The Spectacular Kandy Esala Perahera
If you visit Sri Lanka during July or August (determined by the lunar calendar), you will witness the grandest cultural festival in Asia: the Kandy Esala Perahera. Over ten consecutive nights, a mesmerizing procession of dozens of majestically caparisoned tuskers, hundreds of fire dancers, whip crackers, stilt walkers, and Kandyan drummers parades the streets of Kandy honoring the sacred tooth relic.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Located just 5 km west of Kandy city along the banks of the Mahaweli River (Sri Lanka’s longest river), Peradeniya Botanical Gardens spans 147 acres and dates back to 1371. Renowned for its botanical diversity, it features:
- The Orchid House: Housing over 300 spectacular species of exotic tropical orchids.
- The Giant Javan Fig Tree: An umbrella-like marvel with an enormous sprawling canopy covering 2,500 square meters.
- Royal Palm Avenue: Imposing royal palms towering gracefully along grand walkways.
- Medicinal & Spice Garden: Featuring wild cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and clove trees.
Other Top Attractions Around Kandy
- Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue: A towering 26-meter (88-foot) pure white Buddha seated atop Bahirawa Kanda hill, providing breathtaking bird's-eye views across Kandy town and the surrounding Knuckles mountain ridges.
- Udawattakele Forest Sanctuary: An ancient royal forest reserve situated directly behind the Temple of the Tooth, teeming with towering hardwood trees, flying foxes, and colorful endemic birdlife.
- Traditional Cultural Dance Show: Held daily at 5:00 PM at the Kandy Lake Club, showcasing the energetic acrobatic feats and fire-walking rituals of traditional Kandyan folklore.
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