Temple of the Tooth & Kandyan Dance

Evening puja at Sri Lanka's holiest shrine, followed by drum-and-fire Kandyan dancing.

What the Temple of the Tooth & Kandyan Dance is really like.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy houses a tooth of the Buddha and is the spiritual heart of the island. Timing a visit to the evening puja means drumming, offerings and the ritual unveiling of the inner shrine amid streams of white-clad pilgrims. Nearby, a Kandyan dance performance brings the region's costumed dancers, acrobatic drummers and fire-walkers to the stage. Together they make a rich introduction to highland Sinhalese culture.

At a glance

Best season: Year-round
Typical duration: Half day (evening)
Region: 1

Moment by moment

How the day unfolds.

Step 01
Into the temple
Pass through the moated complex on the lake, joining white-clad pilgrims carrying lotus and frangipani.
Step 02
The evening puja
Drums and horns announce the ceremony as the doors to the inner relic chamber are opened for worship.
Step 03
Shrines and history
Explore the audience hall and museum that tell the story of the relic and the old Kandyan kingdom.
Step 04
Kandyan dancers
Watch costumed dancers and acrobatic drummers perform the region's centuries-old temple dances.
Step 05
Fire-walking finale
The show ends with the dramatic fire-walk and fire-juggling that traditionally close a performance.