Page 112 - Experience Thailand and More

WHAT TO DO Following World War II and the British leaving, restoration began, taking

several decades to complete. Also known as the White Monastery
AND SEE because of its columns of ivory shrines lined up like soldiers. They are
accessed through four ornate gateways with multi-tier Pyatthat roofs
and long corridors from each direction. Faithful Buddhists come daily
at all hours to pay homage to the gilded Buddha image at the end of
the walkways before or after strolling through the pages of the world’s
biggest book.

Kuthodaw Paya
East of the Mandalay Royal Palace in the North part of Mandalay, very near
the Sandamuni pagoda, Atumashi monastery and Shwenandaw Monastery
Open daily from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Billed as the “Largest Book in the World”, the Kuthodaw Paya,
which means Royal Merit Pagoda, comprises 729 Dhamma Ceti.
Each enshrines a marble tablet with both sides inscribed with a
page from the Tripitika in Pali language, recounting the teaching’s
of the Lord Buddha. Started at the same time as the Mandalay
Palace at the foot of Mandalay Hill, it took eight years to complete
this act of devotion. At the same time, the central gilded stupa that
stands 57 meters tall was constructed. When the British seized
Mandalay, they turned the Kuthodaw into a garrison and vandalized
the monastery, stealing gold and jewel-studded ornaments.

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