One of the recommendable places visiting around Mandalay is Mingun which is a small town lies on the bank of Ayeyarwaddy River. Mingun can reach by road or by river may take an hour from Mandalay. It is charming village. Villager’s main income is from tourism. It has local tourists as well as travelers from other countries all year around. Massive unfinished pagoda, gigantic bell and Myatheindan temples are 3 main interests of Mingun.
What to see around Mingun
Mingun Phathodawgyi Pagoda
Mingun Bell – The world biggest bell
Myatheindan temple
Mingun Phathodawgyi Pagoda
Approach to Mingun by boat walk along the river bank welcome by Mingun phathodawgyi which is look like huge red rock. It was meant to be the largest pagoda in the country built at the end of 18th century.
In the year 1784, King Bodawphaya invaded Arakan, an ancient Mrauk U. After the war, he brought Mahamuni Buddha Image and all valuable things as well as bronze sheet of Mrauk U palace to his kingdom – Amarapura. The King wanted to build the largest pagoda in the country to demonstrate his power.
When the pagoda had reached 50 meters high, one third of the intended height, the construction was stopped. There were probably several reasons why the project stopped.
One of the reasons due to an astrologer prophecy, once the temple was finished; the king would lose power and die. King Bodawpaya decided to stop construction as he was not well; he was tried for spending lot of time and money.
Many labor worked for the construction for many years. Main labor is slaves from War. It would have another difficulty to get enough labor as many of slaves escaped. There may also have technical difficulties with the construction due to massive size of the temple.
It was hit by earthquake in 1839, left huge cracks at 4 sides of the temple. Again was hit by strong earthquake in November 2012.
Nowadays, visitors could easily mistake the temple for a large pile of bricks. It was possible to climb to the top of the temple using stairway for beautiful panorama over the Ayeyarwaddy River, Mingun village and Myatheindan temple. After strong earthquake of 2012, it was prohibit reaching to the top.
The guards of massive temple, 29 meters high lion statues faced to the river were also hit by earthquake and remain only posterior part of the body.
Mingun Bell – The world biggest bell
Mingun Bell is one of the tourist attractions in Mingun. It lays just few minutes walk from Jetty. In the year 1784, after conquest over Rakhine – an ancient Mrauk U, king Bodawpaya brought all valuable things as well as very thick bronze sheet of Mrauk U palace celling to Amarapura. To demonstrate his power in the country, wanted to build the largest pagoda in the world which will have the height of 150 meters. As he need gigantic bell for huge temple, casted huge bell which has 90 tons using Arakanese bronze sheet. It was hit by strong earthquake in the year 1839 and fall to ground. At the present time it was moved to some meters from huge temple housed in small wooden pavilion. Myanmar bells do not have clapper. The bell is rung by striking its exterior with a wood log. The sound can be hear from one mile. Myanmar Buddhists ring the bell 3 or 5 times after their praying, after making good deed to share with 31 stage of being. Travelers try to ring Mingun bell just for fun during their memorable trip to Mingun.
Myatheindan temple
One of three attractions in Mingun is Myatheindan temple. Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon is amazing. Temples in Bagan are incredible too. White Myatheindan temple is very special. The temple was built in early 19th century by Bodawphaya. Unlike other pagodas, it has 7 terraces represent 7 mountain ranges and 7 rivers surrounding Mt.Meru. There are four stairs to go up, southern and western stair mainly used. It is very nice for photo shoot walking around the pagoda on every terrace. When you get to the second wide terrace, enjoy the view around the temple. Few steps more will bring you to the top of Myatheindan temple. There are two sitting Buddha images at the central pillar of the temple in which most visitors offer flowers and incense. Foreign visitor will be charged 5000Kyats per person for Mingun Zone fees.
