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Around 1315 AD, Sagain has been a capital of an independent Shan Kingdom after the fall of Bagan. But it period was short, Thado Minbya (the founder's grandson, in 1364), moved his capital across the river to Inwa. Today, Saggaing is regarded as an important religious place with numerous temples, monasteries and nunneries for monks, rest houses for nuns and laymen. Most of local Buddhism visit Sagaing for the purpose of religious retreat and meditation.

This pagoda has the best view of Sagaing Hill and other pagodas in the surrounding area of Sagaing Hill

This ‘early offering shrine’ is the most important of the temples on Sagaing Hill’s Southern Crown and the first you’ll come to on climbing the southern stairway. Legends claim that the structure magically appeared overnight, built by the king’s faithful minister Ponya in a superhuman flurry of activity inspired by a magical Buddha relic that he’d found in a betel-nut box.

Gate details

Gate details

Its central 97ft-high gilded stupa was originally built in 1312.

The myth fancifully claims that Ponya himself was of supernatural parentage, his father having ‘flown’ to Sagaing from the Himalayas millennia before, arriving to a curious communion with the Buddha, seven hermits and a flower-bearing orangutan. Burmese genealogy is never boring.

Chinthes (lion-like creature) guard the entrances of pagodas and temples

Nat

To Buddhists the hare is a symbol of self-sacrifice. Legend says this creature threw itself into a fire in order to feed Buddha when he was starving. As a reward, it was given a new home in the moon. Rabbit donation opportunity

The bronze frogs on wheels, like the bronze rabbit (which were symbolic to that area) serve as collection boxes.

Soon U Ponya Shin Paya was built on “the Frog Hill', the highest peak, in 1312 by a prime minister

The old hti (stupa pinnacle)

the mosaic work is often a mixture of small mirrors and stained glass or colored stones that adorn the temples and pagodas

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Hlaing Win Maung- Pleasing melody