Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth Relic)

The “Sri Dalada Maligawa” (The Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic) is situated in the Kandy city which was the capital for Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815. The Kandy city is a beautiful plateau in Central Province, Sri Lanka. The city was declared as world heritage by UNESCO.

The Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic) is houses the One of the surviving Tooth Relics of Buddha. Buddhists believe that other one is in “Somawathi Chetiya”. King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1592 – 1603) built a two storied Temple for the Relic & brought the relic from Delgamuwa near Kuruwita. After that king Wimaladharmasuriya II (1686 – 1706) built a three storied building. Now days we called this as an old temple & Remains of first temple no longer exit. Then the King Viraparakrama Narendrasingha (1706 – 1738) was built a new two storied temple. The Pattirippuwa (Octagon) was built by Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe who was last king of Sri Lanka. Initially it was part of royal palace & used by king to address his civilians.

The relic tooth is kept in the “Vadahitina Maligawa” which is a chamber in the upper floor. The tooth relic is bringing out only once a year for “Esala Perahera”. It is a parade which enriched from traditional Kandyan Dancers, Decorated Elephants & many more functions. The Perahera use only torch – light for its lightning. Usually it’ll be held on late July or early August.