OneCeylon
kandy
All questions

Temple of the Tooth evening Pooja crowd safety and shoe theft

Seen by 2,280 travellers
Jump to the accepted answer
E
Ethan J.•5875 rep•2

I am visiting the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy for the evening ceremony. I heard the crowds are intense. Is it safe, and how do I prevent my expensive hiking boots from being stolen outside.

25
kandyhikingbudget-travelsafetytemples

5 Answers from travellers

✓Accepted answer

Outdated Information: This answer is over 6 months old. Prices, schedules, or availability may have changed. Please verify current information before making travel plans.

The evening Pooja is very safe, but incredibly crowded with worshippers. Pickpocketing is rare inside the shrine but can happen in the tight shoulder-to-shoulder queues. For your shoes, there is an official, secure shoe counter right before the main entrance. You pay 100 LKR, and they give you a metal token. It is 100% safe. Do not just leave them under a tree.

38
K
Kamal P.•5430 rep•1

I just brought a plastic bag and carried my flip-flops in my backpack. Much easier.

44
M
Mia S.•5630 rep•2

Good tip about the official shoe counter. I will look for it.

38
E
Ethan J.•5875 rep•2

Also, keep your wallet in your front pocket. The drum area gets wild.

27
M
Mia S.•5630 rep•2

Be careful on the stairs near the drummers, the floor gets slippery from spilled coconut oil.

4
A
Amali D.•3620 rep•1

Scam Watch: kandy

Gem Museum Commission ScamVerified

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.

👍 38•by virajperera
Unofficial Temple Guide ScamVerified

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).

👍 34•by virajperera
Report a scam →

You must be logged in to post an answer.

Log in to answer

Related questions

Browse all questions