Mingun Pahtodawgyi

Mingun, Sagaing Region, Myanmar

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Mingun Pahtodawgyi is an enormous but unfinished stupa near Mingun in Myanmar's Sagaing Region, begun in 1790 by King Bodawpaya. The project aimed to create the largest pagoda in the world, planned to reach about 150 meters tall, but was never completed due to a prophecy that predicted the king would die once it was finished.

The structure reached only about one-third of its intended height, approximately 50 meters, before construction stopped. Thousands of prisoners of war and laborers were forced to work on it, causing great strain on the populace. The stupa was further damaged by a powerful earthquake in 1839, which left large cracks visible on its façade.

Despite its ruinous state, the Mingun Pahtodawgyi remains impressive with its vast scale and intricate design, including a small shrine inside still used for worship. Nearby is the Mingun Bell, weighing 90 tons, which is one of the largest ringing bells in the world and was originally cast to accompany the stupa. The site is accessible by ferry from Mandalay and remains a major historical and cultural attraction, symbolizing both the grand ambitions and mysticism of Myanmar’s past.