Sri Dalada Maligawa- New museum

New museum

The two upper storeys of this building have been recently organized into a museum exhibiting almost all the gifts donated to the Dalada Maligawa over the centuries . it includes an archival section of rare ola manuscripts ,topographical models, and Royal apparel , life size models of sri vikramaRajasigha and his queen ,busts of past Diyawadana Nilames, diverse antiques and ornaments, ritual objects ,etc.

External Edifices

The visitors would now be able to visit some important edifices outside, to the north of the Tooth shrine.

The Audience hall (Magul maduwa) of the royalty where the Kandy convention was held.

The room exhibiting the remains of the great elephant Raja which died at the age82 years, having carried the relic casket in the annual procession for over 50 years.

The original moonstone of the entrance destroyed by the bomb blast of 1998

The Moonstone (Sadakada Pahana)

The moonstone (sadakada pahana) was originally a semicircular slab used as a door mat .The early Sculptors made use of this stone to display their decorative skills, conceiving a Buddhist cosmological Scene symbolically .Gradually, the early concepts were forgotten and the whole moonstone was change into a decorative floral slab.

Pancanari Ghata

It is the pot formed of five woman interlocking themselves to produce the figure of a pot. The artists of the late medieval period excelled themselves inintrodusing such intricate composite designs, e: g: caturnari-pallakiya (chariot of for women),pancanari ghata (pot of five women)saptanari Ratha(chariot of seven women)etc.

Makara Thorana

It is an arch formed of the mythical animal makara (Dragon) .two makaras standing on pillars on either side from themselves into an arch, which is topped by a devilish countenance called kibisi-muhuna symbolizing time (kala). On either side of the arch on top are representations of protective divinities