Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka

If you make Hotel Topaz in Kandy your accommodation of choice in Sri Lanka, you might be looking for attractions near the area to visit at your leisure. Do a quick search online and for sure, one of the first things that will pop out is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic; in fact, this is a very popular tourist spot in the area, if not the most well-known.

It is found at the north of the lake, a temple that is home to the country's most valuable Buddhist relic — a tooth of the Buddha. It has been said that the tooth has been snatched from the funeral pyre of the Buddha in 543 BC. It came to Sri Lanka around the 4th century AD, smuggled within the hair of a princess.

During the 16th century, the Portuguese tried to seize the tooth. They thought they had it and disposed of it by burning it with Catholic fervor. However, it turns out that the piece they were able to steal is only a replica and the real incisor remained safe. With a history marked with theft, there are rumors that the people of Sri Lanka protect the real tooth by keeping it hidden in a secret place, and only displaying a replica at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The current temple was built from 1687 to 1707 and from 1747 to 1782 during the reign of Kandyan kings. It even used to be a part of the Kandyan royal palace. The structure is pink but imposing, surrounded by a deep moat. Sri Wickrama Rajasinha built the octagonal tower in the moat and it used to keep valuable talipot-palm leaf manuscripts. Unfortunately, this tower, as well as some of the other structures near the main entrance of the temple, suffered heavy damages when it was bombed in 1998.

Tourists and pilgrims frequent the shrine every day. Ask your Kandy hotel receptionists for directions to visit this place then enlist the services of freelance guides for around Rs 500 to explore the complex. Free audio guides are available at the ticket office too. It is important to note that this is a place of worship for the Buddhist so proper attire must be worn. Make sure you are wearing clothes that are covering your legs and shoulders, and remove your shoes.

In the morning, the room containing the tooth is opened to devotees and tourists but you are only allowed to view the golden casket that houses the relic for several seconds before the guards usher you along.

Make sure you drop by the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic if you are staying in Hotel Topaz or any other Kandy hotel in Sri Lanka. It is a great place to experience the rich culture of the country.