Sagaing, the living centre
of Buddhist faith
 Although
the capital of the biggest division (province)
in Myanmar, Sagaing seems to be a sleepy,
quiet, and dusty experience of any Burmese
towns of upper Myanmar. It is possibly due
to its closed proximity of the second largest
city, Mandalay where most of the regional
businesses are based that located just 23km
southwest of Mandalay towards the northwestern
gateway town of Monywa. Sagaing was the
capital of an independent Shan Kingdom in
1315AD at the downfall of Bagan. Later,
Sagaing was integrated with Inwa in 1364.
Then again, it became the short-lived capital
of Burmese in 1760 to 1764 but its importance
in Myanmar history is fairly minor. In Burmese
sayings: “when you are young, seek for the
knowledge”, “when you are an adult, seek
for the wealth”, “when you are old, seek
for the enlightenment”. In fact, Sagaing
is a place where refugees from the hectic
pace of urban life come to retreat for a
day or a lifetime. The city reverberates
with echoes of cymbals, gongs, and pagoda
bells as there are around 5000 monks and
nuns residing in the over 500 monasteries
and nunneries…some beside the road while
many of them hidden in the hills of Sagaing
topped with dazzling myriads of whitewashed
pagodas so picturesquely scattered on the
banks of legendary Ayarwaddy River, while
the Burmese from Mandalay gaze Sagaing Hills
as a “foothill’ of mystical Mt Meru when
the lights up in the evening.
 Kaungmudaw
pagoda
The unique and gigantic shape of this
pagoda lies 10km northwest of Sagaing and
dated to 1636AD. King Thalun built this
pagoda to house the tooth of Buddha and
miracle-working emerald bowl relocated from
Bago, the former Burmese capital of 16th
century. A perfect hemisphere dome rise
46-m and 274-m in circumference. The road
to this pagoda passes several pagoda ruins
left from between 14th and 18th centuries.
Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda
 Perched
on the highest point of Sagaing Hills overlooking
the numerous pagodas, monasteries, snake-like
staircases & caves that dominate the lush
green treetops bordered with the huge bend
of Ayarwaddy River is the 14th century stupa
and undoubtedly a good spot for the photo
enthusiastic.
U Min Thonze Pagoda
A line of 45 Buddha images bask in a
soft light, arranged in a semi-circle or
crescent shaped colonnade.
 Tilawkaguru
Cave
A cave-temple built in 1672AD has fine
mural paintings of Inwa period.
Ywathaung Village
This village is known for outstanding
craftsmanship of Burmese style silverwares.
The production method used here is very
old in the 21st century but it is worth
seeing how the remarkably beautiful items
are being produce.
|
