myanmar's 'taj mahal'

The river city of Mingun is only accessible by river and is not only home to this stunning pagoda but also the Mingun Bell (the heaviest functioning bell in the world...and yes it is loud!) and the biggest pile of bricks in the world!

The latter is the Mingun Paya the grand plan King Bodawpaya to build a stupa standing 150m. It stopped at 50m when astrologers let it be known if the project was completed his kingdom would collapse, perhaps portentous as the stupa and two giant guardian chinthes were badly damaged in the 1838 earthquake.

This however is the very beautiful Myatheindan Pagoda, built by Bodawapaya's grandson to honour his first consort, 'The Lady of the White Elephant' who died in childbirth.
A rendition of The Sulmani Pagoda believed to rest upon Mount Meru at the 'centre of the universe' the seven white terraces represent the seven mountain ranges around Mt Meru.
On this crystal blue day a splash of pink on the top terrace as chanting nuns walked the levels seemed a very fitting to the memory of 'The Lady of the White Elephant'.