17/08/2025
The temple of the sacred tooth relic is a world-renowned place of worship, where the left canine tooth of Gautama Buddha is enshrined. The temple which is venerated by thousands of locals, foreign devotees and tourists daily was named as a world heritage by UNESCO in 1988.
Brief history
The first “Dalada Madura” which housed the Sacred Tooth Relic was built by King Wimaladharmasooriya the first (1592-1604). However, the Portuguese destroyed this building during their invasions.
The second temple built by King Rajasinghe the second (1635-1687) was also burnt down by the Dutch.
Many kings followed by reconstructing and performing Dalada rituals with great devotion but with time these buildings decayed and were destroyed.
King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe finally renovated and beautified the temple to its present appearance.
Protection and religious rituals without break are being carried out to the day under strict surveillance of the three chief custodians of the relic.
This world heritage site is a must visit for anyone in the nearby vicinity as it provides a unique mix of culture, history and religion.