Temple of the Tooth Evening Ceremony

The Sri Dalada Maligawa — the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic — is the holiest Buddhist site in Sri Lanka and one of the most revered in the entire Buddhist world, housing what is believed to be a tooth of the historical Buddha. Daily puja ceremonies take place three times a day (at 6:30 am, 9:30 am, and 6:30 pm), when the inner sanctum is opened to worshippers amid the sound of drums, conch shells, and flutes, and clouds of white lotus petals are offered to the relic.

The evening ceremony is the most atmospheric, with candlelit processions of white-robed devotees and the sounds of traditional instruments echoing through the old palace complex.

Shorta Tours arranges Temple of the Tooth Evening Ceremony as part of a tailored private itinerary, providing expert guides, comfortable private transfers, and hand-picked operators to ensure a seamless and truly memorable experience.

The tooth relic is said to have been smuggled from India to Sri Lanka in the hair of a princess in 313 CE, and its custody has been associated with the right to rule the island ever since. Successive Sinhalese capitals built their most sacred temples to house and protect the relic; the present Kandy temple complex was built primarily between the 17th and 18th centuries during the Kandyan Kingdom.

The temple survived three centuries of Portuguese and Dutch colonial rule and several assassination attempts, and the British, on assuming control of Kandy in 1815, formally recognised the relic's paramount status in the Kandyan Convention.

Today, Temple of the Tooth Evening Ceremony remains one of the highlights of visiting Central Province, drawing guests from around the world who seek its unique combination of history, nature, and authentic Sri Lankan character.

The temple is open daily from 6 am to 8 pm; a small entrance fee applies. Dress code is strictly enforced: full-length clothing covering shoulders and legs is required, and shoes must be removed.

Shorta Tours times arrivals to coincide with puja ceremonies and provides cultural context that transforms a simple temple visit into a deeply meaningful encounter.

Essential items to pack: Conservative dress (full-length trousers or skirt, covered shoulders), socks, camera (no flash inside)..