The World's Biggest Book

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Geo: 21.9759, 96.0842





The breakfast on the roof top had many varieties for the vegetarians and I enjoyed the stir fry vegetables and omelette, I could see the street market from the roof top which is interesting. We headed for Mahamuni pogoda

Mahamuni pagoda


Mahamuni pagoda is the most important of all the religious places in Mandalay. It is not a pagoda but an image of the Lord Buddha, believed to have been cast in the Lord's lifetime in the very presence of the Lord according to the tradition. According to legend, this is only one of the five likenesses of Buddha; two were in India, two in paradise and fifth is the Maha Muni or the Great Sage. Over the years pilgrims have covered it with gold leaf, so that some parts of the body are now barely recognizable. Close access due to religious belief is restricted only to males so only they are allowed to put the gold leaf. The monks were preparing thanaka for face washing ceremony and a small band was playing music and they were dancing as well which was nice. See the video



Kuthodaw pagoda (The World Biggest Book)

Kuthodaw pagoda is situated at the base of the Mandalay Hill, just to the east of Sandamuni Pagoda. The central stupa is modelled after the famous Shwezigon Pagoda of Bagan. It has the 729 Pagodas surrounding the central stupa, each of these stone marble tablet has inscription of Buddha's teaching. These 729 stone inscriptions are often called "The World's Largest Book". An ornamental umbrella of stone was built to shelter each standing inscription slab so as to preserve the inscriptions with grown star-flower trees and Madhuca longifolia at equal distances. It was interesting to see the contrast between the gold stupa and white stone inscriptions temples.



The Sandamuni Pagoda


The Sandamuni Pagoda is located to the southeast of Mandalay Hill and bears a resemblance to the nearby Kuthodaw pagoda because of the large number of slender whitewashed ancillary stupas on the grounds. The Sanda Muni Paya also features 1774 marble slabs which include the commentaries and sub-commentaries on the Tipitaka, the Three Baskets of Buddha's teachings. It was very similar to Kuthodaw pagoda but they are much closer to each other and I liked this pagoda more.

Mandalay Hill & Sutaungpyei Pagoda

We took an escalator from the car park to the top, Mandalay Hill is a welcome respite from the heat and dust of the streets. Sutaungpyei Pagoda, which is located at the summit, this ornate temple is 790 feet and the terrace provides panoramic view of Mandalay. Mandalay Hill is a holy site, and is said to have been climbed by the Buddha, who prophesied that a great city would be built here, where his teachings would flourish. The weather was smoggy so I was not able to get great pictures; we had to wait long time in a queue for the lift down.

Hotel Yadanarbon

Hotel Yadanarbon is located in centre of Town and is a very modern hotel; the staffs are very helpful, friendly with excellent service. I was given a nice drink on arrival, the check in was swift, my room at Yadanarbon was lovely and nicely furnished with good size bathroom, on the fourth floor which was quiet. The breakfast on the roof top terrace had many varieties for the vegetarians and I enjoyed the stir fry vegetables, I could see the street market from the roof top which is interesting, I also went on the roof top terrace in the evening for a drink and got one free drink there as well. As I was leaving early morning at 4.30 am, they gave me a cold packed breakfast which was really nice and I was very happy with this hotel.

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