Living (Sri Lanka)

TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH

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The Temple of the Tooth is also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa and is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. According to legend, the tooth was taken from Lord Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was then preserved in Kalinga, India, and smuggled to Sri Lanka by Princess Hemamali and her husband Prince Dantha in the 4th century AD. Replicas were created to protect the integrity of the sacred tooth and the exact location of the relic remains uncertain even today.

The Sri Dalada Maligawa was built by King Sri

Vira Parakrama Narendra Sinha. Its octagonal Paththirip­puwa and moat were added during the reign of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.

The sacred tooth is removed from the shrine only during the Esala Perahera.

The entrance to the temple complex is through the Maha Vahalkada. There are two walls on the sides of this. The outer is known as ‘the wall of water ripples’ and the inner is called ‘the wall of clouds.’ Key informatio­n: Visiting hours are from 5.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entrance fee is Rs. 1,500. All visitors have to wear clothes that cover their legs and shoulders, and they must remove their shoes.

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