Decsription

<ul>The sacred city of Kandy, a cultural world heritage site was the last capital of the Sri Lankan Sinhalese kingdom. Sri Dalada Maligawa, the temple of the tooth relic of Lord Buddha is the icon of the sacred city of Kandy.<br>
<br>The relics of Lord Buddha were distributed among various kingdoms in India after his cremation. The tooth relic of the left canine of Lord Buddha was given to the Kingdom of Kalinga in Eastern India. During the period of King Guhasiva in the 4th century AD, the Kalinga kingdom has encountered a war with the neighbouring kingdom to get hold of the Tooth relic. King Guhasiva has decided to send all important tooth relics to his friend in Sri Lanka King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna for its safety.<br>
<br>King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna has built a special shrine called “Dalada Maligawa” to kept the Tooth Relic at the Abhayagiri Vihara complex in Anuradhapura. It Kept there from the 4th-century to the 10th century AD until the capital was shifted to Polonnaruwa.<br>
<br>As and when the capital was shifted from Polonnaruwa, Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kotte, Sitawaka, and Kandy, “Dalada Maligawa” has built to kept tooth relic.<br>
<br>In the Kandyan Kingdom, Dalada Maligawa was first built by King Vimaladharmasuriya in the 16th century AD. However, it was no longer exists today. The present Dalada Maligawa with three-story was built by King Weera Parakrama Narendrasinghe during the 18 century.<br>
<br>Sri Dalada Maligawa temple complex consists of the main building that contains the first chamber called “Palle Male” and an upper chamber called “Uda Male” where the tooth relic kept and Pattirippuwa (Octagonal pavilion) and Magulmaduwa (Audience Hall).<br>
<br>Sri Dalada Museum, Archaeological museum located in the old royal palace, World Buddhist museum, and Tusker “Raja” museum also located in the temple complex. Natha Devale, Visnu Devale, Pattini Devale, and Kataragama Devale are located in front of the Dalada Maligawa within the temple complex.</ul>