{"id":21172,"date":"2018-11-22T11:35:04","date_gmt":"2018-11-22T11:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/?p=21172"},"modified":"2018-11-30T07:10:36","modified_gmt":"2018-11-30T07:10:36","slug":"myanmar-tallest-pagoda-bago-golden-god-temple-shwemawdaw-pagoda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/2018\/11\/myanmar-tallest-pagoda-bago-golden-god-temple-shwemawdaw-pagoda\/","title":{"rendered":"Myanmar Tallest Pagoda : Bago Golden God Temple – Shwemawdaw Pagoda"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Why visit Bago?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Bago is just 2 hour drive away from Yangon and I strongly recommend anyone who is doing Yangon free and easy to include Bago too. It is the ancient capital of Myanmar, 4 important historical sites are located around Bago city and one of them are Shwemawdaw Pagoda.<\/p>\n

A day trip to Bago is doable as hotel in Bago is still lack of proper facilities and city folks like us may not get use to it.\u00a0 So I still suggest you to stay in Yangon.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

15 meter higher than Yangon’s Swedagon Pagoda<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shwemawdaw Pagoda in Bago is 114 meter which made the tallest pagoda in whole Myanmar. Swedagon Pagoda in Yangon is also huge and tall but it is still shorter than Shwemawdaw Pagoda by 15 meter.\u00a0 Before reaching, you can see\u00a0Shwemawdaw Pagoda from a far.<\/p>\n

The refection of the\u00a0Shwemawdaw Pagoda on the puddle of water can be seen. (Below picture)<\/p>\n

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Sheltered Stairway<\/strong><\/h3>\n

At the entrance, you need to take off your shoes before entering.\u00a0 There are stairs to go up to the Shwemawdaw pagoda.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Earthquake<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The tall stupa has experienced several earthquake over the centuries, one in 1917 and the other in 1930. Each rebuild and repair made the stupa a little taller untill 115 meter now.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Cleaning time<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Volunteers are cleaning the stupa during my visit, so the floor was very wet.\u00a0 Walk carefully as I nearly fell down couple of times.\u00a0 Usually there are long mat placed around the stupa, so it is safer to walk on the mat but it is a bit irritable.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Pavilions & Shrines\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are several pavilion and shrines around the big stupa. It is more spacious as compared to Yangon’s Swedagon Pagoda.<\/p>\n

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Little monk walking around the temple complex added a calming ambience.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Visitors resting under the Bodi tree.<\/p>\n

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Burmese are usually seen wearing their traditional clothing when visiting the temple. No shoes, no sleeveless and knee-length attire.<\/p>\n

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Moment of prayers at the praying corner.<\/p>\n

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The layout look similar to Swadagon Pagoda in Yangon but\u00a0less crowded and less foreign tourists.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Myanmar Horoscope<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Myanmar horoscope practise based on the day of the week and the person date of birth is important. There are 8 zodiac signs in Myanmar, one for each day of the week (but two on Wednesday). These signs representing by animals with Monday being a tiger, Tuesday a lion, Wednesday morning an elephant, Wednesday afternoon a tusk-less elephant, Thursday a rat, Friday a guinea pig, Saturday a dragon and Sunday a Garuda (mythical bird). When a child is born, it is common to be named using a name associated with their zodiac sign.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Birthday Corner<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Most pagoda has a special corner dedicated to each sign of the zodiac and this is the birthday corner. People visit pagodas to pay respects to their corner. Can you remember which day of the week you were born?\u00a0 Well, I don’t know which day of the week I was born so I was not able to pay respect at the birthday corner.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Legend<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Shwemawdaw Pagoda was built in the 10th century by a Mon King. The pagoda enshrine two hair relics of the Buddha. According to legend, the hair strands were given to two Burmese traders by the Gautama Buddha himself. In the year 982 and again in 1385, tooth relics were enshrined in the pagoda.<\/p>\n

\"Myanmar<\/a><\/p>\n

Earthquake Evidence<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is the section broke off during the earthquake 1917.\u00a0 It is not pained with gold.<\/p>\n

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Pyatthat Roof <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Multi tiered Pyatthat roof are the symbols of Burmese architecture. (See below)<\/p>\n

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Final thoughts :<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Similar to Swedagon Pagoda, Shwemawdaw Pagoda is one of the icon in Bago city, ancient capital of Myanmar. Shwemawdaw Pagoda is the tallest pagoda in Myanmar, the towering pagoda glittering in the sun can be seen from far away.<\/p>\n

Other tips :<\/strong><\/h3>\n