Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Overview
Temple housing the relic of the tooth of Buddha, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
The Sacred Tooth Relic (Dalada) was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE. It became the palladium of kingship—whoever possessed it had the divine right to rule. The current two-story shrine was built by King Sri Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe (1707-1739), with later additions by the last king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (the Octagon).
Construction
The temple complex is located within the royal palace grounds. It is built on a granite base with walls of limestone and timber upper floors.
Architecture
The architecture features typical Kandyan elements: a high-pitched roof, white walls with cloud drift walls (Walakulu Bemma), and the famous Octagon (Paththirippuwa). The interior is richly decorated with ivory, lacquer work, and intricate wood carvings.
Significance
It is the most sacred Buddhist site in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The annual Esala Perahera procession centers around the relic.
Current Status
It remains a center of daily worship and a major tourist attraction. The relic is kept in seven nesting gold caskets.