| Type of monument |
: Type III Temple |
| Location |
: In front of the Bagan Palace |
| Region |
: Old Bagan |
| Built by |
: King Alaungsithu |
| Date |
: 11th Century |
| Monument Number |
: |
Shwegugyi means "the Golden Cave" in Myanmar.
It is located in front of the royal palace and therefore also
known as the "Nandaw Oo Paya" meaning the "Pagoda in front of
the palace".
It was built by King Alaungsithu in 1140 A.D. There
is a legend saying, that there was a huge block of brick about
12 feet high sprouted from the ground in response to the king's
greatness of accumulated merit. So with the huge block of brick,
formed the plinth in the formation of the temple. It was
mentioned that the Shwegugyi was completed in 7 months and 7
days.
BUDDHA IMAGE INSIDE THE TEMPLE AND THE ANCIENT WOODEN
DOOR
Based on chronicles, there was also a saying that King
Alaungsithu died at this place. When King Alaungsithu became old
and suffered illness, his son removed him from the palace to
this temple and left him to suffer. But Alaungsithu became
conscious enough to ask where he was, but unfortunately his son
came to kill him.
THE PASSAGE IN THE TEMPLE AND THE BUDDHA IMAGES
It is a two-tired monument. The base form a square cellar
forming the main structure. There are four Buddha images seated
around the sides of the central block in the cellar. There are
two original inscriptions on each side. King Bayinnaung was
known to have renovated some of the entrance of the Shwegugyi
Temple later in his period.
STAIRWAYS TO THE UPPER LEVEL AND SOME SCENE
LAYOUT PLAN
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