Temple of the Tooth

Located north of the lake in Kandy, the Temple of the Tooth is one of the most important shrines in Sri Lanka. Its significance comes primarily from the fact that it houses the most sacred relic—the Buddha's tooth (Sinhala: Dalada). According to legend, the tooth was retrieved from the flames of Buddha's funeral pyre in 543 BCE and smuggled to Sri Lanka in the 4th century CE, hidden in the hair of a princess from Kalinga. Later, it was taken by the Indians and possibly even the Portuguese, although it is speculated that they were given only a replica. The relic became central to the island's history because it was considered a symbol of sovereignty; whoever possessed it had the right to rule. The construction of the Temple of the Tooth took place mainly between 1687–1707 and 1747–1782 under the supervision of the Kandyan kings.

The main shrine housing the tooth—Vahalkada Maligawa—stands in the center of a paved courtyard. The strictly guarded room with the sacred tooth is accessible to devotees and tourists during pūjā (offering or prayer). The tooth is kept inside a golden casket shaped like a stupa, which contains a set of six smaller caskets. The actual relic rests in the innermost, smallest casket, keeping it hidden from curious visitors. Only the outer casket can be seen from about three meters away from the altar.

The temple holds immense significance for most Sri Lankan Buddhists, who believe that everyone should make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lifetime. In early 1998, the temple was damaged by a bomb, reportedly carried out by the Tamil Tigers (LTTE – a separatist organization in Sri Lanka).