Sandamuni Paya

What previously was commissioned by King Mindom Min as a memorial for his younger brother Prince Kanaung after his assassination along with 3 princes in 1866, is now a pagoda repurposed as a Buddhist worship temple.

The pagoda has the most noticeable Burmese feature: a golden stupa inspired by the stupas in Bagan. 1,774 shrines surround the pagoda, each keeping an important part of the Buddhist teachings. These teachings make up the central scripture Tripitaka: Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka. These marble slabs stand at 1.68 metres tall and span 1.07 metres wide. The shrines are also topped with ornamental spires resembling miniature pagodas. But the most important treasure of the Sandamuni Pagoda is the largest iron Buddha in Burma called the Sandamani image cast in 1802 under King Bodawpaya – and weighing 41,000 pounds of iron covered with a layer of what might be Burmese’s favourite element – GOLD! 18 statues of Arhats, the first of Buddha’s followers, complement the Buddha statue.

Location

Sandamuni Paya or Sadamuni Pagoda is located along Mandalay Hill.

Opening Days and Hours

Opens daily to the public from 7:00 in the morning to 17:00.

Entry Fee and Bookings

Entrance for this tourist attraction is USD 5.

How to Get There

• Fly to Mandalay via Myanmar Airlines.
• From the airport, board a taxi to the city proper.
• From the city centre, rent an e-bike, a motorcycle or a taxi to Sandamuni Paya.

Suggested For

• Solo travelers/backpackers
• Couples
• Families
• Groups

Time to Spend

Suggested duration in this area is one hour.

Popularity and Best Time to Go

Enjoy the pagoda by visiting between 9:00 and 11:00, and 14:00 and 16:00.

Food

Dining options around the area include Golden Palace Restaurant, Mogok Daw Shan, Central Park, Ko’s Kitchen, Golden Duck, Indian Tadka Mandalay, and Aung Lin Restaurant.

Nearby Attractions

• Kutho Daw Pagoda
• Shwenandaw Monastery
• Mandalay Hill
• Mandalay Marionette Theatre

Stay

Accommodation in Mandalay can be availed from Hotel Mandalay, Hotel 76, Hotel A1, Mandalay City Hotel, and Ayarwaddy River View Hotel. Rates range from USD 22 to USD 58.