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Temple of the Sacred Tooth

Sri Lanka, Kandy and Around

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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.

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

You can include this experience as part of an Experience Travel Group holiday designed exclusively with you.

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Essential Sri Lanka with East Coast

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For those with more time to spare, this 3-weeker is our ultimate island itinerary. Distinctive experiences and tucked away gems.

Luxury Sri Lanka & Maldives Holiday

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Luxurious holiday with the best hotels in Sri Lanka and The Maldives and with our exclusive ETG experiences.

Luxury Winter Wedding

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Sheer Indulgence in Sri Lanka

Sheer Indulgence in Sri Lanka

Discover the highlights of Sri Lanka while enjoying famous, luxury hotels like Aman and Tea Trails.

Sri Lanka and the work of Geoffrey Bawa

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This holiday takes in Sri Lanka's varied highlights with a focus on the work of its most famous architect Geoffrey Bawa.

Sri Lanka In Depth With The Maldives

Sri Lanka In Depth With The Maldives

Three-week holiday taking in the local culture, nature, wildlife and of Sri Lanka with five blissful days in The Maldives.

Map centered on Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Zoom out to view other hotels (H) and experiences (E) in the area.

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~
Your next adventure
starts with a conversation
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Every ETG journey is unique. Tell us your loves, your hates, your holiday ambitions, your hopes and fears, and we’ll share a suitcase so full of inspired holiday ideas you’ll need to sit on it to shut it tight.

Not sure what you’re looking for? Let us inspire you...

Get in Touch

Call us 020 7924 7133

ETG - immersive holidays that give back, since 2004.
Don’t just see Asia - feel Asia.

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  • Destinations
    • South Asia
      • Sri Lanka
      • The Maldives
      • India
      • Bhutan
    • South East Asia
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Indonesia
      • Borneo
    • Middle East
      • Oman
  • Holidays in Sri Lanka
    • Classic Sri Lanka Holidays
    • Family Holidays
    • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
    • Ultimate Holidays
    • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
    • Off the Beaten Track
    • Slow Holidays
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka Guide
    • Weather & When to go
    • Hotel inspiration
    • Experiences inspiration
    • Sri Lanka Travel Blog
  • Places in Sri Lanka
    • Regions of Sri Lanka
      • Overview
      • The Cultural Triangle
      • Colombo, Negombo & Around
      • Kandy and Around
      • The Hill Country
      • West Coast Beaches
      • Galle and Around
      • The South Coast
      • Puttalam & the North West
      • The East Coast
      • Jaffna & The North
    • National Parks & Sancturaries
      • Overview
      • Bundala National Park
      • Flood Plains National Park
      • Gal Oya National Park
      • Horton Plains National Park
      • Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
      • Kumana National Park (Yala East)
      • Lahugala National Park
      • Lunugamvehera National Park
      • Maduru Oya National Park
      • Minneriya National Park
      • Somawathiya National Park
      • The Knuckles Range
      • The Sinharaja Rainforest
      • Udawalawe National Park
      • Wasgamuwa National Park
      • Wilpattu National Park
      • Yala National Park
  • About us
    • Why choose ETG?
    • Our Story
    • Meet the Team
    • Reviews
    • In the Press
    • Our Offices
    • Our Brochure
    • Travel Blog
  • How it works
    • Where to start...
    • Booking with confidence
    • How much does it cost?
    • Financial protection
    • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
    • Working with in-country partners
    • My Booking
    • Get in touch
  • Immersive Holidays
    • Immersive Family Holidays
    • Immersive Honeymoons
    • Ideas & Inspiration
    • Holidays by month
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    • Download Free Country Guides
  • Sustainability
    • Travel Better
    • Our Counter-Carbon Pledge
    • One bottle at a time
    • Building a Sustainable Future
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