This golden-roofed temple houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic: a tooth of the Buddha. The tooth (which you don't actually get to see) is kept within a stunning central shrine.
Consisting of multiple shrine rooms, chapels, museums and spacious grounds off Dalada Vidiya, the complex is rich in atmosphere, and even though it can get very busy there's always a calm corner to sit and soak up the powerful spirituality of the temple.
After passing through several rounds of security and removing your shoes (leave them next to the ticket office), you enter the main temple building where the shrine containing the tooth is. The lower levels of this three-story shrine have some exquisite woodcarvings and paintings around it. The most important part, though, is upstairs on the second level. The central room of the shrine is flanked by elephant tusks and draped in red and gold material. Pilgrims leave piles of flowers and other offerings here. The tooth itself is kept in a gold casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six dagoba caskets of diminishing size.
Freelance guides will offer their services around the entire complex for around Rs 600, and free audio guides are available at the ticket office. An elevator facilitates access for travelers with disabilities.
The complex can get crowded as it receives many worshippers and tourists, and backpackers, Chinese tour groups and Thai monks all jostle for space. Wear clothes that cover your legs and your shoulders.