Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pyay
Sights
Sleeping
2
Lucky Dragon
A2
3
Myat Lodging House
A1
4
Smile Motel
B2
Eating
5
Grandma Café
A2
6
Hline Ayar
A2
Sights
Shwesandaw Paya & Around
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Set on top of a hill in the town centre, the stunning Shwesandaw Paya (and the surround-
ing pagodas and monasteries) is not only Pyay's major point of interest, but also one of
the country's biggest Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Just over 3ft (1m) taller than the main
zedi
at Yangon's Shwedagon (
Click here
)
, the Shwesandaw stupa follows the classic
Burmese design seen at Bagan's Shwezigon (
Click here
)
.
Legend goes that it was built in 589 BC, and that the golden
zedi
houses four strands
of the Buddha's hair (the Golden Hair Relics). Atop the
zedi
are two
hti
(umbrella-like
pinnacles), unusual for Myanmar. The lower, bigger one dates from Pyay's days as a
Mon city. The higher, smaller one was added by King Alaungpaya as a symbol of peace
between his realm and the Mon, after brutally capturing the city in 1754. In the southw-
est corner of the complex, the
Sacred Tooth Hall
is said to house an original tooth from
the Buddha. It's in the golden bell (locked) behind the glass. The locks come off once a
year for the November full-moon festivities.
The panoramic views from the pagoda are pretty great too. To the east, you'll see the
Sehtatgyi Paya
(Big Ten Storey), a giant (maybe not 10 storeys, though) seated buddha,
