Temple of the Tooth crowds during Vesak festival weekend
4 Answers from travellers
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Impossible? No. Overwhelming? Yes. During Vesak, hundreds of thousands of local pilgrims descend on the Temple of the Tooth dressed in white. The queues to get inside can take hours. If you want to go inside, you MUST go at 5:30 AM right when it opens. Otherwise, just enjoy the incredible energy, the illuminated lanterns around the lake, and the free food stalls (Dansal) outside.
The atmosphere outside the temple during Vesak is electric anyway. You do not even need to go inside to experience it.
Make sure your hotel is walking distance to the temple, because traffic will be gridlocked.
Scam Watch: kandy
TukTuk or tour drivers take you to "gem museums" or "government-certified" gem shops. They receive huge commissions (up to 40%) on anything you buy. Prices are inflated 3-10x the actual value.
Men approach tourists near Temple of the Tooth offering to be guides. After the tour, they demand large "donations" or guide fees (5000-10000 LKR).
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