This magnificent temple is situated in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. The temple was built by late king Vimaladharmasooriya 1st in 1592 to house the relic of the Tooth of Buddha.In this unusual temple, one can find not only human monks but also monk-elephants. At 6:15 AM and 9:15 AM every day, the elephants pray together with the monks. The oldest and wisest of the creatures bears the title Raja Elephant (or "Elephant the King"). In addition to age and wisdom, the elephant that bears this title has to have large tusks. This serves as evidence of his belonging to the highest caste and gives him the right to carry out religious duties.
Raja Elephant is a position of great honor and responsibility—during the annual celebration ceremony of Esala Mangallaya, he must carry the precious casket containing the Tooth of Buddha. The predecessor of the current Raja Elephant died at the age of 83 while on duty, just after the procession finished. His photos and his life story are displayed on a memory tablet in the temple.
How to get to the Temple Dalada Maligawa in Kandy:
Kandy is quite a big city by Sri Lankan standards. It is reachable by car, being 137 km east of Colombo. You'd better take the A1 road, which is not as straight as the A21 but is of better quality.
Alternately, you can organize your trip with a tour operator.
Where to stay in the Temple Dalada Maligawa in Kandy:
There are quite a lot of hotels in Kandy, but if you wish to go to Esala Mangallaya during your visit, you should make a reservation beforehand.
Climate and weather in Kandy: Kandy is a bit cooler than other places in Sri Lanka: the average daily temperature is about 25°C. The dry season lasts from December through to April; from May to July and from the weather is quite unstable.
What to see nearby:
Coming there you should also visit the former Kingdom of Kandy, the beautiful complex overlooking the lake.
Useful links:
Dalada Maligawa Temple: official web-site.