Yangon's Shwedagon Paya
Shwedagon Paya is one of the most sacred sites of Buddhism, a 326ft zedi covered with 27 metric tons of gold leaf as well as thousands of diamonds, gems, and precious stones. It is believed to contain relics of past buddhas and strands of the Gautama Buddha's hair. The beauty and opulence can be grasped at its best at sunrise or sunset. According to legend, Singuttara Hill has had a stupa for 2600 years. The original is estimated to have been built between the 6th and 10th centuries by King Okkalapa.
Considering how prone to earthquakes Myanmar is, parts of the temple have been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The temple has gone through phases of silver, tin, copper, lead, marble and finally, Iron and brick. The stupa is covered in 88lb of gold leaf donated by Queen Shinsawbu and Dhammazedi, her son-in-law.
During the first and second Anglo-Burmese Wars, the British pillaged the temple and kept it under military control for 77 years. Remnants of their canon can still be seen in the temple's outer walls today. The complex extends across 114 acres on a hill that stands at 190ft above sea level.
