Kandy City Tour: Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya Gardens
Overview
Kandy was the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, and its heart is the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The temple stands in the old royal palace complex beside Kandy Lake and is part of the UNESCO-listed Sacred City of Kandy.
Your guide collects you from your hotel and takes you first to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, with their avenues of palms, orchid house and giant fig trees. Then drive into the city for a stroll by Kandy Lake before entering the Temple of the Tooth. Inside, drums and offerings of flowers mark the daily rituals performed by the monks, and you'll see the shrine that holds the relic, one of the most important in the Buddhist world.
We time the tour so you can be at the temple for one of the ceremonies whenever possible. Afterwards you can be dropped at your hotel or stay in town for a cultural dance show.
Highlights
- Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Time your visit for a temple ceremony
- Stroll beside Kandy Lake
- Palms and orchids at Peradeniya gardens
- Hotel pickup with a local guide
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Kandy area
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- English-speaking guide
- Entrance tickets to the temple and the gardens
- Cultural dance show
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
Request this tour
Send us your dates and a SkyRay advisor will confirm availability and price.
Itinerary
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats, and don't pose with your back to Buddha statues. White or light clothes are ideal.
Rituals take place at dawn, midday and in the evening. We confirm the exact times and plan the tour around one of them.
The relic itself is kept in a golden casket and isn't shown. During ceremonies the doors of the inner shrine are opened so you can see the casket.
