Shwezigon Pagoda

Shwezigon Pagoda. It is a solid, cylindrical structure resting on three square terraces, a prototype of Myanmar stupas. It has a bold waist-band round the bell shaped dome above which rises a series of concentric mouldings ending in a finial and crowned by an umbrella. Shwezigon pagoda is one of the fifty five encased pagoda in Bagan.

The inner one was build by the father king Anawrahta and covered with the stones by the son king Kyanzitthar. Around the terraces of the pagoda, there are, set in panels, enamelled plaques illustrating the scenes in the previous lives of the Buddha. It is believed to contain the frontal bone and a tooth of the Buddha and is thus held in great veneration by the Buddhists of the whole of Myanmar.

On each of the four sides of the pagoda is a small temple which enshrines a standing Buddha, 13 feet high, of the Gupta school of art. On either side of the east approach to the pagoda is a square stone pillar with Mon inscriptions on all four sides dedicated by king Kyanzittha.

Shwezigon Pagoda Bagan Myanmar

Shwezigon Pagoda at night

A variety of urns or vases

Beautiful wood carvings

(Source: myanmars.net)