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Thanboddhay Paya. Photo by McKay Savage from London, UK.

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Thanboddhay Paya

Located in the city of Monywa in Myanmar, Thanboddhay Paya is essentially a Buddhist pagoda. Thanboddhay Paya houses hundreds of enshrined seated Buddha images with mirrors surrounding them

Thanboddhay Paya is famed for its carnivalesque exterior with a unique roof layered with rows of mini stupas and its staggering buddha images.  

The number of Buddha images in the interior of the temple are so many that visitors feel like they are walking through a house full of mirrors reflecting various images of Buddha.

The top 10 astonishing facts about Thanboddhay Paya include the following.

1. The Thanboddhay Pagoda Is a Massive Buddhist Complex

Thanboddhay Paya Complex. Photo by Colegota.

The Thanboddhay Paya is a gilded world which through colorful celebration brightly screams praise for Buddha. 

Each pillar and tower in the Pagoda are covered with images of Buddha which are done carefully and completely throughout the area.

There are over 500,000 depictions of the Buddha as from statues inside the pagoda to miniatures climbing the sides of the building itself.

2. The Temple Was Originally Built In 14^th Century but Reconstructed as from 1939

Although the pagoda was originally built during early 14th century it was reconstructed as from 1939  to 1951 for a period of 12 years.

The intial construction was begun by the Venerable Sayadaw of Mohnyin Tawya in 1301 and was completed in 1313 of the Burmese era. The initial construction took a period of 12 years.

The reconstruction was done with the help of donations with the driving force being the Abbot Moe Nyin Sayadaw U Kyauk Lon as from 1939 to 1951 which was a period of 12 years also.

3. Unlike In Other Temples The Entrance Is Guarded By Two White Elephants

Unlike many temples in Myanmar where the entrance is guarded by statues of lions, the Thanboddhay Paya is guarded by two imposing white elephants .

In Buddhist symbolism, white elephants are considered auspicious and sacred. The two white elephants against their shimmering backdrop stand out magnificently.

Due to these imposing elephant statues among other attractions, the pagoda has been one of the largest tourist attractions in Myanmar. The pagoda draws pious religious tourists as well as awe-struck tourists from all over the world.

4. The Pagoda Boasts of Stylish Architecture

Thanboddhay Paya. Photo by McKay Savage.

The pagoda consists of tiered roofs including gilded stupas which are elaborately decorated with tiles either in golden or red color.

The walls inside the temple are lined with 582,357 images of Buddha  ranging from images which are meters high to others with tiny dimensions.

The stylish architecture which is enhanced by numerous colorfully painted and lavishly decorated places of worship invite Buddha devotees to visit in their act of worship. However, the decoration of the temple is rather overloaded and confusing to tourists from western countries.

The observation tower offers a view of 471 stupas of varying sizes even though it can only be accessed by men who climb the spiral staircase while barefoot

5. The Temple Attests To Myanmar Peoples Hospitality And Friendliness

Monywa. Photo by Colegota.

Mynamar is a beautiful country with welcoming people who are ready to receive visitors and guide them in a tour of the imposing pagodas and many other attractions.

The jaw dropping Thanboddhay Paya is one of the attractions located in Monywa which is a perfect place to stop between Mandalay and Bagan cities. 

The temple was constructed with an intention to benefit humanity. As a result, 16 languages have been used at the entrance to list the founding dates of the pagoda.

6. Walking In The Pagoda Feels Like Strolling In A Buddhist Theme Park

Buddha Images. Photo by Gerd Eichmann.

 Overflowing with more than 500,000 separate images of Buddha, the Thanboddhay Paya is a really bizarre pagoda. Visitors find it a bit hard to make out the Buddha images at first since they are so many.

However, when looked at closely, one can see little white Buddha icons which are countless reaching from the ground to the ceiling of the elaborately decorated pagoda.

The pagoda boasts of countless giant gold Buddhas scattered among smaller ones of all shapes and sizes. Walking in this elaborate temple feels like strolling in a Buddhist Theme Park for all intents and purposes.

7. There is Buddha Overload in The Pagoda And The Surrounding Areas

Bodhi Tataung. Photo by McKay Savage from London, UK.

On the way to the Thanboddhay  Paya there are literally thousands of sitting Buddhas arranged in neat rows sitting under Bodhi trees in endless fields.

 In addition to the sitting Buddha images, rising out of the trees, visitors can see Bodhi Tataung.

Bodhi Tataung are two massive Buddha images which give the impression of something akin to a massive god.

One of the standing Buddha image measures 116 meters whereas the other Buddha image which is in a reclining posture measures 95 meters.

Taking into account the thousands of Buddha images in the Pagoda and the surrounding areas, the area seems to be experiencing Buddha overload.

8. Recently Constructed Buddha Images Contain Apocalyptic Murals

Enthusiatsic worshippers have begun constructing one giant sitting Buddha and another  huge structure of a Buddha lying down on his back not to be outdone by the Bodhi Tataung Buddha images.

The giant Buddha standing image was built in 2008 while the reclining one was built a bit earlier in 1991. One can climb inside the images and view some rather creepy murals depicting terrible scenes from Buddhist hell since they are hollow.

Detailed illustrations of gruesome punishments which will be dealt out to those who will get to the Buddhist hell are also depicted in the murals in the Buddist images. Young children would not find the murals ideal to see.

9. The Thanboddhay Paya Is in Pristine Condition

The Thanboddhay Paya is unlike any other pagodas and temples either in Thailand, Vietnam or Nepal as it is not crowded.

Tourists and worshippers find the pagoda still in pristine condition unlike many other temples and pagodas in the region which are inundated.

The pagoda seems to be off the well-trodden tourist trail unlike the famous Shwe Dagon Pagoda located near Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon. Tourists are encouraged to visit the Thanboddhay Paya to enjoy the many attractions in the pagoda.

10. The Builder Dedicated The Pagoda To All Suffering People Everywhere

Reconstruction of the pagoda was carried out through the trying times of the Second World War II.Myanmar experienced the brunt of the destruction and human suffering that accompanied the war.  

The builder made uniquely beautiful Buddhas with different facial expressions and dedicated the pagoda to all suffering people in the world.