Mahamuni Pagoda

As one of the most famous Buddhist sites and major pilgrimage sites in Myanmar, Mahamuni Pagoda, also known as Mahamuni Buddha Temple, Payagyi, Big Paya, or the Rakhaing Paya, is located in southwest Mandalay and originally built by King Bodawpaya in 1784. 

Mahamuni Pagoda is of great renown for its shrine centerpiece, the highly venerated Mahamuni Buddha image, which is highly venerated in Myanmar and significant to many people's lives, as it is seen as an expression of the Buddha's life. The 13ft-high bronzed Mahamuni Buddha image is always the center of many activities, especially during festivals. Each morning at 4am, a team of monks washes the buddha’s face and even brushes its teeth.

Visiting Mahamuni Pagoda, you will see groups of women kneeling from outside the inner camber where Mahamuni sits. Only men are permitted to go in and walk up to the Mahamuni Buddha image and apply gold leaf.