The capital city of Myanmar is ideally nick-named as the Land of Gold because of its sparkling beauty. The city abounds in colossal, golden and stunning glittering pagodas that mesmerizes and hypnotizes the visitors.
Located at the soaring height of Singuttara Hill, Shwedagon Pagoda sparkles with precious, light reflecting jewels and spreads its golden aura- a real is a wonder to behold!.
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| | The Shwedagon is the greatest pagoda of its kind in the world, comparable in size and grandeur to other edifices of greatness. "Shwe" means gold and Dagon is a former name of Yangon. Hence, Shwedagon means the golden pagoda at the city of Dagon,(Rangoon). It is believed to have been built nearly 2600 years ago, that is, during the Buddha's life time
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It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within, namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konagamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight strands of Gautama, the historical Buddha and the enlightened one . That is the reason why Buddhists all over the world profoundly revere this pious pagoda.
Originally the pagoda was only 66 feet high but at present its height is 326 feet with a circumference of 1420 feet at the base. While much of the pagoda's beauty derives from the complex geometry of its shape and surrounding structures, equally breath taking is its golden glow. The lower stupa is plated with 8,688 solid gold bars, an upper part with another 13,153. The towering tip of the stupa, is set with 5448 diamonds, 2317 rubies, sapphires, and other gems, 1065 golden bells and, at the very top, a single 76-carat diamond. Thus the value of the place is inestimable. Adjoining the pagoda are a number of smaller shrines housing pre-Buddhist spirits called Nats, miracle working images, and even a wish granting stone. The entire temple complex permeates beauty and serenity.
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The Shwedagon Paya has become the emblem of the culture of Mynmar and epitomizes architecture, sculpture, arts, crafts and the piety of the place.
In Rudyard Kipling's words the Shwedagon Paya is 'a golden mystery' and 'a beautiful winking wonder that blazed in the sun, of a shape that was neither Muslim dome nor Hindu temple-spire…'
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Allwondersoftheworld.com describes the golden wonder Shwedagon Paya or Shwedagon Pagoda of Mynmar which mesmerizes and spellbinds the beholder with its golden aura and religious significance.
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