Pahtodawgyi
Pahtodawgyi
4
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4.0
929 reviews
Excellent
316
Very good
422
Average
171
Poor
14
Terrible
6
milliesmum2016
Christchurch, New Zealand1,771 contributions
Jan 2020
What to say about the biggest pile of bricks I have ever seen? It's huge, was going to have been an enormous Stupa; a king's monument to himself. It was abandoned, however , many years ago and has been gently mouldering away since. The big earthquake further dealt to it and it is now riven with impressively large deep cracks. I would be disinclined to get too close it. Fortunately, it's large enough that you can admire it froma distance!
Written 2 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise C
Dublin, Ireland150 contributions
Nov 2019
It is an amazing site to see. Biggest unfinished pagoda.. If ever finished the country of Myanmar will collapse. It is stunning. The side with the large earthquake crack down it is stunning. Beware while being barefoot of all the stones.
Written 28 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuan W
Singapore, Singapore102 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
Actually this paya is breath holding sight-view definitely, the largest brick pile (it is unfinished yet.) in the world, but the corrupted doormen who are linked to corrupted govt have stained its glory: They will force you leave your shoes in wooden rack first, then request you to donate money after you return, if you refuse to do it or donate small amount, they will murmur some Burmese with a long face to you. Actually I donated 250 Kyat and received this kind of "gift". As soon as I left, the doorman just stopped another tourist who tried to leave without this donation and force him to give money to them.
TIPS to avoid this dirty doormen: just leave your shoe next to the stairs to the top of paya which is on the right hand side of those doormen.
TIPS to avoid this dirty doormen: just leave your shoe next to the stairs to the top of paya which is on the right hand side of those doormen.
Written 13 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PORhibido
Krungthep Mahanakorn826 contributions
July 2015 • Family
I assume you readers are well aware of Mingun Paya's significance. This ambitious construction project of King Bodawpaya (1790) remains unfinished. Had it been completed, it would have become the world's largest pagoda, a model of which can be seen at Pondaw Paya near the monsoon season jetty. It must be a magical place without the morning crowds and vendors.
In reality tourism in Myanmar is developing fast, not necessarily for the good. The authority has built a brand-new pathway with shiny metal handrails to the top of Pahtodawgyi. Tourists can now enjoy the scenic views of Mingun and the mighty Ayeyarwady, but I guess this isn't doing Myanmar a favour to get Mingun UNESCO-listed, not to mention that it probably offends some Buddhist locals too. You judge!
In reality tourism in Myanmar is developing fast, not necessarily for the good. The authority has built a brand-new pathway with shiny metal handrails to the top of Pahtodawgyi. Tourists can now enjoy the scenic views of Mingun and the mighty Ayeyarwady, but I guess this isn't doing Myanmar a favour to get Mingun UNESCO-listed, not to mention that it probably offends some Buddhist locals too. You judge!
Written 10 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3Kells
Kimberly, ID1,540 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
It took an hour by boat from Mandalay. Entrance fee $4 USD - part of the Sagaing, Mingun archeologiccal zone pass.
Although incomplete the stupa is still massive; 50 meter tall, started in 1790. The headless remains of the 2 giant Chinthe Lions, (guardians of the temple) itself is 29 meters high.
I wish our guide had informed us that one could get a panorama view up the stairway to the right of the structure. We're just now reading about it on a web-site "Renown Travel".
The 90-tons Mingun bell is impressive. Visitors are encouraged to ring the bell by striking it with a log and making a wish at the same time.
Note: look out for young tanakha trees growing beyond the fence of the temple housing the MIngun Bell. Locals grind the bark of the tanakha tree with a few drops of water on a slab of granite and apply the paste on their cheeks as a natural sunscreen. With regular applications it lightens the skin. In Myanmar culture light skin is much sought after as a status symbol.
Although incomplete the stupa is still massive; 50 meter tall, started in 1790. The headless remains of the 2 giant Chinthe Lions, (guardians of the temple) itself is 29 meters high.
I wish our guide had informed us that one could get a panorama view up the stairway to the right of the structure. We're just now reading about it on a web-site "Renown Travel".
The 90-tons Mingun bell is impressive. Visitors are encouraged to ring the bell by striking it with a log and making a wish at the same time.
Note: look out for young tanakha trees growing beyond the fence of the temple housing the MIngun Bell. Locals grind the bark of the tanakha tree with a few drops of water on a slab of granite and apply the paste on their cheeks as a natural sunscreen. With regular applications it lightens the skin. In Myanmar culture light skin is much sought after as a status symbol.
Written 29 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jame5
Billingshurst, UK82 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
We took a slow boat from Mandalay up to Miguin temple. Unfortunately the temple was never completed and it was built very well so recent earthquakes have started to shake the temple apart. You used to be able to go onto the top of it, but this has now been closed off. On disembarking the boat it is a 10 minute walk to the temple. You will be offered horse and cart taxi's and children will be trying to sell you a lot of things. You walk through one village to the temple.
It's worth carrying on, to see the white temple, a further 5 minute walk down the street.
It's worth carrying on, to see the white temple, a further 5 minute walk down the street.
