Villages
Mingun
The Pagoda was started in 1790 and would
have been the world’s biggest stupa,
had it been finished but only the bottom
third was completed but it is still a huge
structure 38 metres high – the ‘biggest
pile of bricks in the world’. Deep
cracks were caused by an earthquake in 1838.
On the riverside remains the pagoda’s
guardian lions which are 2 vast brick chinthe
which are half lion/half dragon guardians
of the temple. Alongside is the ‘world’s
largest working hanging bell’ weighing
87 tons and standing at 12ft. The MyaThein
Dan / Hsinbyume Pagoda is nearby.
The Mingun Pagoda’s current state is
due to the ambition and vanity of King Bodawpaya.
Having just brought the Maha Muni Buddha
from Rakhaing to Amarapura and become an
owner of a white elephant, he wanted to further
emphasize his supremacy by developing the
world’s tallest pagoda at 500 feet.
Construction lasted from 1790 to 1797 and
was halted due to labour problems and a compounding
economic crisis at the beginning of the 19th century. Bodawpaya died in 1813 and none
of his children completed the project.
Yandabo
The small village of many family-run potteries,
Yandabo, is famous as the location of the
signing of the peace agreement in 1826 after
the first Anglo-Burmese war.
Shwe Pyi Thar
This rural village has many family potteries.
The school is supported by the owners of
the RV Thurgau Exotic II. Although it was
Sunday the children gathered in the school
to sing to us and we presented them with
many educational materials.
Tan Gyi Taung
We arrived at Tan-Gyi Taung in the morning
and drove up the hill to the golden Stupa
to enjoy the panoramic views over the river
to Bagan. After we walked through the village
and were entertained by an elephant dance
performance by local artists on the river
shore. The elaborate elephant costume weighed
90kg.
As we cruised down river we saw the oil rigs
and tents of the 'independants' who
were in drilling for oil.
