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.

 

 

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 feet. 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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.