TEMPLE OF TOOTH

The Temple of the Tooth, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is considered one of the most important religious sites in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The temple houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha, which is believed to have been brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. According to legend, the tooth was smuggled out of India by Princess Hemamali and her husband Prince Dantha, and brought to Sri Lanka, where it has been kept in various locations before being enshrined in the present-day temple in the 16th century.

The history of the temple dates back to the 16th century, when King Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy built the temple to house the tooth relic. The temple was later expanded by subsequent kings, and became the center of the Kandyan kingdom's religious and cultural life.Over the centuries, the temple has been subject to numerous attacks and invasions by foreign powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Despite this, the temple and the tooth relic have survived, and continue to be revered by Buddhists in Sri Lanka and around the world.

Today, the Temple of the Tooth is a popular tourist attraction and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Visitors can view the shrine room where the tooth relic is kept, as well as other parts of the temple complex, including the Royal Palace and the Kandy Lake. The temple is also the site of the annual Esala Perahera festival, a colorful procession that takes place over 10 days in August, and is one of the largest Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka.