The Temple complex of the Sacred Tooth Relic was part of the Kandyan Royal Palace and built in different phases between 1687 and 1782. In the centre of a paved courtyard is a two storey rectangular building. This is the sacred tooth relic shrine.

Outside view of the shrine of the Sacred Tooth Relic Sri Dalada Maligawa

The gold guilded roof was paid for by Japanese Buddhists. You don't get to see the tooth because it is kept in a gold bell shaped casket, a dagoba (stupa). Inside this casket are six further dagoba caskets that get smaller and smaller in size.

The casket can only be seen from the door of the shrine. It is at a distance of about 3 metres (9 feet) away. Temple security usher the queue to keep moving so you normally get less than a minute to view the sacred tooth relic casket.

Decorated ceiling of the shrine of the Sacred Tooth Relic Sri Dalada Maligawa

The only good thing about the 1998 bomb was that the damaged it caused exposed three layers of 18th to 20th century religious paintings.

Tourists and worshipers underneath the Sacred Tooth Relic Sri Dalada Maligawa

Travel books