Boutique Maldives & Sri Lanka Holiday
A classic Sri Lanka and Maldives holiday with unique cultural experiences and beautiful boutique hotels throughout.
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Located in the royal palace complex in Kandy, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic houses Sri Lankas most important Buddhist relic; a tooth of the Buddha. Said to have been snatched from the flames of the Buddhas funeral pyre in 483 BC, the tooth was smuggled into Sri Lanka during the 4th century AD, hidden in the hair of a princess.
Over the years the tooth has gradually grown in importance as a symbol of sovereignty, and it was generally believed that whoever had custody of the tooth, had the right to rule the island. Today, the temple acts as a pilgrimage site for Sri Lankan Buddhists who will pay at least one visit to the temple during their lifetime.
Monks still conduct worship in the inner chamber of the temple, performing rituals three times daily. On Wednesdays, a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic take place with a herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed amongst those present.
You will want at least an hour to explore this important Buddhist site.
You can include this experience as part of an Experience Travel Group holiday designed exclusively with you.
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Map centered on Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Zoom out to view other hotels (H) and experiences (E) in the area.
One of my highlights was visit to Temple of the Tooth. Laky knew exactly where to be during the ceremony to get best from it and I enjoyed being part of the crowd.
Pam, April 2013
Temple of the Tooth, loved it but a disappointment that we didn't attend any of the religious services.
Chris & Jane, February 2013
We were a bit disappointed with the Temple of the Tooth as after all the hype you don't actually see it.
Alison, January 2013
Temple of the Tooth - Went on a busy day, which was good as we saw it in full flow.
Gary, September 2012