| Type |
: Extinct Volcano |
| Location |
: 50 kilometres from Bagan |
| Region |
: Popa |
| Founder |
: King Anawrahta |
| Photo Gallery |
:
View 34 Photos |
Popa is about 50 kilometers from Bagan. Popa
region is situated in Kyaukpadaung Township, Mandalay Division, in
the central part of the country. Mount Popa is also known as an
extinct volcano and the adobe of the 37 spirits. The Mount Popa is a
distinctive mountain in this region. It is an old volcano forming
the northern offshoot of the Bago Yoma mountain range, occupying the
lower central region. The mountain is 4900 feet high above the
sea-level. From the Ayeyarwaddy River, it is about 65 kilometers
away.
MOUNT POPA
Along the southwest spur of the mountain a turret of rocky
prominence about one acre wide at the summit rises to a height od
3000 feet above the sea-level. It is known as the Taunkalat or the
"stemmed salver hill". This is where the home of the spirits is.
There is a legend about this mountain and the spirits which goes
back to the time of the King Anawrahta reign.
STAIRWAYS TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNT AND THE
MONKEYS OF MT POPA
King Anawrahta was the founder of the Bagan Dynasty. During his
reign, there was a fast-runner known as "Byatta" who came all the
way from Bagan to fetch fresh flowers from Mount Popa and offer to
the king. One day he met an ogress known as "Mel Wunna", who ate
only flowers, and they had two sons.
VENDORS ON THE SIDE OF THE STAIRWAYS SELLING
SAKAWA FLOWER OF THIS REGION
The sons were known as Shwe
Phyin Gyi and Shwe Phyin Lay or the Shwe Phyin Brothers. And later
on, this place became to be the adobe of the spirits.
THE PAGODA ON TOP OF MOUNT POPA
Although, Mount Popa is located in the dry zone, due to its height
it is capable of collecting condensate and the mountain supports a
profusion of trees and vegetation. But it was like an oasis in the
middle of the dry plain. There used to be about 200 springs in the
area and it is now preserved with the Greening Project according to
the schedules.
PANORAMIC VIEWS TAKEN FROM THE TOP OF THE
MOUNTAIN
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