Sagaing Mandalay Myanmar
Buddhist meditation retreats

- When visiting Mandalay Myanmar a trip to Sagaing at the other side of the Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady river is almost a must.

A great daytrip which opens a mystic view into the Buddhist life of Myanmar people. There are all kind of pagodas and Buddhist temples plus the Buddhist meditation center at Sagaing. Take a tour guide otherwise several great places will be missed.

From the Sagaing Hills the panoramic view over the Irrawaddy river is breathtaking. In particular from the Soon U Ponnya Shin Pagoda in the Sagaing Hills, picture below. At Sagaing are also other interesting things to see, there are some monasteries and manufacturing at small scale, particular interesting  are the silverworks.

The trip to Sagaing from Mandalay passes through the old capitals of Burma or Myanmar, this is Ava or Innwa and Amarapura. To cross the Irrawaddy river either use the bridge or take a romantic short cruise on the river.

Sagaing is located on the western bank of the Irrawaddy or Ayeyawaddy river, occupying a scenic and picturesque  spot thereof. It is rather cool, quiet and sedate, provoking Buddhist religious spirit and meditation on the nearby Sagaing Hill, where one could take refuge and enjoy the serenity of a place with a magic and mystic aura, another very positive asset is the places around are not as rotten as similar destinations in India, the people are poor but they don't let them slip away. 

This part of upper Myanmar around Mandalay is dotted with manifold Buddhist monasteries, Buddhist meditation retreats and nunneries to which Buddhist devotees throng during the Full Moon of Tazaungmon 

- Probably the most interesting places to visit at Sagaing are the pagodas,

such as the Kaung-Hmu-Daw Pagoda, a unique piece of Myanmar pagoda architecture. his great Pagoda lies just miles away from Sagaing. It
was built by King Thalun (1629-48) of the Nyaungyan Dynasty in the year 1636. it was modeled on the Maha Cedi Pagoda of Sri Lanka in commemoration of the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Innwa (Ava). It took 12 years to be completed. It rose to 151 ft (46 m) with the circumference of the great dome, 723 ft (220 m). A total of 1186532 bricks were used in its construction.

The Hti (Umbrella) finial is 22 ft (6.7 m) high and has a circumference of 9.5 ft (2.9 m) and is decorated with 120 figures of celestials. The pagoda is ringed with 802 posts of stone, each rising to a height of 4.5 ft (1.37 m) and tops with reliquaries to hold oil lamps. There is a marble stone inscription, 8 ˝ ft high, giving the records of building of this pagoda well-kept in a masonry shed in the precincts. This pagoda enshrines left lower tooth of Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.

Legend tells, when the King Thalum gave an order to build the said huge Kaung Hmu Daw Pagoda, the architects and engineers were overwhelmed by the big size they had to build. It was of impossible dimensions. Fearing the wrath of the King, they approached the Queen to advise them.

The Queen was prudent and far-sighted and did not give them any oral lesson or advice but just took off her chemise and reveal them her private upper part of her body. It was nothing but her well-rounded and perfectly shaped breasts, the fountain of life that could nourish the new-born baby.

30 colonnade on the side of the Sagaing Hill. The entrances and the archways are decorated with fine stuccowork with the figures of spirits and mythological beings. The view from the high pinnacle of this pagoda is splendid and resplendent.

Actually the whole Sagaing and Mingun (to the north) area is somehow a imagination from a fairy tale, even Disneyland couldn't do this, it is deeply rooted in Buddhism creating dream like views.

- Soon U Ponnya Shin Pagoda

There is a firm belief among the Myanmar Buddhists that whoever attempts to offer soon
(meals) could never be the first one to do so, for, hot and steaming soon (meals) is already there on the alter of the Buddha image. For that reason, the pagoda receives the present title. If you go a little along up the Sagaing Hill, you will reach Soon U Ponnya Shin Pagoda on the apex of a hill. If you look from there, the whole panorama overlooking blue Shan Plateau, Mandalay and Amarapura can be surveyed and reflected upon with enhanced delight and ecstasy.

This Myanmar pagoda or rather temple was constructed in 1312, reaching the height of 29.3 m with a hti (umbrella) of 7.8 m. The donation box in front of the image is made in the form of a bronze frog on wheels.

- Other great Sagaing pagodas.

Padamya Zedi: Is dated from 1300.
Other Pagodas: are Datpaungzu Pagoda, Min Kyaikse Pagoda, Shwe Umin Kyaung, Myipaukgyi Pagoda, etc

Tilawka Guru Temple: The meaning of this Pagoda is that; TILAWKA, the three kinds of the worlds; (a) World of inanimate things (Okasa Lawka); (b) World of living beings (Sattha Lawka); and (c) the World of Change and Transformation (Sankhara Lawka) exists according to Myanmar cosmology. Guru means Teacher. Therefore, it means, Teacher of the Three Worlds. This Pagoda was built in 1672, by King Narawara of the second dynasty of Innwa (Ava). What is significant is the colorful mural paintings depicting former lives of the Buddha – rare specimens of

Myanmar artistic skill and dexterity.

Pa Ba Gyaung (see pics at top): Sagaing being the centre of Buddhist Theravada Vipassana Satthipathan Meditational Practice, this Pa Ba Gyaung is one among them. It is more than 900 years old. It is an ideal spot for unperturbed meditation. Here, one can imbibe and practice meditation in typical Buddhist Theravada way according to Four Noble Truths (Thitsa Lepa), this are ideal Buddhist meditation retreats.

Htupayon Pagoda: This is one of the notable pagodas in Sagaing, built by King Narapati (1443-1469) in 1444. It stood 90 ft high, circular in plan with three storeys marked by vertical window-like niches. Nearby, in a shed is stored collection of old stones inscriptions of the 14th and 15th centuries.
After the earthquake in 1838, it was reconstructed in 1849 but left unfinished when he was dethroned. It is of rare pattern of Myanmar architecture.

Ngadatkyi Pagoda: On the western side of Sagaing, there is a very large seated Buddha Image. It was built by King Pindale, (1648-1661), son and successor of King Thalun (1629-1648). He was dethroned by his brother in 1661.

Aungmyelawka Pagoda: This pagoda was built by King Bodawpaya (1782-1819), in 1783on the site of his residence before he ascended the throne. It was built completely by stone on the model of Shwezigon of Bagan. It is also known as Eindawya Pagoda. It is a sandstone cylindrical structure. There are five pairs of leographs around the pagoda.

Hsin Mya Shin Pagoda: This is also a significant Pagoda built by King Mohnyin of Innwa (Ava) in 1430. Though the title of the Pagoda is Ratna Zedi, it is popularly known as Hsin Mya Shin, (Lord of many elephants). There are number of elephant figures decorating the enclosed wall of the pagoda. Its height is 18 ft (54.9 m). Severe earthquake damaged the pagoda in 1485 but was rebuilt by Mingaung II of Innwa (Ava). Again, it was devastated by another earthquake and reconstructed again in 1950. There are interesting Buddha images and votive tablets recovered from the relic chambers which are enshrined later. It is located near Shwebo-Monywa road leading to the north-west corner of the town.