Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy: A Visitor’s Guide
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is one of Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Visiting offers an opportunity to appreciate its architecture, learn about the island’s religious history and observe traditions that continue every day.
Give yourself time to experience the temple respectfully, especially if your visit coincides with a daily service. Our Sri Lanka Hill Country Travel Guide can help you include Kandy in a wider journey.
Why Is the Temple Important?
The temple enshrines a relic revered by Buddhists as a tooth of the Buddha. According to the temple’s history, Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha brought it from India to Sri Lanka in the fourth century CE.
Its history became closely connected with Sri Lankan royalty, and the temple stands beside Kandy’s former royal palace.
Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhala kings before British occupation in 1815. The Sacred City of Kandy, including this important pilgrimage site, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.
Can Visitors See the Tooth Relic?
The tooth relic itself is not normally displayed during an ordinary visit. It is protected within a series of seven golden caskets inside its shrine.
The daily services are acts of worship centred on the relic. Attending one does not mean the tooth will be uncovered for visitors.
Approach the visit as an opportunity to understand the temple’s religious significance, appreciate its surroundings and observe the devotion of worshippers.
What to See
| Area or feature | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Drumming Hall | The place where traditional drumming forms part of the daily offerings. |
| Main shrine area | The spiritual focus of the temple, where visitors should follow the queue and staff directions. |
| New Shrine Room | Buddha images and paintings depicting episodes from the history of the Tooth Relic. |
| Architectural details | Carved entrances, painted decoration and the craftsmanship of the temple buildings. |
The temple’s own descriptions explain the role of the Drumming Hall and the historical paintings in the New Shrine Room. Take time to notice these features instead of moving directly through the complex.
Daily Puja and Service Times
The temple calls its daily services Theva. They include offerings and traditional ceremonial music.
| Service | Published time |
|---|---|
| Early morning | 5:30 am–7:00 am |
| Mid-morning | 9:30 am–11:00 am |
| Evening | 6:30 pm–8:00 pm |
These are the service windows published by the temple, checked on 27 September 2026. Individual parts of the ritual take place within these periods.
If you wish to attend a service, arrive with time to complete the entry process beforehand. Keep your schedule flexible so you can wait patiently and avoid rushing through the worship area.
For a visit focused on architecture and displays, consider exploring outside the service periods.
Opening Hours and Tickets
The official website lists daily opening hours of 5:30 am–8:00 pm, Sri Lanka time.
Its published foreign visitor fees, checked on 27 September 2026, are:
| Visitor group | Listed fee |
|---|---|
| SAARC countries | LKR 2,500 |
| Thailand and Myanmar | LKR 2,500 |
| Other countries, including Australia | LKR 3,000 |
The listed ticket includes the temple, Dalada Museum, World Buddhist Museum, Tusker Museum and Royal Elephant Stable. Check individual facilities’ opening times before planning your visit around them.
Use the temple’s official ticket facilities and confirm current prices and any child concessions through the official visitor information page.
Dress Code and Entry
Wear clothing covering your shoulders and knees; avoid shorts, sleeveless tops and revealing clothing. Remove footwear at the designated facilities.
Visitors and their belongings undergo security screening. Bring a small bag and leave bulky luggage at your accommodation where possible. The temple also advertises assistance, including lift access, which should be arranged with its administration in advance.
Inside, speak quietly, keep doorways clear and give worshippers room to pray. Follow photography signs and staff instructions, and ask before taking close photographs of people.
Read Sri Lanka Travel Etiquette: Customs and Temple Visits before visiting.
How Long Should You Allow?
We suggest around two hours for the temple visit, allowing longer if you wish to attend a service or explore the included museums. This is a planning estimate; queues and your interests will affect the time needed.
Avoid scheduling a tight onward connection immediately afterwards. A flexible morning or afternoon gives you more time to appreciate the visit.
For families, explain beforehand that this is an active place of worship where children will need to speak softly and stay close. Plan a break afterwards rather than trying to fit every display into one visit.
Raja Tusker Museum
On the way towards the former King’s Palace, visitors can stop at the museum dedicated to Raja, the celebrated Maligawa tusker. For decades, Raja carried the ceremonial casket during the Kandy Esala Perahera, becoming a much-loved symbol of the temple’s traditions.
After his death in 1988, Raja’s remains were preserved through taxidermy and placed on display. The museum also contains photographs and records documenting his life and long association with Sri Dalada Maligawa.
This small museum offers a closer look at the story of an individual elephant whose memory remains closely connected with Kandy’s religious and cultural heritage.
Adding the Temple to Your Sri Lanka Trip
Use Kandy as a stop in your wider hill country itinerary, leaving time for the temple alongside other sightseeing.
For more Buddhist heritage, explore Dambulla Cave Temple: A Visitor’s Guide and Anuradhapura Sacred City: A Visitor’s Guide. Each offers a different setting, from painted cave shrines to ancient stupas and a sacred Bodhi tree.
Our Getting Around Sri Lanka guide can help you plan transport between destinations.