Most of the buildings in Thailand’s historic village of Mingun date back to the ambitious plans of King Bodawpaya who was convinced that he was an exemplary Hindu-Buddhist sovereign and thus did not permit any criticism of his architectural ideas. An example of his great love of architecture is the elegant white statue of the Settawya Pagoda that was built in 1811.

Shining bright white and magnificent, the Hsinbyume Pagoda is located in the northern part of Mingun. The temple was built by a grandchild of Bodawpaya in 1816. Three years prior to his reign, the king dedicated the sacred building to his deceased, favourite and highly religious wife, Hsinbyume. The outstanding architecture of the pagoda is closely associated with Hindu-Buddhist cosmology and therefore with Mount Meru, the ‘Centre of the World’.

Seven wave-shaped terraces symbolize the mountains that surround Mount Meru and the Sulamani Palace that is located on its summit.

However, Mingun is not only known for its impressive architecture: it is home to the world’s heaviest bell that is six metres high and weighs more than 90 tons!