Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon

Subject: Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon 13/11/2010, 10:40 pm

The Shwedagon Pagoda or stupa is also called the Golden Pagoda andit is situated in Yangon, Myanmar. The exact height of the Stupa is321.5 feet. The Shwedagon
Pagoda is located to the west of the Kandawgyi Lake, on the Singuttarahill. This Pagoda is considered to be the most religious pagoda of LordBuddha for the Burmese. The Pagoda was built to give shelter to thehairs of Buddha.The reason why the Shwedagon is so special because its Spire is madeup of a thick quote of gold and has lots and lots of diamonds, rubiesand precious gems embedded in it. The lighting effect in the ShwedagonStupa gives it a different feel altogether, the entire place lilts asof it is the aura of Lord Buddha still prevailing in the place.The exact age of the Pagoda is not known to anyone. It is estimatedthat the structure is 1000 to 2500 years old, made during the time ofBuddha. However, it has been said that over the years, it has beendestroyed numerous times in the past due to earthquakes and othernatural disasters.The Shwedagon can be reached from all four sides of the hill. On theeast and south, one can see vendors selling different kinds of itemslike the flags, books and images of Lord Buddha. A pair of lions guardsthe entrance to the Shrine. It is also said that the entire city ofMyanmar has contributed gold to the pagoda so that it can be maintainedwell. This all started from the queen of Shin Sawbu who donated goldequal to her own weight.