Mingun
Mingun is located on the western bank of the
river Ayeyarwaddy, approximately 7 miles north of
Mandalay. It is reached by ferryboats across the
river and takes 1 hour for up-river and 40 minutes
for down-river. It is famous for many Buddhist
shrines, monasteries, meditation centres and
monuments of historical and cultural importance. A
boat trip to Mingun is pleasant with plenty of life
on the river to see. It is about 11 miles from
Sagaing and you can reach there by road. It takes
about 30 minutes. And you can also travel to Mingun
from Mandalay but you can get there by road. It is
about 7 miles up river from Mandalay and you can
accessible only by boat. Via Gawwein jetty.
The journey takes 45 minutes.When you come along
the motor way to Mingun from Sagaing, you will first
arrive at Kandawgyi, one of the prominent big four
in Mingun. Kandawgyi was formed while digging earth
to make bricks for building of Mingun Pahtodawgyi.
It was built by King Bodaw Badon in 1791. You will
arrive at Mingun Pahtodawgyi from Kandawgyi .Now, we
are here at the Mingun Pahtodawgyi from the top of
the Pagoda you can view the scene of Mingun and
Ayeyawady river. You can use this stair to climb to
the top and there are all together 174 steps.
It is reached by ferryboats across the river and
takes 1 hour for up-river and 40 minutes for
down-river. The journey takes 45 minutes.When you
come along the motor way to Mingun from Sagaing, you
will first arrive at Kandawgyi, one of the prominent
big four in Mingun.
Interesting Places
Mingun Paya (Pahtodawgyi)
It is one of the famous buildings in the world.
The building of Mingun Pahtodawgyi started in 1791.
Hand it been completed it would have a height of
some 500 fe et.
It was stopped at 162 feet height. Its girth is
about 450 square feet. This is Pondawya Pagoda which
is prototype of Mingun Pahtodawgyi. You can study
Myanmar arts and crafts of Kongbaung period in
Mingun Pahtodawgyi. King Bodawpaya built Mingun
Pahtodawgyi aiming to worship from Shwebo in the
distance where he has ascended the throne. The
pagoda was left unfinished. Two enormous prominent
statues of lions in Mingun, one of the tourist
atttractions is at the east stairway of Pahtodawgyi
which faces the Ayeyawaddy river.From here, you can
also enjoy natural scenic beauty of Ayeyawady river
and green and pleasant Minwun hill. If this pagoda
been completed, then it would have been the largest
monument. This unfinished structure was badly
damaged with cracks by the earthquake of 1838 but it
is still the largest brick base in the world.
View Larger Map
 Mingun
Bell
King Bodawpaya dedicated a big bronze bell near
the Mingun Cedi at Mingun on the west bank of the
Ayeyawaddy River, facing Mandalay.
The Bell was made of bronze; but it is said that
Buddhist devotees inserted gold, silver ornaments
and jewellery into the bronze.
The Bell measures eleven cubits and four thits
(fingers) in diameter at its mouth; 33 cubits, one
mit (6 inches) and four thits in circumference and
13 cubits, one mit and four thits in height. It
weighs 55555 viss.
It is the world's biggest ringing bell.
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Hsinbyume or Myatheindan Pagoda
Built by King Bagyidaw in 1816, three years
before he succeeded Bodawpaya as king, the pagoda
was constructed in memory of his senior wife the
Hsinbyume princess. It is built as a representation
of the Sulamani Pagoda which, according, to the
Buddhist plan of the cosmos, stands atop Mount Meru.
The seven wavy terraces around the pagoda represent
the seven mountain ranges around Mount Meru. This
pagoda was badly damaged in 1838 by a quake but King
Mindon restored it in 1874.
View Larger Map
Mingun Home for the Aged
It is one of the tourist attractions. It was
founded by Daw Oo Zun herself in senior year in 1915
with a view to looking after old destitute and in
need of care and comfort. It is the first home for
the ages establish in Myanmar.
Another place you can study is the monastery
where Sayadaw U Viseitta Sara Vivamsa winner of
Tipitaka Title resided. The late sayadaw was listed
in the Guinness Book of records as one of the most
intelligent men in the world.
Then you arrive at Mandalay and Sagaing, your
journey is not complete without visiting Mingun
which is rich in historical memorials and Buddhist
edifies. Arts and Crafts on Mingun are genurine
Myanmar artistic work. That is why, Mingun has been
a well know place, since Kongbaung era like
Mandalay.
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