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The most religiously significant place for Buddhists, the temple of the sacred tooth relic attracts tourists from around the world and monks and Buddhists from Thailand, China, Nepal and more. Located in Kandy, the temple houses one of the most important relics to have ever been conserved – the tooth of the Buddha! The world heritage site speaks an architectural language for itself and stands tall with its golden roof. The temple is highly guarded and is open for tourists and visitors. The tooth is conserved in an encasing that resembles a stupa, placed inside a series of similar diminishing encasements.
Apart from the tooth relic, the premises also houses several shrines, museums and temples tourists can visit. Though there are local guides who will charge you approximately Rs. 800 to take you around the place, there are free audio guides available in the counters you can use and get to understand the place better. It is locally called Sri Dalada Maligawa
Location: Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
Known for: Housing the upper-canine tooth of the Lord Buddha and for being a heritage site. The temple was built during the 17th century.
How to reach: Located at a prime center, it will take you around 2 kilometers from the Kandy railway station to the temple. If you are reaching from Colombo, you can take buses (approximately 3 hours at Rs. 100 per person) or trains (at approximately Rs. 220 and faster) and reach the temple. Besides, you can also rent two-wheelers at approximately Rs. 1,000 per day and drive down through the scenic locations. Getting a taxi from Colombo is also a good option, where you can incur charges from anywhere between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 3000 approximately. This can increase or decrease depending on seasons.
Approximate Cost: Rs. 1,500 for adults and free for kids
Operating hours: The temple is open for tourists from 5: 30 AM to 8:00 PM. Pujas happen at three different timings – 5:30 AM to 6:45 AM, 9:30 AM to 11:45 AM, and 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
Any Precautions: Dress yourself conservatively and wear outfits that cover your shoulders and legs. Also remember to remove your footwear before you enter.
Type: Historic Site
