Building Rating 80% of readers like the Schwe Dagon Pagoda.
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O ne of the most visible landmarks in Yangoon, the Schwe Dagon Pagoda is a beacon literally and figuratively. Literally because the 326-foot-tall Schwe Dagon Paya's gold plating reflects the sun, and figuratively because its position on top of Singuttara Hill overlooking the city gives it a persistent mental presence that even captivated Kipling in his day. According to popular legend, the original stupa was erected to house eight hairs from Buddha. They were brought back to Yangoon (then called Dagon) as relics by Burmese merchants Tapussa and Bhallika. The complex of 64 smaller pagodas, 72 shrines, and dozens of statues and icons we see today is an 18th century construction but still of great importance to the city as it is still in use as a place of worship.
The Schwe Dagon Paya is covered with 9,272 plates of gold, each one square foot.
It has 5,440 diamonds, 1,065 gold bells, and about 2,300 precious stones.
Geoffrey K. Penhall
Wednesday, October 26th, 2005 @ 10:11pm
Rating: Four stars. A mystical place of great serenity and peace in a city that struggles to make ends meet.
Mal Walker
Sunday, March 13th, 2005 @ 2:28am
Rating: Five stars. Unique, once viewed at sunrise, never forgotten.
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Geoffrey K. Penhall
Four stars.
Five stars.