Kandy: Temple of the Tooth, Esala Festival and Nature

The topics serve different purposes in planning: the temple represents a lasting cultural connection, the festival a seasonal occasion, and the sanctuary birdwatching and trekking. Consider whether your travel dates are tied to the festival or whether cultural history or nature is the deciding factor.

Temple and historical connections

The Temple of the Tooth, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is in the heart of Kandy and houses the sacred tooth relic of Buddha. Since 1988, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred City of Kandy.” This brings together two historical layers in Kandy: the World Heritage designation relates to the temple, while an older tradition concerns the relic itself. In the broader context of the Central Province, tradition holds that the tooth relic was brought from Kalinga to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD.

In the context of the Central Province, Natha Devalaya is a landmark in old Kandy: it lies directly opposite Sri Dalada Maligawa and is described as the oldest building in old Kandy. Taken together, these details provide different historical points of reference: the temple with the tooth relic, its World Heritage status, and another named site opposite it.

Esala Festival and travel time

The Kandy Esala Perahera takes place every year in Kandy and is a religious festival held in the full moon month of Esala. This month falls in July or August. The period is seasonal and does not refer to a fixed date each year. This makes it easy to align your preferred travel period with the occasion.

Nature nearby

Udawattekele Sanctuary is located near the destination, north of Kandy Lake. It is open to visitors daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; birdwatching and trekking are available there. While the Perahera shapes the travel period, the sanctuary’s visiting hours and two named activities offer guidance. Check the opening hours before your visit, as they may change. When choosing, consider whether birdwatching or trekking better matches your travel interests.

A botanical perspective on the Central Province

The Central Province broadens the picture with a botanical focus: the Royal Botanic Gardens Peradeniya are in the Central Province and were established in 1821. They contain more than 4,000 plant species, including orchids, spice plants, medicinal plants and palms. The Orchid House displays exotic blooms of Cattleya, Dendrobium, Arachnis, Oncidium, Phalaenopsis and Vanda, as well as their hybrids. This regional botanical theme differs from Kandy’s religious and festival-related highlights and gives you another perspective for planning a trip in the Central Province. The Hanthana mountain range in the Central Province is also home to approximately 120 bird species and about 95 butterfly species.

Discover more destinations: Digana, Nawalapitiya, Wattappola, Hedeniya, Deltota, Gatambe, Peradeniya, Gampola

For the broader travel overview: Kandy.