Temple · Buddhist
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Part of the UNESCO-listed Sacred City of Kandy (inscribed 1988)
Temple · Buddhist
Kandy, Sri Lanka
The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy houses what is venerated as a relic of the Buddha's tooth, making it one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka and a major pilgrimage destination.
The tooth relic is central to Sri Lankan Buddhist identity and historically to political legitimacy on the island — traditionally, possession of the relic was linked to the right to rule. The relic is displayed only on rare ceremonial occasions.
The relic arrived in Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE according to tradition, and the current temple was built in the 18th century during the Kandyan Kingdom specifically to house it.
The Esala Perahera festival (July/August), a grand procession honouring the relic, is the most significant time to visit, though also the most crowded.
Modest dress is required and shoes are removed before entering; the actual tooth relic is not usually visible to visitors, housed within a series of caskets.