January 10 in Mandalay (part 2): We visited the Shwenandaw Kyaung Temple in Myanmar, a striking old structure. According to an article in
Asian Historical Architecture:
"King Mindon died in this structure in 1878, and his son and successor, King Thibaw (r. 1878-1885), often went there to meditate. He soon became convinced, however, that Mindon's spirit was haunting the building, and on October 1878 he ordered it dismantled and removed from the Royal City. Over the next five years it was reconstructed as a monastery--and dedicated as a work of merit to the memory of King Mindon--on a plot adjoining the Atumashi Monastery near the northeast corner of the Royal City. The rest of the old Royal Palace within the old Royal City (now Mandalay Fort) burned during the latter stages of the Second World War as a result of allied bombing of the Japanese ensconced in the old Royal Palace. King Thibow's superstition thus had preserved a significant remnant of the Royal Palace."
Click photos to enlarge them.
The carvings of ancient Buddhist myths on the old teak doorways are spectacular.
This girl was selling garlands of flowers at the doorway.
The statue of Buddha in the interior is peaceful and beautiful.
It's somewhat hidden in the midst of massive teak pillars.
