U Min Thonze Caves
U Min Thonze Caves
4.5
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4.5
153 reviews
Excellent
72
Very good
72
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
0
milliesmum2016
Christchurch, New Zealand1,771 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
These caves are lined with identical Buddha statues in a most satisfying curving rhythm. I Don"t know how many there are but they seem to go on forever, serenely looking out over the landscape. Opposite them is a wall bearing plaques denoting offerings and donations from devotees all over the world. It's quite fun to hunt for representation from your own country. Didn't find any from NZ though....
Written 12 February 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.
Hein Thant
Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar413 contributions
Sept 2019 • Solo
The cave with statues are must to experience in Sagaing. It is just 40 mins drive aqay from Mandalay and easily accessible.
Written 17 September 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.
The World is My Oyster
Orlando, FL21,657 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
This was by far one of my favorite pagodas in all of Myanmar. The row of buddhas inside the temple is just astonishingly gorgeous! I really couldn't get enough pictures in there as the architectural design is flawless!
Written 5 October 2018
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.
zzmelayu
Subang Jaya, Malaysia348 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
I covered this review in Sagaing Hill writeup so this may be a repeat. A short gradual climb from the parking lot. The cave with the 30 buddhas sitting in a semi circle was interesting. Very peaceful visit compared to other temples, pagodas that we visited
Written 3 January 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.
MarcioRosa
Sao Paulo, SP988 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
Myanmar is a country of extraordinary beauty and among the main attractions are the temples, monasteries and pagodas. Mandalay is perhaps the province with the largest number of monasteries and where Buddha is worshiped in every corner. Sagaing one of the ancient capitals of the country, is situated 21 km from Mandalay and is considered the more Buddhist city in Myanmar with more than 600 monasteries. In the hills of Sagaing, may be seen the Thonze U Min Temple and visit it is almost mandatory for anyone who is in the region. It is also called "thirty caves pagoda" and its interior is really charming, with various statues of Buddha profiled in a long corridor. The view from the site is also wonderful. Worth the long climb that must be made by car.
Written 25 June 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.
Arthurrvr
Marlborough, UK1,426 contributions
Nov 2011 • Friends
One can find the U Min Thonze Caves Pagoda around half way up Sagaing Hill. From the parking area there are maybe 40 or so (?) steps up a gentle slope to the main part of the temple. The temple is very unusual for Myanmar in that although there are a couple of more standard shaped rooms in the complex, the main part of the temple is actually built partly into the side of Sagaing Hill in a narrow crescent shape. Very thick outer walls, also in a crescent shape, with 30 'windows' then protects the interior of the temple from the elements. It is these 30 clear glassless 'windows' that can give the impression that they are mouths of caves, hence 'Caves Pagoda'. In front of the temple is a broad paved terrace, with good views of the surrounding area, and from the outside the whole complex does look vaguely European in design.
Inside the main hall there are 45 beyond life sized near identical Buddha images in a crescent shaped colonnade, and they are some of the most iconic pictures of Myanmar as photos of these Buddhas can frequently be seen in travel literature on Myanmar. We arrived at an excellent time as while we were there the monks were just finishing off wrapping the winter robes around the Buddha statues, so we actually saw the statues both with and without their robes.
On our visit we were also lucky enough to briefly meet the 71 year old Rector of Sagaing's Sitagu International Buddhist Academy, Dr Nandamalabhivamsa, who is a well known Buddhist theologian, who was holding an impromptu teaching session in the Caves Pagoda. A great honour, though apparently this Pagoda is a favourite venue for Sagaing monks to visit for teaching sessions. So, a lucky visit for us but even without the 'extras', this is a small but unusual attraction and well worth a visit.
Inside the main hall there are 45 beyond life sized near identical Buddha images in a crescent shaped colonnade, and they are some of the most iconic pictures of Myanmar as photos of these Buddhas can frequently be seen in travel literature on Myanmar. We arrived at an excellent time as while we were there the monks were just finishing off wrapping the winter robes around the Buddha statues, so we actually saw the statues both with and without their robes.
On our visit we were also lucky enough to briefly meet the 71 year old Rector of Sagaing's Sitagu International Buddhist Academy, Dr Nandamalabhivamsa, who is a well known Buddhist theologian, who was holding an impromptu teaching session in the Caves Pagoda. A great honour, though apparently this Pagoda is a favourite venue for Sagaing monks to visit for teaching sessions. So, a lucky visit for us but even without the 'extras', this is a small but unusual attraction and well worth a visit.
Written 14 April 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.
Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK6,890 contributions
Jan 2020
From the outside you have an arc of archways over 100 metres long, you can enter through any arch. You then have a Buddha for each arch lined along the wall. A very pleasant peaceful place.
Written 10 February 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.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia21,227 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
To get away from the madding crowds we put ourselves in the hands of our driver for the day, he did not disappoint. Driving up Sagaling Hill, we dropped in to see, the 45 large, seated buddhas, within the Pagoda on the hill (oh the views!). Definitely worth a look when in the area, very photogenic.
Written 6 March 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.
BroLucius
Southampton, UK3,018 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
When spening mostof a day visiting pagodas and monasteries, it is worth wearing easily removable shoes and no socks. Otherwise you will be spending a good slice of your time taking shoes on and off. This was one of the first such sites we visited from Mandalay. A curved white and gold facade is entered and inside is a line of Bhudda statues with a larger standing Bhudda at each end. A splendid sight. It is described as being 'in a cave' but this seems dubious as the facade is in bright sunlight. Later, deeper inside, there are some much bigger and equally attractive statues. This location is well worth a visit. .
Written 17 December 2017
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.
Kristina C
New York City, NY522 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
If you're in the Mandalay area and have extra time, visiting Sagaing Hill and U Min Thonze Caves is worth the time.
"U Min Thonze" means 30 caves. This cave is home to 45 Buddhas. The Buddhas are lined up side by side in a crescent-shaped structure. It's a sight to see. It's really impressive.
"U Min Thonze" means 30 caves. This cave is home to 45 Buddhas. The Buddhas are lined up side by side in a crescent-shaped structure. It's a sight to see. It's really impressive.
Written 18 October 2017
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.
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