The Shwedagon Pagoda (also known as the Great Buddha) is a large gold-plated stupa located at Mahamuni Park in Yangon, Myanmar. It is the largest Buddhist pagoda in the world. Its construction began in 1885 under British rule and was completed three years later. The pagoda is dedicated to the Hindu god Gautama Buddha. The pagoda took 20 years to build. It has 7 levels, including a base, foundation, body, four arms, head, and top. The total height of the pagoda is 484 feet. Shwedagon Pagoda is the largest stupa (dome-shaped structure) in the world. It was built around 700 years ago. Its height is 65 meters. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
It is considered the holiest Buddhist site in Southeast Asia. many historical accounts state that this pagoda was built as a diamond temple. It is located in Yangon's old quarter, just south of Mahamuni Park. The temple is surrounded by many other ancient monuments like Kandawgyi Palace, Shwesandaw Paya, Inwa, Dhammazedi Pagodas, etc. There are two entrances into the temple. One is through the Mahamuni Park entrance where you can take a view of the park. The second entrance is near the Shwedagon Paya Hotel. You can enter the temple complex through that gate. The temple is open daily from 8 AM - 5 PM.
The Shwedagon Pagoda (Literal meaning: "Pagodas eye") is a Buddhist stupa located in Yangon's old city area of Mahamuni Park. The pagoda was built between 1449 and 1455 and stands at a height of. It has been called Myanmar's most sacred monument and one of its largest religious structures.
The pagoda consists of a central tower with four smaller towers surrounding it. The top of the main tower is where the golden spire can be seen. The base of the structure is square while the towers are octagonal. The pagoda is constructed out of brick and stone and features many intricate carvings. The pagoda is situated on a small island in the middle of the Ayeyarwady River. It faces east towards the riverbank and is surrounded by water. This location served as the basis for the design of the current layout of the grounds around the pagoda. The pagoda sits on a raised platform that allows visitors to view the entire structure from a distance. The platform itself is covered with a white marble slab. A bridge leads from the platform to the entrance gate.
The Shwedagon pagoda contains many Buddha images, some of which date back to the time of King Anawrahta in 1044-1077 AD. Inside the pagoda, there are several other statues of the Buddha and various other deities. There are also two large gold Buddha statues, one inside and the other outside the pagoda.
In addition to the Golden Spire, five bronze bells are hanging from the roof of the pagoda. These bells were cast in 1836 and were designed to ring whenever the king passed through the area. In the past, they would ring out when the king returned home after a long journey. Today, they only ring once a month at noon to mark the start of the Buddhist New Year.
The pagoda was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on February 6th, 1993.
