Malwatte Vihara

Across the lake from the Temple of the Tooth, on ground that once belonged exclusively to Kandyan royalty for their private leisure, stands one of the two monasteries entrusted with guardianship of Buddhism’s most revered relic in Sri Lanka.

From Royal Garden to Monastic Seat

Malwatte’s very name and location trace back to its origin as royal property. The site, on the southern shore of what is now Kandy Lake, once served as the Kandyan kings’ private pleasure garden, a space reserved exclusively for royalty rather than any religious purpose. That changed under King Senasammata Vikramabahu, who reigned from 1473 to 1511 and is credited with founding the monastery here, building a stupa and a two-storey ordination hall (Uposathagaraya) originally intended as residence for just three monks.

What began as a modest monastic outpost grew substantially over the following centuries, particularly as Buddhism underwent a significant revival in the 18th century under the monk Welivita Sri Saranankara Thera, following a serious decline in monastic standards during the 17th century. That revival helped establish Malwatte as the headquarters of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya, one of the three main monastic fraternities of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka, a role it retains today.

Guardian of the Tooth Relic

Malwatte holds a rare and significant institutional role: alongside the neighbouring Asgiriya Maha Viharaya, it is one of only two monasteries entrusted with custodianship of the sacred tooth relic housed at the Temple of the Tooth. The Chief Incumbent of Malwatte, known as the Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatta Chapter, is one of the most senior Buddhist religious authorities in Sri Lanka, and the current Mahanayaka’s residential quarters remain located within the Malwatte premises.

The monastery’s most historically significant ceremonial building is the Seemamalaka, where in 1753 a delegation of Siamese monks led by Upali Thera conducted a higher ordination ceremony that helped restore proper monastic lineage to Sri Lanka after decades of decline. That same building continues to host the Malwatta Chapter’s annual higher ordination ceremony today, a direct continuous link back to that 18th-century revival, and holds a seated Buddha statue in the Kandyan artistic tradition.

Visiting Tips

• Combine with the Temple of the Tooth directly across the lake, given the two institutions’ shared custodial role over the relic.
• Allow time to explore the smaller museums scattered through the complex’s various temple buildings.
• Dress modestly, as with any active Buddhist monastic site.
• The complex is a working monastery with resident monks, so be respectful of ongoing religious activity during your visit.

A Quieter Counterpart to the Temple of the Tooth

Malwatte tends to draw far fewer visitors than the Temple of the Tooth directly across the water, despite sharing an equally significant role in safeguarding Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist relic. That relative quiet is part of its appeal: rather than the crowds and ceremony of the main temple, Malwatte offers a working monastic environment where the business of Buddhist education, ordination and religious governance continues largely unseen by most tourists. For visitors genuinely interested in how Sri Lankan Buddhism is actually organised and administered, rather than just its most photographed shrine, a visit here fills in an important, often overlooked piece of that picture.

Where It Sits on the Map

Frequently Asked Questions

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