Tun Mon Thet (NSS) - June 12

Situated on Singuttara Hill in the centre of Yangon, the Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist stupa and the emblem of Myanmar. Visiting Myanmar cannot be said a complete trip unless the travelers make a visit to the 2,600-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the medieval wonders of the world.

            Reports state that Thailand is constructing a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in order to attract foreign tourists. The lack of natural resources and historical heritages makes the country promoting tourism in various and fascinating means so as to generate many percentages of its national income from tourism. 

It is a good news that the medieval wonder listed Shwedagon Pagoda of Myanmar will be replicated in such tourism booming country while Myanmar is stuck in the crisis and civil war. 

However, Thailand should use another reasonable name for that replica pagoda instead of the Shwedagon replica. In addition, should there be clear terms and conditions between authorities of the two countries upon the construction of the Shwedagon replica since the name ‘Shwedagon’ belongs to Myanmar and its people. The world frequently refers to Myanmar people as ‘Shwe Myanmar’ which means golden referring to the Shwedagon Pagoda of Myanmar. Otherwise, there will be critics that Thailand is stealing its neighbour's trademark.

The Shwedagon is believed to be enshrined with four relics: eight strands of hair from the head of the Buddha, as well as a piece of the robe, believed to have belonged to Kassapa Buddha, a water filter attributed to Konagamana Buddha, and the staff of Kakusandha Buddha.

The main pagoda is located on the hill; also other stupas, buildings, sacred statuary, bells, and many emblems are situated on the hill. The pagoda is covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of the stupa is encrusted with 4,531 diamonds; the largest of which is a 72-carat diamond. It is clearly one of the wonders of the religious world. Shwedagon Pagoda is a repository of the best in Myanmar heritage – architecture, sculpture, and arts.

Since the pagoda was constructed more than 2,600 years ago, approximately between the 6th and 10th centuries AD, it is the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. With its masterpiece of Buddhist architecture, sitting on a natural hill with sacred significance, the golden Shwedagon Pagoda is regarded as one of the most iconic historic Buddhist stupas in the world. 

What is more, its architectural development and artistic features led to the interchange of Buddhist design and art of many pagodas from Southeast Asia; many Buddhist pagodas descend from Shwedagon design. 

The stunning beauty of the Shwedagon with its gold name is the jewel in the crown of Yangon.