Shwedagon Stupa

#56 - Yangon, Myanmar

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Its name doesn't do it justice.

"Stupa," which literally means "heap" is actually much more than that. From far away it might look like a mound-like structure, but it's a place of worship and home to many Buddhist relics. This one in particular was rebuilt several times and reached its current height of 322 ft. in the 18th century. It's an AbsoluteVisit for both the beauty and religious value that you really need to witness for hand.

Slide 1: Shwedagon Stupa Pagoda main stupa

by artemfrolov
Slide 2: Shwedagon Stupa chapel outside

by ArnisD
Slide 3: Shwedagon Stupa golden stupas

rheanna2
Slide 4: Shwedagon Stupa golden stupas night

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Slide 5: Shwedagon Stupa main stupa

by VespaTS
Slide 6: Shwedagon Stupa main stupa Pagoda night

by VespaTS
Slide 7: Shwedagon Stupa main stupa evening

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Quick Facts & History

Over 2,600 years old, this Pagoda is has achieved many accomplishments, including that it is the oldest historical and most sacred pagoda for the Burmese and the world.
The Shwedagon Stupa is adorned in extravagant gold and diamond decor. Queen Shinswabu even provided her own weight in gold towards the extravagant detail on the pagoda, and her son in law provided four times his weight plus his wifes weight in gold as well!
The main stupa is the most attractive and famous part of the Shwedagon Stupa, as it is the most extravagant, with every single inch covered in solid gold and the upper layers covered in as much as 2,000 caracts of diamonds! The main stupa is also surrounded by a mat to protect visitors' feet from burning on the platform.
Perhaps the most elaborate piece on the Shwedagon Stupa is the diamond orb that adorns the top. This piece is a hollow gold sphere covered in 4,351 diamonds exactly, equaling up to 1,800 carats. If that isnt enough, on the very tip of the orb is a single, 76-carat diamond. Talk about an expensive piece of architecture!