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Kandy
Kandy, in central Sri Lanka, is the capital of Central
Province and Kandy District.
Kandy is one of the island nation's largest cities.
Kandy is famous for Dalada Maligava (the Temple of
the Tooth), housing sacred Buddhist relic, a tooth of the
Buddha.
Kandy is also popular because of the annual religious
festival known as the "Esala Maha Perahera" in which
the tooth relic of Buddha is taken in an impressive procession
through the streets of the city.
The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO.
Temple of Tooth Relic, Kandy
The Temple of the Tooth, Dalada Maligava, is a sacred
place, housing the only surviving relic of the tooth of Buddha.
Ancient literary texts and several chronicles have
shed light on the religious as well as political importance
of the sacred relic.
The tooth relic was taken from India to Sri Lanka
in the 4th century.
Many foreign travelers like Fa-Hsien, the Chinese
traveler monk, have left behind many details about the worship
and rituals connected with the Tooth Relic
From the time of its arrival in Sri Lanka in the
4th century till10th century the sacred relic was kept in
the capital Anuradhapura. King Vijayabahu I shifted the capital
to Polonnaruva in the 11th century.
Bhuvanekabahu II (1293-1312) is reported to have
brought the Tooth Relic from Polonnaruva and placed it within
a shrine built at his capital, Kurunagala.
Buddhist activities deteriorated after the arrival
of colonial powers from 16th century onwards.
During the colonial period the Tooth Relic was secretly
carried away by the faithful monks to safer locations.
The tooth relic was shifted from one place to another
to maintain its religious sanctitiy.
Finally it was hidden in Delgamuva Vihara in Ratnapura,
and it was from this temple that the Tooth Relic was brought
to its final and present resting place in Kandy by Vimaladharmasuriya
I (1592-1603).
Transportation
Air-conditioned luxury buses are easily available
from Colombo. Buses leave from Pettah about every half an
hour throughout the day.
If you are interested for a trip in Kandy city, you can
go for any three wheeler (Tuk Tuk)
India Sri Lanka Tours offer information on Temple of Tooth
Relic Kandy and online booking for Historical Tours to Sri
Lanka. To book your tour or for more information please fill
the form given below.
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