Bagaya Monastery — Attraction in Mandalay District

The Bagaya Monastery, located in Inwa, Mandalay Region, Burma. This magnificent monastery is also known as Maha Waiyan Bontha Bagaya Monastery.

The Bagaya Monastery (Bagaya Kyaung) was built in 1834 during the reign of King Bagyidaw. But it’s actually the second attempt–the original, which dated back to 1593, burned down in 1821.

Amarapura, just south of Mandalay City, was the royal capital of Burma during periods in the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s now no more than a township and has long been subsumed as part of Mandalay City. But it’s still quite rural, with what were once opulent stone pagodas and palaces destroyed by earthquakes and now overgrown.

The pagoda is made entirely of teak, a timber long prized in shipbuilding and boatbuilding. It’s held up by 267 massive posts of teak, the largest of which is 60 feet high and 9 feet in circumference. The floors and walls are also made of teak. Making this today would be prohibitively expensive even if you could still find solid teak trunks like...

Bagaya Monastery is a quiet and serene place that is best seen in the afternoon when you can almost have the place for yourself. The teak building with its deep red colors also has elements made of stone. The heaviness of the stone contrasts with the beauty of the wood and the delicate nature of the temple's wood carvings. Some parts of the building are gilded. Others have lost their gold color. The combination of various elements and colors give the building an aura of faded glory. Make sure to go around the building for perspectives of the ensemble that you would...

Not like Bagaya Monastery in Inwa. It is a relocated & rebuilding place. All structure system is morden R.C post and beam system.Only little finishing make as historic.

But some pieces of original timber column and footings are shown under building. Inside, some ancient stupas are there.

Right now it is close!

For me, as local, I...