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Mandalay Hill

Mandalay Hill is a 240 metres (790 ft) hill that is located to the northeast of the city centre of Mandalay in Myanmar. The city took its name from the hill.

Mandalay Hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries, and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries. At the top of the hill is the Sutaungpyei (literally wish-fulfilling) Pagoda.

A panoramic view of Mandalay from the top of Mandalay Hill alone makes it worthwhile to attempt a climb up its stairways. There are four covered stairways called saungdan leading up the hill from the south, southeast, west and north, and convenient seats of masonry work line these stairways all the way up. A one-way motor road today saves time and also makes it accessible for those who are unable to climb up the stairs, leading to an escalator and a lift to the pagoda at the summit.

Pickup truck that takes people to the top of the hill.

Going up Mandalay Hill.
Buddhists consider climbing the hill a rewarding experience and a meritorious deed at the same time, for those able to do so.


Sign advertising the Su Taung Pyai Pagoda.

Elevator.

Going up the stairs.

Su Taung Pyae Pagoda seen from the southeast.

Sign advertising the pagoda at the top of the south staircase.

Southern pavilion.
Southern Pavilion with the South Buddha on the south side of the pagoda.


Southwest corner of the pagoda.

Bell in the southwest corner.

Worker working on the west facade.

Snake on the west side of the pagoda.

Western pavilion with the West Buddha on the west side of the pagoda.

Northwest corner of the pagoda.

Northeast corner of the pagoda.

Southeast corner of the pagoda.
The southeast corner of the pagoda is occupied with the Burmese zodiac.


Burmese zodiac.
The Burmese zodiac employs eight signs in a seven-day week, with each sign representing its own day, cardinal direction, planet (celestial body) and animal; it is known as the "Mahabote zodiac".


South stupa.
Here on the south terrace of a small stupa is the image of the ogress Sanda Muhki who, for want of something to offer the Buddha, made an offering of her own breasts.

  • And for this extreme act of merit the Buddha made the prophecy that Sanda Muhki would be reborn as a great king who would build a city at the foot of the hill and become a great supporter of Buddhism in the year 2400 of the Buddhist Era (1857 AD), the year King Mindon laid the foundations of Mandalay.
  • On each of the four corners of the terrace can be seen a king of the ogres with his army of miniature ogre images behind him paying obeisance to the Buddha.
  • There are also images of various creatures, one at each level before a Buddha image, such as a rabbit, a cockerel or a lizard, representations of the Buddha's innumerable rebirths during his cycle of Samsara (birth, suffering, death and rebirth).

Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort.
Located at the foot of Mandalay Hill, 10 minutes drive from the city centre, the Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort is a superior hotel with panoramic views over a myriad of pagodas and Mandalay Royal Palace.


Sunset from Mandalay Hill.
Sunset over the river and the western hills as seen from Mandalay Hill can be a wonderful experience, and crowds of tourists may be encountered in the evenings enjoying it.


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Location

Location: Mandalay Hill, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)