| Type of monument |
: Type II Pagoda (Zedi) |
| Location |
: Northeast of Old Bagan |
| Region |
: Old Bagan |
| Built by |
: King Anawrahta |
| Date |
: A.D 1057 |
| Monument Number |
: 1568 |
King Anawrahta built Shwesandaw Pagoda after his conquest of
Thaton in 1057. This graceful circular pagoda was constructed at the
centre of his newly empowered kingdom. The pagoda was also known as
Ganesh or Mahapeine after the elephant-headed Hindu god whose images
once stood at the corners of the five successive terraces.
The five terraces once bore terracotta plaques showing scenes from
the jalakas, but traces of these, and of other sculptures, were
covered by lather heavy-handed renovations.
The pagoda's bell rises from two octagonal bases which top the five
square terraces. This was the first monument in Bagan to feature
stairways leading from the square bottom terraces to the round base
of the pagoda itself. This pagoda supposedly enshrines a Buddha hair
relic brought back from Thaton.
The hti, which was toppled by the earthquake, can still be seen
lying on the far side of the pagoda compound. A new one was fitted
soon after tie quake.
Before when people were allowed to climb up the terrace of the
pagoda, it was a great spot to view the sunset of Bagan. But
nowadays, to keep the ancient monuments in good shape, the stairways
have been closed down.
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