Photo Gallery

Sutaungpyai Temple (built 1052?, 19th c. and later)

The Sutaungpyai (or Sutaungpyi) Pagoda has apparently had a long history, though this writer has been unable to corroborate some of the information.

The pagoda and its ancillary pavilion are located near the top of Mandalay Hill, the holy hill from which the Buddha reportedly predicted that a great religious city would emerge at its base. It is suggested that the pagoda was originally built by the great builder of Bagan, King Anawratha, in 1052. This “wish-granting” pagoda was often renovated by its patrons, the Konbaung kings, in later years. Perhaps the most famous of the renovators of the religious structures on Mandalay Hill was U Khan Dee (Yathee Gy, d. 1949). the famous and legendary “Hermit on the Hill”, who spent 41 years of his life on the hill raising funds for many structures, including Sutaungpyai, where he spent many years. Numerous others have also patronized the pagoda over the years and plaques commemorating gifts from all over the world are affixed to its pillars and walls, recently recovered with rich silver and blue glass that glistens brightly in the sunlight.

From its broad and recently expanded platforms overlooking the city, tourists and other devotees gather at sunset to witness the beauty of the scene below and before them: Fortress and city to the south, the Ayeyarwady to the south and east and the rich flat plains to the north.

Text by Robert D. Fiala, Concordia University, Nebraska