10km up the Ayeyarwaddy River from the ancient royal capital of Mandalay, is the unfinished Pahtodawgyi Pagoda in Mingun. It would have been the largest in the world if King Bodaw Paya (18th c.) would not have stopped building. The locals call it the largest pile of bricks in the world. This period marks the beginning of conflicts with the British.
Nearby, the Mingun Bell is the largest working bell in the world. Also close by is the beautiful Hsinbyume Pagoda, white with intricate design set amidst the green tropical backdrop. As with all the Buddhist pagodas and temples, all visitors must be barefoot while exploring the expansive, hot and sandy complex.
