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Mingun Pahtodawgyi, Sagaing

The Mingun Pahtodawgyi is an incomplete monument stupa in Mingun, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Mandalay in Sagaing Region in central Myanmar (formerly Burma).

The ruins are the remains of a massive construction project begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790 which was intentionally left unfinished. The pahtodawgyi is seen as the physical manifestations of the well known eccentricities of Bodawpaya. He set up an observation post on an island off Mingun to personally supervise the construction of the temple.

King Bodawpaya also had a gigantic bell cast to go with his huge stupa. The Mingun Bell, weighing at 90 tons, is today the second largest ringing bell in the world. The weight of the bell in Burmese measurement, is 55,555 viss or peiktha (1 viss = 1.63 kg), handed down as a mnemonic "Min Hpyu Hman Hman Pyaw", with the consonants representing the number 5 in Burmese astronomy and numerology.

Pon Daw Pagoda.
Situated near Mingun Pagoda is the 15 feet completed model of Mingun Pagoda.

  • Built in 1799, the temple is a miniature version of the larger, incomplete Mingun Pahtodawgyi, which was abandoned due to cost overruns.
  • The Paw Daw Pagoda resembles what the Pahtodawgyi was intended to look like when it was complete.
  • See more at Pon Daw Pagoda - Wikipedia.

Remains of mythological lions.
Chinthe is the Burmese word for 'lion'. The leograph of Chinthe is a highly stylized lion commonly depicted in Burmese iconography and architecture, especially as a pair of guardians flanking the entrances of Buddhist pagodas and kyaung (or Buddhist monasteries).

  • The leograph of Chinthe appears as an element of Burmese iconography on many revered objects, including the palin (Burmese royal throne) and Burmese bells.
  • See more at Chinthe - Wikipedia.

Approaching the stupa.

Eastern facade of the stupa.

Mingun Bell.
King Bodawpaya also had a gigantic bell cast to go with his huge stupa.

  • The Mingun Bell, weighing at 90 tons, is today the second largest ringing bell in the world.
  • The weight of the bell in Burmese measurement, is 55,555 viss or peiktha (1 viss = 1.63 kg), handed down as a mnemonic "Min Hpyu Hman Hman Pyaw", with the consonants representing the number 5 in Burmese astronomy and numerology.
  • See more at Mingun Bell - Wikipedia.

See also

Source

Location

Location: Min Kun, Myanmar (Burma)