Written 16 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy K
Los Altos, CA (USA)455 contributions
Mar 2013 • Friends
We had our own guide and boat to get to Mingun Island. That didn't seem too important until one realized how long you have to stay if you take the public ferry there! The boats are all chock-a-block at the pier in Mandalay, with flocks of people (also young kids) trying to sell you things. Our boat was moored sixth out, so we had to walk over boards laid across the spaces between to get there. Not scary but not something someone with limited mobility might want to attempt. The trip is only about one hour (45 minutes on return) and really not that interesting. The water was low and the skies overcast/hazy. As you approach Mingun you see the pagoda complexes white on the hills and often families doing their laundry and bathing in the river. The major paya must once have been interesting but it is closed since a massive earthquake in 2012. Still it is an impressive sight. The most enjoyable thing is walking down the main street and seeing all the various stalls with people selling all sorts of things: little girls making thanaka (the ubiquitous yellow face cream), women deep-frying shrimp or little pastries, etc. There are also several outdoor cafes where you can sit under shaded tents and have cool drinks -- very welcome at the heat was over 100 degrees in March! On the way down you can stop and see the world's largest cast bronze bell -- quite a sight! If you get all the way down to the end of the street (passing the turn-off to another large temple complex to the left) and are too tired to walk back to the main square you can always hire one of the many "taxis" -- carts powered by oxen with canvas tops! If you take your own small boat with guide, try to avoid the arrival/departure times of the public ferries as the crowds get very large then. All in all, nothing spectacular but a welcome half-day away from the bustle of Mandalay.
Written 7 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
siewmr
Chania Town, Greece145 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
Although the temple bears the scars of a big earthquake, most of it is intact. Very impressive cracks but it is the river boat journey from Mandalay that makes it all the more memorable. A delightful morning cruise, the enormous metal bell in the village, the horse taxis, all these things bring sweet memories of our stay in Myanmar.
Written 2 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arthurrvr
Marlborough, UK1,426 contributions
Nov 2011 • Friends
I would have given the Mingon Pahtodawgyi, aka Mantara Gyi Pagoda, aka Mingun Pagoda, only three points but there are great views from the top so I raised it to four. Its main claim to fame is that it is currently the world's largest pile of bricks which is interesting up to a point but nowadays does lack a certain useful purpose in life!
Bodawpaya's Folly as it was (discretely I am sure) called at the time, was started by King Bodawpaya in 1790, primarily to store a Buddha Tooth Relic that he had just acquired from a visiting delegation from China. Work on the Pagoda was never completed maybe because the King himself stopped it because an astrologer had said that once the work was completed the King and 'country' would die, others say that the King ran out of money in 1797 because of various ambitious projects and had to stop, others say that the engineering problems were too great and they had to stop, plus the King died anyway in 1819 and no-one else wanted to re-start the 'folly'.
The Pagoda currently is about 50 metres high and 72 metres wide and if it had been completed this would definitely have been a more impressive site as the stupa/zedi at the top would have become the world's tallest at 152 metres. As it is, it is still an impressive size despite being badly damaged from major earthquakes in 1838 and 1956.
As you are in Mingun definitely have a look at it and walk around it if you have time and also see a model of the stupa etc. After paying your entrance fee, you can walk (barefoot as it is a Pagoda) up the somewhat rickety stairs at the right of the Pagoda, to the top. As long as you are not unfit, it is an easy walk to the top but there is nothing of the Pagoda to see at the top, just some more uneven bricks and lots of overgrown vegetation. However there are excellent views of the surrounding area which would be the only reason to walk up to the top. There is also a small (was bigger before the earthquakes) shrine at near ground level in the middle of the edifice though there is not much to see inside except a few Buddha images.
Lots of sales ladies in Mingun and you are certain to be frequently approached though so far, unlike many other countries, the selling tends to be low key. Also a lot of handicraft, including paintings, small shops/stalls near the Mingun Paya. Bathrooms are nearer the river down from the ticket office - a charge is made.
Bodawpaya's Folly as it was (discretely I am sure) called at the time, was started by King Bodawpaya in 1790, primarily to store a Buddha Tooth Relic that he had just acquired from a visiting delegation from China. Work on the Pagoda was never completed maybe because the King himself stopped it because an astrologer had said that once the work was completed the King and 'country' would die, others say that the King ran out of money in 1797 because of various ambitious projects and had to stop, others say that the engineering problems were too great and they had to stop, plus the King died anyway in 1819 and no-one else wanted to re-start the 'folly'.
The Pagoda currently is about 50 metres high and 72 metres wide and if it had been completed this would definitely have been a more impressive site as the stupa/zedi at the top would have become the world's tallest at 152 metres. As it is, it is still an impressive size despite being badly damaged from major earthquakes in 1838 and 1956.
As you are in Mingun definitely have a look at it and walk around it if you have time and also see a model of the stupa etc. After paying your entrance fee, you can walk (barefoot as it is a Pagoda) up the somewhat rickety stairs at the right of the Pagoda, to the top. As long as you are not unfit, it is an easy walk to the top but there is nothing of the Pagoda to see at the top, just some more uneven bricks and lots of overgrown vegetation. However there are excellent views of the surrounding area which would be the only reason to walk up to the top. There is also a small (was bigger before the earthquakes) shrine at near ground level in the middle of the edifice though there is not much to see inside except a few Buddha images.
Lots of sales ladies in Mingun and you are certain to be frequently approached though so far, unlike many other countries, the selling tends to be low key. Also a lot of handicraft, including paintings, small shops/stalls near the Mingun Paya. Bathrooms are nearer the river down from the ticket office - a charge is made.
Written 16 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelchic1981
Sierre, Switzerland56 contributions
June 2019 • Solo
I wrote my review is totally amazing during my trip i Myanmar : from Yangoon, Mandalay and Bagan with EMH tours
Written 1 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
non saprei di preciso, eravamo in un viaggio organizzato
Written 27 January 2019
Is there an organised bike trip?
Written 6 August 2016
I think you can rent a bike. But not good one. Because Mingun is not a civilize place. But you can rent a horse cab it's more fun.
Written 16 September 2016
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