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Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Mingun Temple

Pagoda Mingun Pahtodawgyi, taken in 2003. Photo of the southwest corner. I, Rich Torres, Burlingame, California, USA took this photo by unknown Arthur/

The Mingun Pahtodawgyi also known as Mingun temple is an incomplete monument stupa in Mingun.

It was not completed due to an astrologer claiming that once the temple was finished the king would die.

The Pahtodawgyi is seen as the physical manifestation of Bodawpaya’s well-known eccentricities he wanted to construct the largest Pagoda.

He set up an observation post on an island off Mingun to personally supervise the construction of the temple.

The completed stupa would have been the largest in the world, huge cracks can be seen on the structure from the earthquake.

When one enters the little town of Mingun one can see the gigantic ruins, the surrounding temples do not have much religious relevance.

1. The construction of the interesting Mingun temple was ordered by King Bodawpaya

King Bodawpaya in 1795, by unknown Arthur/

The construction of the Mingun temple was by the order of King Bodawpaya in the eighteenth century.

It started when a Chinese offered a gift, a sacred Buddha tooth relic to the King, the king thought the relic should be preserved in the biggest and most gorgeous temple.

The king started the construction but after reaching one-third of the construction it was suspended.

During the construction of the Mingun temple, the economy of the country suffered, and the construction cajoled a huge burden on the country.

The King made use of thousands of war prisoners and slaves to construct the stupa. The Pagoda was such important to the king he left matters of his state to his son.

2. The Pagoda is quite large with a rich decorated entrance fifty meters high

The Pagoda is quite large, about seventy meters on each side, and rises around fifty meters. The entire structure has twenty-five million bricks

The immense quantities of masonry required the labor of ten thousand men working over twenty years.

On the left bank of the Irrawaddy River was a small chapel called the Settawya Pagoda which housed a footprint of the Buddha.

The entrance of the Pagoda had a pair of Chinthe ±ô¾±´Ç²Ô²õ’ statues that unfortunately fell victim to the earthquake.

The entrance of the Pagoda is huge and richly decorated. Inside the temple is a small shrine with a Buddha image.

3. The astonishing Migun temple is an eye-catching unfinished construction

In the town of Mingun in the Sagaing region, about ten kilometers from Mandalay Mingun temple is an eye-catching unfinished construction on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.

The temple can be reached in an hour by boat along the Ayeyarwady River. The ruins remain a massive constructive project which was left unfinished.

4. The famous massive Mingun Bell which is the second largest in the world

Mingun Bell 00467 by unknown Arthur/

Pahtodawgyi is famous for its ringing bell and is a major tourist attraction in Mingun town. The bell weighs ninety tons.

Today the bell is the second largest in the world, it was handed down as a mnemonic with the consonants representing the number five in Burmese astronomy.

King Bodawpaya ordered a casting massive bell that was meant to be installed at the top of the giant Stupa.

The bell is housed nearby the Paya in a Zayat an intricate Burmese-style pavilion with a multi-tiered roof.

The bell is rung by striking its exterior with a wood log, the bell is in good condition. The bell was cast on the opposite side of the river and was transported using boats.

5. The large remarkable Hsinbyume Pagoda is located on the northern side of Mingun

Hsinbyume Pagoda by unknown Arthur/

The Hsinbyume Pagoda also known as Myatheindan Pagoda is a large pagoda on the northern side of Mingun in the Sagaing region In Myanmar on the western ban of the Irrawaddy River.

The architecture is stunning it is painted white and modeled on the physical description of the Buddhist sacred mountain.

Tourists fall in love with the unique structure of the gorgeous white temple. You cannot visit Myanmar and not stop over at The Hsinbyme Pagoda.

Its seven concentric terraces represent the seven rivers and mountain ranges encircling Mount Meru.

The monument today is a popular site for Buddhist Pilgrims who believe to make the power to make their dreams come true.

6. Irrawaddy River is the largest and most important river in Burma 

Irrawaddy River Bank by unknown Arthur/

The Irrawaddy is the largest and most important river in Burma. It flows from north to south through the Irrawaddy delta.

The name Irrawaddy is a form of the Sanskrit word Iravati which refers to the river Ravi in northwestern India and eastern Pakistan.

The water originates in the Himalayas the Irrawaddy become an important commercial waterway as early as the sixth century.

The river gets its name from a dolphin species named the Irrawaddy dolphin; a beakless dolphin species found in the river.

7. The fun interesting way to get to the temple is by boat from Mandalay 

The easiest and most fun way to get there is by boat from Mandalay which takes around one hour.

From the Pier, you can either walk to the Paya or take an ox cart marked as a taxi. The Paya is a Buddhist temple please take off your shoes.

8. Entrance Fee to get to the fascinating unfinished Pagoda

A ticket for the Sagaing- Mingun archaeological zones costs US$4. The ticket is valid for the Mingun Pagoda and other monuments.

9. At the top of the Pagoda brings a magnificent view of the nearby historical areas

It is possible to climb to the top of the Pagoda using a stairway to the right of the structure, and this helps tourists to see the beautiful surrounding.

You will have a magnificent view of the area with the nearby Hsinbyme Pagoda, Several other Pagoda, The Irrawaddy River, and the mountain to the back of the Pagoda.

10. The Interesting Giant Guardian Chinthes lions that were damaged by the two earthquakes

Two large earthquakes did considerable damage to the Mingun Pagoda, the heads of the giant Chinese broke off and rolled in the Irrawaddy River.

The massive pay, also known as the Mantara Gyi Pagoda, the Mingun Pahtodawgyi, and the Great Royal Stupa makes an impressive sight on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.

The remains of the two giants twenty-nine meters tall guarding the temple are still at the temple attracting tourists.

The Pagoda is opened daily during the daylight hours this is to allow locals and tourists to be able to enjoy sight-seeing the temple.