The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist site and host to the world-renowned annual Esala Perahera procession, enshrining the Buddha’s tooth, a symbol of divinity and national identity revered by Buddhists worldwide. Set beside Kandy Lake within a complex of golden-roofed pavilions and audience halls, the temple is at its most atmospheric during the evening puja ceremony, when drummers and musicians fill the air with ancient ritual sound.