Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
goo, re-established Bago as their capital, but in 1757 King Alaungpaya sacked and ut-
terly destroyed the city. King Bodawpaya, who ruled from 1782 to 1819, rebuilt it to
some extent, but when the river changed its course the city was cut off from the sea and
lost its importance as a seaport. It never again reclaimed its previous grandeur.
BAGO ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE TICKET
To gain access to Bago's main sites including Shwemawdaw Paya, Kyaik Pun Paya
and Kanbawzathadi Palace, foreigners must buy the Bago Archaeological Zone
ticket ($10/K10,000). Nearly all of the sights charge an additional K300 for cam-
era and K500 for videocameras.
Sights & Activities
Shwethalyaung Buddha
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
( 5am-8pm)
Legend has it that this gorgeous reclining Buddha was built by the
Mon king Mgadeikpa in the 10th century. Measuring 180ft long and 53ft high, the monu-
ment's little finger alone extends 10ft.
Following the destruction of Bago in 1757, the huge buddha was overgrown by jungle
and not rediscovered until 1881 when a contractor unearthed it while building the Yan-
gon-Bago railway line.
In 1906 an open-sided pavilion was erected over the statue and in the 1930s a mosaic
was added to the great pillow on which the Buddha's head rests.
On the rear side of the plinth, in a series of 10 murals, the legend of how the buddha
came to be built by Mgadeikpa is depicted. His reign was marked by corruption and viol-
ence, but one day his son was out hunting in the forests when his eye fell upon a Mon
girl who caused his heart to flutter. Even though she was a Buddhist and he, like every-
one in his father's kingdom, worshipped pagan idols, the two became lovers and married
after he promised her that she could continue to practise Buddhism.
Back at the court the king was furious when he discovered this and ordered the execu-
tion of both the girl and his son. Yet when the new bride prayed in front of the pagan idol
it cracked and broke. The king was seized with fear and, realising the error of his ways,
ordered the building of a statue of the Buddha and the conversion of the population to
Buddhism.
