Shwesandaw Pagoda (Bagan)

For other pagodas named Shwesandaw, see Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Shwesandaw Pagoda
File:Shwesandaw Pagoda Bagan Myanmar.jpg
Religion
Affiliation	Theravada Buddhism
Location
Location	Nyaung U
Country	Myanmar
Shwesandaw Pagoda (Bagan) is located in Myanmar Shwesandaw Pagoda (Bagan) Shown within Myanmar
Geographic coordinates	21.163812°N 94.866037°E / 21.163812; 94.866037
Architecture
Founder	King Anawrahta
Completed	1057 (1057)
Specifications
Height (max)	100 m (328 ft)
Spire height	?

File:Shwesandaw Paya original hti.jpg

Shwesandaw Paya's original hti, toppled by an earthquake in 1975

The Shwesandaw Pagoda (Burmese: ရွှေဆံတော် ဘုရား, pronounced [ʃwèsʰàɰ̃dɔ̀ pʰəjá]) is a Buddhist pagoda located in Bagan, Myanmar. It is the tallest pagoda in Bagan, and contains a series of five terraces, topped with a cylindrical stupa, which has a bejewelled umbrella (hti). The pagoda was built by King Anawrahta in 1057, and once contained terra cotta tiles depicting scenes from the Jataka. Enshrined within the pagoda are sacred hairs of Gautama Buddha, which were obtained from Thaton.

See also

• List of tallest structures built before the 20th century

References

• Pictorial Guide to Pagan. Rangoon: Ministry of Culture. 1975 [1955].