Kuthodaw Pagoda

• Location: 62nd street，between 10th street and 11street (Located at the north entrance of the Mandalay Hill, the northeast of the Mandalay Palace)
• Recommended reason: the largest collection of stone monument in Buddhist scriptures in the world
• Opening hours: 7:30-18:00
• Entrance fee: free but included in ticket for Mandalay which costs $10 and valid for 5 days

Kuthodaw Pagoda Facts

Kuthodaw Pagoda, a Buddhist stupa, is between Mandalay Hill and Mandalay Palace. It is located in Mandalay. It is also a white pagoda group. The top of the pagoda is in the shape of a gourd. The pagoda was built in 1857. It is formally titled Mahalawka Marazein and is also called "the world’s largest book" by the Burmese. This pagoda is very famous because when it was completed, King Mindon gathered 2,400 sorghums. The Fifth Buddhist Synod was completed here. These revised Buddhist scriptures were engraved on 729 marble monuments in Pali scripts. Later, generations built small white pagodas on the periphery of each stone monument. It is quite spectacular. These books are known as “the world's largest book” because of the complete content and grand scale. Why are they known as the world’s largest books, because it is said that if a person reads these scriptures 8 hours a day, it will take a total of 450 days to read these books.

How to visit Kuthodaw Pagoda?

At present, there is almost no damage to this stupa. There are also pavilions on the four sides of the stupa. There is an attic on the north side and a big clock on the east side. In the pavilion built in the southeast of the stupa, there is a total of 730 inscriptions.

In addition to the white stupa group engraved the scriptures, each entrance to Kuthodaw Pagoda is built from teakwood. Scriptures of pagoda are engraved with Buddhist legends and statues. The stupa is dominated by bright red and gold. This combination of the color is rare in other pagodas of Myanmar. There is a big tree which is said to be an old tree that is already 118 years old in the yard of pagoda. Many people take photos here.

How to get to Kuthodaw Pagoda?

It takes about 5-10 minutes to walk from Mandalay Hill and Mandalay Palace.

Tips for visiting Kuthodaw Pagoda

Due to its location in the northeast of the Mandalay Palace, the Kuthodaw Pagoda is usually arranged to play before going up to Mandalay Hill.