Buddhist Temples of Monywa: Overnight Trip

The Thanboddhay monastery near Monywa is a unique temple in Burma. It is one of the most intricately decorated temples in the country with an extensive use of vibrant colors housing over 500,000 Buddha images. Some visitors say that this pagoda reminds them of Borobodur as it is similar in architectural design. Unlike Borobodur, this is a modern place of worship, well maintained and with interesting samples of modern Buddhist art.

Pho Win Hill (Pho Win Taung) is located on the west bank of Chindwin river and 25 kilometers west of Monywa. It is about 20 minutes walk up the hill. There are about 900 sandstone caves that contain many carved Buddha images and well-preserved mural paintings. Some caves have beautiful exterior decorations. There are wonderful mural paintings in vivid colors representing Burmese life and Jataka stories.

Shwe Ba Hill is located beyond the Pho Win Hill. Many caves and temples are carved out from the surrounding volcanic rocks and filled with ancient Buddha Images. The Buddha images are larger and far newer than those of the main site but the intriguing overall effect is of a Buddhist Disneyland set in a miniature Petra. 13th-century mural paintings can be seen in some of the caves inside walls.