Bago
Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda
 Shwe
Maw Daw pagoda, north of the town, is one of the most venerated pagodas
in Myanmar. It is taller but similar in style to the Shwe Dagon Pagoda
in Yangon. The pagoda was originally built to a height of 23 m to
enshrine two hairs of Buddha. In 825 AD, it was raised to 25 m and then
to 27 m in 840 AD. In 982, a sacred tooth was added to the collection;
in 1385, another tooth was added and the pagoda was rebuilt to a
towering of 84 m. In 1492, a wind blew down the Hti (Glorious Crown)
and a new one was installed. King Bo-daw-paya, in the reconstruction of
Bago, rebuilt the Pagoda to 91 m in 1796, but from that point it has
gained great veneration. A new Hti was replaced in 1882, but a major
earthquake in 1912 brought the Hti down and caused serious damage.
Again it was repaired, but in 1930 the severest quake of them all
completely leveled the pagoda and for the next 20 years only the huge
earth mound of the based remained. After Independence, reconstruction
of the Shwe Maw Daw commenced in 1952 and was completed in 1954, to the
present height. The glittering golden top of the pagoda is 14 m higher
than the Shwe Dagon Pagoda in Yangon. Shady trees around the base make
it a pleasant place to stroll or simply sit and watch the pilgrims from
all walks of life. At the north-east corner of the pagoda is a huge
section of the Hti toppled by the 1930 earthquake is still left on the
structure of the pagoda. The ancient images of bronze and stone found
in the damaged section are put on display in the Museum of the Pagoda.
The platform of the pagoda is reached by a covered walkway lined with
stalls with interesting collections of antiques, all sizes of statues
made of different kinds of wood, lacquer ware and earthenware.
Kyaik Pun Pagoda
 Kyaik
Pun Pagoda is in the form of four gigantic Buddha images all in sitting
posture facing the four cardinal points of the compass. They are seated
back to back against a massive brick pillar. This unusual and
impressive pagoda is only a few hundred feet off the Yangon-Bago road.
It was built by King Dhamma Zedi in 1476 A.D. They are kept in a fair
state of preservation. Kyaik Pun pagoda is situated amidst the lush
rugged countryside strewn with a large number of ancient ruins many of
which are under repair.
Shwe Thar Lyaung Buddha
 Bago
is famous for its huge reclining Buddha Image, the Shwe Thar Lyaung
Buddha. Tradition says that it was built by King Mingadhipa in 994 A.D
to commemorate his conversion to Buddhism after years of worshiping
spirits and making sacrificial offerings of live animals. When he
became a Buddhist, he stopped all sacrificial rituals. He built the
reclining Buddha image to commemorate his conversion. King Dama Zedi
and King Bayin Naung renovated it during their reign. It fell into
neglect and lay in ruins buried underneath the jungle growth. It was
not found until the British Era, when an Indian contractor, digging a
large mound for fill to be used in the construction of the railway
line, rediscovered the image. It was restored and covered with the
present pavilion in 1906.
Kanbawza Thadi Palace
Kanbawza Thadi, the famous palace of King Bayinnaung (1551-1581
A.D.) is being extensively excavated and some buildings are being
rebuilt. It is a great archaeological site in Bago. In AD 1566, King
Bayinnaung was the founder of the Second Myanmar Empire, which
stretched from the borders of India to parts of Thailand and Laos.
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