The Temple of the Tooth

There are still many summer days left to continue discovering new Asian spots. Today from the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa we are travelling to Sri Lanka to visit the famous Temple of the Tooth.

The Temple of the Tooth, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a royal palace complex located by Kandy Lake, in the city of Kandy. It is the most important attraction in the city, and one of the most worshiped sanctuaries in Sri Lanka.

The temple houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic: the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha. After Buddha´s parinirvana, only his left upper canine tooth remained. According to the legend, his tooth was taken from India to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the 4th century by Princess Hemamali, who hid the relic in her hair. Once she arrived at the city of Anuradhapura, the temple was built.

Currently, Buddha´s tooth is inside the main building Vahahitina Maligawa, in a chapel inside a gold urn. It is not to the public. The tooth only leaves the Temple of the Tooth once a year during Kandy Esala Perahera.

Buddhist people in Sri Lanka must visit the Temple of the Tooth at least once in their lives and contemplate the urn, keeping the tooth.

If you haven´t still enjoyed your summer holidays, don´t think it twice and plan a getaway to our Asian paradise in the Mediterranean Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. We are looking forward to seeing you!