Kandy City, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, is home to some of the most unique and best Kandy Temples.Whether you want to explore popular temples such as the Temple of the Tooth, which thousands of devotees visit every day, or offbeat temples such as the Bodhi tree near Pattini Devale, Kandy City has them all. It is home to abundant Buddhist and Hindu temples, some dedicated to deities from both religions. This is what makes Kandy city so special as it celebrates every religion with fervour and gives importance to every being. This is why it became UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 1988.
Explore 10 Kandy Temples
Discover the famous temples in Kandy for a spiritual experience. Some of the best Kandy temples include:
1. Dalada Maligawa
Image Credit: By Wouter Hagens for Wikipedia
Sri Dalada Maligawa, also called the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is one of the most popular Buddhist temples in Kandy City. Nonstop rituals take place in the temple every day, and every visitor is invited to relish in the beautiful architecture and feel the tranquility around it. The temple houses Gautama Buddha’s left tooth. People worldwide come to visit this stunning temple to feel spiritually enlightened and at peace.
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2. Pattini Devale
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If you visit the Natha Devale in Kandy City, you must visit Pattini Devale. This small shrine is situated on the west side of the Natha Devale across Eth Vediya. This tiny but spectacular temple may not seem like much from the outside. But it holds immense value to the locals. The temple is dedicated to Pattini Deviyo who is the Goddess of Chastity. With the backdrop of lush greens, the ivory temple with murals stands out and beckons you to pay a visit.
3. Wel Bodiya
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The Bodhi tree or Bo tree is worshipped at Kandy City. You will find a grand Bo tree outside the Pattini Devale in Kandy. It is situated on a terraced platform, and its gorgeous leaves and majestic trunk just show how it has become stronger by the day. The tree is revered because it is considered one of the off-shoots of Anuradhapura’s Bo tree. Anuradhapura’s Bodhi tree was called Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and is believed to have been planted around 288 BC. This makes it among the oldest angiosperm specimens.
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4. Maha Vishnu Dewale
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The Maha Vishnu Dewale is one of the Hindu temples in Kandy dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Built around the 18th century, the temple is a sacred site for Buddhists, who come to worship here. The shrine is also dedicated to God Dedimunda. There is a Bodhi tree near the shrine, where people worship as well when they visit this temple. If you want to surround yourself with peaceful vibes, this is the place to be, as the Gods of two religions are placed near each other.
4. Katharagama Dewale
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Katharagama Dewale is dedicated to Lord Katharagama or Lord Skanda, also known as Murugan, Kartikeya, Shanmukha, and Subramanya. You will be captivated before entering the temple because of the vibrant colours used in the front portion of the temple! You will be enchanted by the statue of the God Skanda, which features him on a peacock chariot. He has six heads and twelve hands. Worship at this temple if you are unsure which path to take. You will feel clarity pretty soon!
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5. Natha Dewale
Image Credit: 元 某人 from Pexels
The Natha Dewale is one of the oldest hidden temples in Kandy that few people know about. It is dedicated to Lord Lokeshwera Natha also known as Lord of All Realms. He is also called Avalokitesvara. He is the 10th-level bodhisattva who is known for his compassion. The temple showcases the beautiful architecture popular in South Indian temples. It is believed to be built in the 14th century and has three storeys. There is only one functional storey at present.
6. Lankatilaka Temple
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The Lankatilaka temple is a Buddhist temple built in Hiyarapitiya Village in Kandy in the 14th century. The temple was built by King Buwanekabahu in 1344 AD. He reigned from 1341 to 1351 AD. The temple complex has three sections; one is where the shrine is located, the other is where the stupa is situated or Dagoba, and the third is the Bodhi tree. It is best if you go to all these sections to offer your prayers and connect to God. The magnificent architecture consists of inscriptions on the rock in both Tamil and Sinhala.
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7. Sri Muththu Mariamman Kovil
Image Credit: Umapathy for Wikimedia Commons
Sri Muththu Mariamman Kovil was built in 1874. Constructing this temple took about 100 Tamil architects, painters, artists, and designers. The temple is nothing short of extraordinary, as you will find a total of 10008 statues of Hindu Gods depicted in various ways. The Raja Koburam, a 108-foot-tall tower, is quite mesmerising to the eyes. The temple is one of the Buddhist and Hindu temples in Kandy City and is known for its grandeur.
8. Sri Ganesh Temple
Image Credit: By A.Savin for Wikipedia
One of the hidden temples in Kandy is the Sri Ganesh Temple. Lord Ganesha is also called Pillaiyar in Sinhalese. A legend says there is an interesting story about why the temple was built here. The washerman of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe had a dream that showed Eshwara telling him that a temple must be built at a particular site near a rock. He informed his master, who in turn told the King. This is when the King instructed a temple to be built there.
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9. Sri Maha Bhadrakali Amman Kovil
Image Credit: By Sankarrukku for Wikipedia
The Sri Maha Bhadrakali Amman Kovil’s presiding deity is Goddess Kali. This is one of the best Hindu temples in Kandy, but it is not as popular as it should be. Locals come here to pray to Goddess Kali to protect them from enemies they do not know about and any negative forces that may be destroying their lives. Goddess Kali is a powerful Goddess, and you can visit this temple with your family to offer prayers.
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A trip to Sri Lanka is incomplete without visiting the sacred Kandy Temples in Kandy City. Explore the Buddhist and Hindu temples with your loved ones and see how spiritually uplifted you feel at the end of your tour! Make sure you go to the hidden temples, which will give you serenity!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kandy Temples
Which are Kandy City’s three temples?
The three temples are called Lankathilaka, Embekke, and Gadaladeniya. They are believed to have been built around the 14th century.
Why is Kandy famous?
Kandy is the land of temples and it houses all types of temples such as Buddhist temples and Hindu temples. It is also popular because it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Which is the major religion in Kandy City?
Buddhism is the main religion as Sinhalese are the majority in this part of Sri Lanka.
What was Kandy called before?
Some say Kandy was called Senkadapallapura while others say the original name was Katubulu Nuwara.
What is the main Buddhist Temple in Kandy called?
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa is the name of the popular temple that has Gautama Buddha’s left canine preserved on its premises.
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