Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The hill on which the stupa stands is 167ft above sea level, with the entire complex cov-
ering 46 hectares. As is common with all temples in Myanmar, the main terrace is ap-
proached by four zaungdan (covered walkways) each of which is flanked at its entrance
by a pair of 9m-tall chinthe . If you don't want to climb the steps, there are elevators at
the southern, eastern and northern entrances, while the western zaungdan has sets of es-
calators.
All but the western zaungdan are lined with stalls selling flowers - both real and beau-
tifully made paper ones - for offerings, buddha images, ceremonial umbrellas, books, an-
tiques, incense sticks and much more. There are also fortune tellers and money exchange
booths.
You emerge from the shade of the zaungdan into a visual cacophany of technicoloured
glitter at the marble-floored main terrace , littered with pavilions and worship halls con-
taining buddha images and two giant cast-iron bells.
At the centre of the terrace Shwedagon Paya MAP GOOGLE MAP sits on a square
plinth, which stands 21ft above the clutter of the main platform and immediately sets the
stupa above the lesser structures. Smaller stupas sit on this raised platform level - four
large ones mark the four cardinal directions, four medium-sized ones mark the four
corners of the plinth and 60 small ones run around the perimeter.
From this base, the zedi rises first in three terraces, then in 'octagonal' terraces and
then in five circular bands. The shoulder of the bell is decorated with 16 'flowers'. The
bell is topped by the 'inverted bowl', another traditional element of stupa architecture,
and above this stand the mouldings, then the 'lotus petals'. These consist of a band of
down-turned petals, followed by a band of up-turned petals. The banana bud is the final
element of the zedi before the jewel-encrusted hti tops it.
Around the stupa's base 12 planetary posts conform to the days of the week; locals
pray at the station that represents the day they were born. If you want to join them, and
don't know the day of your birth, the fortune tellers at the temple have almanacs that will
provide the answer. Note that Wednesday is divided into births in the morning and births
in afternoon - for the latter you worship at the Rahu post at the northwest corner of the
stupa base.
Before leaving the main terrace pop into the small museum (Shwedagon Paya, Dagon;
9am-4pm Tue-Sun) which is chock full of buddha statues and religious ornaments.
Look for the scale model of the stupa and the beautiful painting of the temple by MT
Hla. The photo gallery is also well worth a look, particularly for the close-up snaps it
displays of the top of the stupa.
People's Park PARK
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