Hsinbyume Pagoda, Mingun

The Hsinbyume Pagoda (also known as Myatheindan Pagoda) is a large pagoda on the northern side of Mingun in Sagaing Region in Myanmar, on the western bank of the Irrawaddy River.

It is approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Mandalay and is located in the proximity of the Mingun Pahtodawgyi.

The pagoda is painted white and is modelled on the physical description of the Buddhist sacred mountain, Mount Meru.

Hsinbyume Pagoda gate.

Pagoda seen from the southeast.
The pagoda's design is a great departure from Burmese pagoda design norms.

It is based on descriptions of the mythical Sulamani pagoda on Mount Meru, and the lower parts of the pagoda represent the mountain.
Seven concentric terraces represent the seven mountain ranges going up to the Mount Meru according to Buddhist mythology.

South facade of the pagoda.

Going up the stairs on the south side of the pagoda.

Platform at the top of the seven concentric terraces.
The seven concentric terraces represent the seven mountain ranges going up to the Mount Meru according to Buddhist mythology.

Mount Meru.
Mount Meru is the polar center of a mandala-like complex of seas and mountains.

The square base of Mount Meru is surrounded by a square moat-like ocean, which is in turn surrounded by a ring (or rather square) wall of mountains, which is in turn surrounded by a sea, each diminishing in width and height from the one closer to Mount Meru.
There are seven seas and seven surrounding mountain-walls, until one comes to the vast outer sea which forms most of the surface of the world, in which the known continents are merely small islands.
See more at Mount Meru (Buddhism) - Wikipedia.