Highlights
- Under British rule the relic passed into the care of monks and lay officials
- Daily rituals are held at set times for pilgrims
- The tooth relic reached Sri Lanka in the 4th century
- A golden casket studded with gems is carried in the Perahera
- Painted ceilings and walls fill the inner shrine
- Built in classic Kandyan style beside the lake
Overview
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Maligawa, in Kandy, houses a tooth relic of the Buddha. It is the most important Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka. For centuries, possession of the relic was linked to the right to rule. The temple stands beside Kandy Lake within the former royal palace complex, part of the UNESCO-listed Sacred City of Kandy.
What you see
- The shrine: the relic is kept in a gold casket within an inner chamber; the casket, not the relic, is shown during pujas.
- The octagon (Paththirippuwa): a tower overlooking the lake, built by the last king of Kandy.
- Drummers' courtyard and carved doorways, paintings and ivory work.
- Museums: the Dalada Museum, World Buddhist Museum and others in the complex.
Puja times and hours (2026)
2026 guides say the temple is open daily from about 5:30am to 8pm, with pujas at about 5:30am, 9:30am and 6:30pm. The evening puja is the busiest.
Tickets (2026)
From 1 July 2026, the temple's official ticket price for most foreign visitors is LKR 3,000, or LKR 2,500 for visitors from SAARC countries, Thailand and Myanmar. It includes the temple and its museums. Tickets come only from the temple's own machines; tickets sold by anyone else are not valid.
How long it takes
One to two hours.
Getting there
The temple is in central Kandy, by the lake. As of October 2026, trains from Colombo do not yet reach Kandy station after cyclone damage, so most visitors arrive by road.
Dress code and tips
- Cover shoulders and knees; shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed.
- Leave shoes at the shoe counter, and remove hats.
- Expect security screening; avoid bringing plastic bags.
Visit the Royal Palace and Kandy Lake, and plan around the Esala Perahera. Join our Kandy city tour, or see Kandy hotels.
Prices are as of October 2026 and may change.
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