Thanboddhay Pagoda

Thanboddhay Pagoda also known as Sambuddhe Pagoda is a Buddhist temple complex located in Monywa of Sagaing Region. It has a vibrant architecture with over 580,000 Buddha images and is one of the most distinctive and visited religious sites in the country. The pagoda was constructed between 1939 and 1952.

History

The pagoda was initiated by Venerable Mohnyin Thambuddhei Sayadaw. The monk was inspired by the architectural style of Borobudur in Indonesia. Construction began on June 20, 1939, on a site that previously housed a 14th-century monastery of which no remnants remain. The project was funded by local devotees and completed on March 2, 1952. During World War II, the temple grounds provided shelter for thousands of refugees fleeing conflict.