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All Myanmar (Burma) Thanboddhay Pagoda

Thanboddhay Pagoda

Luxurious devotion and 500,000 images of Buddha in Myanmar.

Myanmar (Burma)

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ser flac
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Gilded statues inside the complex   tanenhaus/Flickr
Gilded statues inside the complex   tanenhaus/Flickr
The Golden Pagoda   mckaysavage/Flickr
Colorful and golden turrets   mckaysavage/Flickr
The pagoda poking through the dense foliage   bupia/Flickr
Ornate and colorful pagoda towers   mckaysavage/Flickr
Hundreds of miniature buddha relics   mangostani/Flickr
The Thanboddhay complex   dany13/Flickr
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About

On the average cathedral tour of Europe, tourists quietly take in the immense stained glass, the high vaulted ceilings and somber atmosphere. The average pagoda tour on the other hand is the complete opposite, and in many ways the most quintessential difference between East and West.

Thanboddhay Pagoda is a massive Buddhist complex in Monywa, Myanmar. It is a gilded world, brightly screaming out praise for Buddha through colorful celebration. Throughout the area, each pillar and tower of the Pagoda is carefully and completely covered with images of Buddha.

From statues inside the pagoda, to miniatures climbing the sides of the building itself, there are 500,000 depictions of Buddha in total. Although it was originally built in the early 14th century, it was reconstructed in 1939, and is incredibly preserved in its golden form.

Unlike many other temples in Myanmar, the entrance is not guarded by lions. Instead, two imposing white elephants stand out against their shimmering backdrop. Since its reconstruction, the pagoda has been one of the largest tourist attractions in Myanmar, drawing awe-struck tourists and pious religious visitors alike.

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Sacred Spaces Giant Buddhas Pagodas

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Edited By

leiris, aribrown, atimian

  • leiris
  • aribrown
  • atimian

Published

September 28, 2013

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  • http://travel.mapsofworld.com/myanmar/tourist-attractions-in-monywa/thanboddhay-pagoda-in-monywa.html
Thanboddhay Pagoda
Monywa
Myanmar (Burma)
22.06931, 95.215587

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