Mahamuni Pagoda
မဟာမုနိဘုရား
One of Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist temples. The 3.8-meter Mahamuni Buddha statue is covered in gold leaf applied by devotees, and the dawn face-washing ritual is a must-see in Mandalay.
The Mahamuni Buddha statue is said to have been cast during the Buddha's lifetime. In 1784, the Konbaung dynasty seized it from Rakhine and brought it to Mandalay, and it is the most revered Buddha image in Myanmar. Male devotees may climb onto the altar to apply gold leaf to the statue. Over the past century the gold leaf on the Buddha's body has built up to more than 15 cm thick. Women may only worship from below. Every morning at about 4 a.m., monks wash and brush the Buddha's face in a solemn ceremony. The temple also displays Khmer bronze statues that were brought from Angkor in Cambodia, and locals believe that touching them can heal illness. Foreign visitors must buy a visitor pass, remove their shoes, and wear clothing that covers the knees. Nearby, the workshop streets specialize in stone and wood carving.
Opening hours
Approx. 04:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- Shwe In Bin Monastery
- Eindawya Pagoda
- Zegyo Market
- Mandalay Marionettes Theatre
- Mandalay Palace
- Pahtodawgyi (Amarapura)
- Atumashi Monastery
- Shwenandaw Monastery