The Mahamuni Buddha Temple is the most important temple in Mandalay, and one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists in Myanmar. For visitors to the city, its central location makes it very easy to get to.
- Opening Hours: 06:00 to 20:00
- Entrance Fee: 10,000 Kyat
About Mahamuni Buddha Temple
The Mahamuni Buddha Temple was established in 1785 to house the Mahamuni Buddha statue. According to local belief this huge bronze statue, 3.82 metres tall and weighing around 6.5 tons, is one of only five likenesses of the Lord Buddha created in his lifetime which makes it the most important Buddha image in Myanmar and quite possibly South East Asia as a whole. According to legend, the Lord Buddha visited the ancient Kingdom of Arakan, which is part of modern day Myanmar, and not only allowed a mould of his body to be taken but also imbued the statue with his ‘essential essence’ and decreed that the statue would last for 5,000 years as his representative. The statue, as it currently stands, is covered in most parts by an estimated 15 cm thick layer of gold leaf, obscuring the original shape of the statue. Every morning at 04:00 the statue is ritually bathed by the temple’s senior monk and his assistants, with worshippers in attendance.
Mahamuni Buddha Temple in MandalayBesides the giant statue, the two other main points of interest at the Mahamuni Buddha Temple are building within the image is house, which is topped by a traditional Burmese style 7 tiered roof, and the collection of 6 Khmer bronze statues. These statues are the remainder of around 30 similar statues which were taken by an invading Burmese Army from Ayutthaya in Thailand in 1767. They originally taken from Angkor Wat in Cambodia to Ayutthaya by an invading Thai in the 15th century. Most of the 30 statues are believed to have been melted down to make cannons in the 19th Century. The remaining 6 are now highly revered for having healing properties which, along with the main Buddha statue, attracts large number of pilgrims to the Mahamuni Buddha Temple.
Location of Mahamuni Buddha Temple
- Mahamuni Buddha Temple is 3.4 km by road from Mandalay Railway Station.
Travel to Mahamuni Buddha Temple
Follow the links for travel times to Mandalay for a visit to Mahamuni Buddha Temple:
- Travel from Bagan to Mandalay
- Travel from Inle Lake to Mandalay
- Travel from Magway to Mandalay
- Travel from Mawlamyine to Mandalay
- Travel from Naypyitaw to Mandalay
- Travel from Yangon to Mandalay