Young Buddhist monks at Mingun Pahtodawgyi, Myanmar 05 Sep 2016
About this photo
Although never a Burmese royal capital, the city of Mingun, on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River, about 11lm upstream from Mandalay, was singled out by King Bodawpaya as the site of the huge Mantara Gyi (Mingun) Pagoda. Work was started in 1816, but Bodawpaya died before the project was completed, coming to a halt when the zedi was a mere 50-metres tall, one-third of the height intended.
From a distance, the Mingun Pagoda's appearance is just that of a large mound. Even though it was never completed, the ruins are impressive. The upper sections of the pagoda collapsed into the hollow shrine rooms during the 1838 earthquake but the base of the structure still towers over the surrounding landscape.
You can visit Myanmar on one of our tailor-made holidays to the country: talk to an expert today to start planning your adventure. Alternatively, explore Mandalay in all its splendor with Insight Guides' Old World Myanmar holiday.
