Temple of the Tooth Museum

Welcome, scholars and pilgrims alike, to the deeply sacred precincts of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, globally known as the Temple of the Tooth Relic, in the royal city of Kandy. While the primary reason millions journey here is to…

Before we enter the museum structures, let us walk through the beautiful, manicured gardens that immediately surround the temple complex. This area was once the highly restricted grounds of the Kandyan royal palace. …

We now step inside the complex and make our way to the Aluth Maligawa, or the New Shrine Room. Do not let the word 'new' deceive you; this is a massive, multi-story structure built directly behind the ancient inner shrine,…

We now ascend the stairs to the first floor of the building housing the Sri Dalada Museum, the primary museum dedicated entirely to the Tooth Relic. Remember, cameras must be put away. …

Moving into the adjacent galleries within the Dalada Museum, the narrative tone shifts drastically from ancient devotion to complex colonial geopolitics. This section details a fascinating, often controversial period: the…

Let us briefly step outside the museum building and walk toward the magnificent, open-sided structure adjacent to the temple complex. This is the Magul Maduwa, or the Royal Audience Hall. …

Our final stop requires us to walk to the building located just behind the Royal Palace structures, which originally served as the old colonial Kachcheri (administrative building). Here, we find the remarkably ambitious…

As we conclude our extensive tour of the museum complexes within the Temple of the Tooth, let us return to the main courtyard. Take a deep breath of the incense-heavy air. …