About Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar

One of the most spectacular Buddhist shrines in Asia, this graceful structure dominates the city from its hilltop site. According to legend, the original stupa was built to enshrine eight of Buddha’s hairs, and the towering dome soars 98 metres above its base, plated with over 30 tons of glittering gold. Kipling aptly described the pagoda as ’a beautiful winking wonder’. The base is surrounded by a fascinating assortment of temples, shrines statues and pavilions. The site reputedly dates back over 2500 years. The temple was rebuilt in 1769.