Temple of the Tooth in Kandy

History of Temple of the Tooth

The temple was originally built by the kings of the Kandy during the 1700s to keep the relic of Lord Buddha safely. Down the years, the temple suffered multiple attacks from various colonizers and was caught in the midst of a few political struggle movements. The journey of the tooth started from Kalinga but was given to Princess Hemamali during the onset of war. The princess successfully smuggled the relic into the island but the tooth got passed on from one king to another. It was later decided that the monarch was in charge of keeping the tooth safe. This resulted in the tooth playing an important role on who should be the king. Whoever had the tooth, ended up being crowned the king. The Temple of Tooth, Kandy was later constructed to bring an end to all this mayhem and the relic was placed in a casket with many layers.

Attractions of Temple of the Tooth

Royal Palace of Kandy

The royal palace of Kandy was home to the monarchy line of the Kandian kings. It was modified many times by the different kings inhabiting it. King Vickrama Rajasinha was the last king who had to leave the palace after the city was captured by the British. Tourists can tour around the massive place and get to know the history behind every room and structure built and modified. The palace has the Kings’ royal audience hall, harem quarters and Queens’ bathing pavilion that are waiting to be explored even more and have so many interesting stories to tell.

Kandy Lake

The artificial lake was created by King Vickrama Rajasinha for the purpose of making Tooth relic Temple visually more appealing and pleasing to the eyes. The scenic beauty of the lake provides for a good resting place for tourists. If you are not tired, the shady areas around the lake, allow for a long walk and fast-paced jogging. Tourists can also take part in boating expeditions on the lake.

Temple of the Tooth Museum

The Temple of the Tooth relic is accompanied by a museum on the first and second floors. You can view the history of various Kandian kings along with their portraits and busts on the first floor. The second floor is a plethora of historical artifacts and religious items. The museum gives information regarding various aspects of history related to the Kandy city.