Sri Dalada Maligawa ( Pagoda of sacred tooth relic) - the pagoda with oldest Tooth Relic in the world.

The Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Tooth is one of Sri Lanka's greatest attractions - the temple dates back to 1595 and contains the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Legend has it that the Buddha's canine tooth was retrieved from his funeral pyre after cremation and given to the King of Kalinga. It was subsequently brought to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in Princess Hemamala's hair. It is said to have survived numerous attempts made to destroy it, and has ever since been brought out on special occasions and carried on the backs of elephants for the Perahara.

The relic is considered the ultimate symbol of Sri Lankan royalty, and was thus highly sought after by those seeking political power. The kings kept it close at their capital (wherever that was at the time), moving with the Sri Lankan capital till it finally arrived in Kandy during King Vimaladharmasuriya I's reign. It's only brought out of its chamber once a year for the Esala Perahara. The temple itself was severely damaged in Dutch/Portuguese wars in the 18th century but was restored in stone after these wars. It was restored once again after a 1998 attack by the LTTE.