The Shwemawdaw Pagoda was originally built around the 10th
century, C.E by a Mon King..
It was destroyed several times due to earthquakes, including one in 1917 and
another in 1930. The original version of the pagoda was approximately 70 feet
(21 m) tall, built by the Mon King supposedly to hold two hairs of the Buddha.
The hair strands were given to two Burmese merchants by
the Gautama Buddha himself. In the year 982 and again in 1385, tooth relics
were enshrined in the pagoda.
The current stupa, as of its most recent rebuilding, stands at
375 feet, making it the tallest in Myanmar. With
its height of 114 meters it is 15 meters taller than the Shwedagon Pagoda.
Kanbawzathadi Golden Palace
Built in the 16th century by King Bayinnaung.
Bayinnaung was one of Burma’s greatest rulers, a mighty King who possessed many white elephants, a sign of wealth and power at that time. The King even obtained a sacred Buddha tooth relic from Sri Lanka, which he had installed in the Mahazedi Pagoda.
Bayinnaung built the new capital of the second Burmese empire, a large city called Hanthawadi (present day Bago) surrounded by walls with 20 gates. The palace was built on a 70 acres plot located at the center of the city. Construction started in 1553.
Royal Lion Throne Hall, because it contained the Thihathana Throne or Lion Throne.
The Bhammayarthana Throne Hall, also called Bee Throne Hall contained the private quarters for the King, including the Royal bed chamber and living chamber.
ပုဂၢိဳလ္ေစင့္
