Architecture of Temple of the Tooth Relic Kandy

The left tooth of Gautama Buddha is kept in veneration at the revered Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The temple, which is visited daily by tens of thousands of local and foreign pilgrims, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.

The temple, which is highly revered by Buddhists all over the world, is also of immeasurable cultural importance. The building combines the distinctive Kandyan architectural style with that of the "Dalada Mandira," the temples that previously housed the Sacred Tooth Relic in other kingdoms.

The sacred tooth relic of Gautama Buddha was finally found in the holy city of Kandy. During the reign of King Keerthi Sri Meghavarna, Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha transported the sacred relic from the ancient Indian city of Kalinga to Sri Lanka (Kithsirimevan 301 -328). Whatever the location of the capital, it became a symbol of Sri Lankan kings and was guarded with great care in a unique shrine constructed within the walls of the palace. Ancient capitals including Anuradapura, Pollonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Kotte, and Gampola still have the ruins of such structures. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is located in Kandy, the last Kingdom, remains to be the most revered temple in Buddhism.

King Wimaladharmasuriya constructed the first "Dalada Madura" at Kandy, which housed the Sacred Tooth Relic, between the years of 1592 and 1604. This was obliterated by the Portuguese during their conquests, according to history. During his rule from 1635 to 1687, King Rajasinghe the Second constructed a second temple at the same site, but the Dutch set it on fire and destroyed it. According to Dalada tradition, in the year 1687, King Wimaladharmasuriya the Second erected a three-story Dalada Madura and engaged in intense devotional ceremonies, but with time, the structure deteriorated and was demolished. The two-story Dalada Madura that is visible today was built by his son King Sri Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe, who ruled from 1707 to 1739.

The shrine, which was constructed by King Narendrasinghe, was rebuilt and guarded by the South Indian Kings who ruled the nation from Senkadagala.King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe meticulously refurbished and embellished the temple to give it its current beauty. The Octagonal Pavilion, also known as Paththirippuwa, was built by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, who ruled from 1798 to 1815.The three major custodians of the Tooth Relic—the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of Malwatta and Asgiriya chapters and the lay custodian, the Diyawadana Nilame—continue to strictly monitor the protection of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the continuous performance of religious ceremonies.

Temple of the tooth Kandy

Thebrick wall which runs along the moat and the Bogambara Lake is known as the water wave’s wall. Holes in this wall are built to light coconut oil lamps. The main entrance gate which lies over the moat is called Mahawahalkada. At the foot of Mahawahalkada steps, there is a Sandakada pahana (moonstone) which is carved in Kandyan architectural style. Mahawahalkada was totally destroyed in a 1998 bomb blast and rebuilt afterwards along with Sandakada pahana other stone carvings. Elephants are depicted in stone on either side of the entrance. A Makara Torana and two guardian stones are placed on top of the staircase. TheHewisi drummers' chamber is situated in front of the main shrine. The two storeys of the main shrine are known as "Palle malaya" (lower floor) and "Udu malaya" (upper floor) or "Weda hitina maligawa".The doors of the Weda Hitana Maligawa are Ivory carvings. The actual chamber in which the tooth relic is kept is known as the "Handun kunama".

The golden canopy over the main shrine and the golden fence which encircles the temple complex, was built in 1987 by then Prime Minister, Ranasinghe Premadasa The tooth relic is encased in seven golden caskets which are engraved with precious gemstones. The casket represent a stupa; the procession casket which is used during the Kandy Esala Perahera is also displayed in the same chamber.

Royal Palace

The royal palace is situated to the north of the temple. John Pybus, who was on an embassy in 1762, gives a detailed description of the royal palace. Vikramabahu III of Gampola (r. 1356-1374) and Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu of Kandy (r. 1469-1511) built royal palaces on this site. Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy undertook various decorations to the palace. The Dutch orientalist Philippus Baldaeus visited the palace with General Gerard Pietersz Hulft in 1656. The royal residence was known as "Maha Wasala" in Sinhalese starting in the Polonnaruwa period. The royal palace is also known as "Maligawa" (Palace). There were three Wahalkadas and an 8 feet (2.4 m) high wall used as main entrances. The section of the palace facing the Natha Devale is said to be the oldest. During the beginning of the British period, it was used by the government agent Sir John D'Oyly, 1st Baronet, of Kandy. Successors of D'Oyly have continued to use it as their official residence. Today it is preserved as an archaeological museum. Ulpen Ge and Queens Palace are the associated buildings of the palace.

Audience hall

The audience hall or magul maduwa is where the Kandyan kings held their court. It was completed during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The carvings of the wooden pillars which support the wooden roof are an example of wood carving of the Kandyan period. Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha of Kandy built it in 1783. The hall was renovated for the reception of arrival of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1872. Originally the hall was 58 by 35.6 feet (17.7 m × 10.9 m); after renovation, its length was extended by an additional 31.6 feet (9.6 m). Other nearby buildings to the halls believed to be demolished during the British rule. The audience hall was the venue where the Kandyan Convention was drawn up, it was where the convention was read out to the people and where the conference, about the convention, was held on 2 March 1815. That space was later used to erect the Kandy Kachcheri and Kandy Supreme Court. Today it is used for state ceremonies and conserved under the department of archaeology.

Mahamaluwa

Mahamaluwa is public who came to see the annual Esala perahera. Today it contains a statue of Madduma Bandara. The memorial which contains the skull of Keppetipola Disawe is another attraction. The statue of Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha are also located here.