Shwenandaw Monastery

Shwenandaw Monastery
ရွှေနန်းတော်ကျောင်း
Shwenandaw Monastery
22°0′2.43″N 96°6′49.40″E / 22.0006750°N 96.1137222°E
Information
Denomination Theravada Buddhism
Founded 1880 (135 years ago)
Founder(s) King Thibaw Min
Country Mandalay, Mandalay Region, Burma
Wood carving of Lawka Nat at Shwenandaw Monastery

Shwenandaw Monastery (Burmese: ရွှေနန်းတော်ကျောင်း; MLCTS: hrwe. nan: taw kyaung:, IPA: [ʃwènándɔ̀ tʃáun]; lit. "Golden Palace Monastery") is a historic Buddhist monastery located near Mandalay Hill, Mandalay Region, Myanmar (formerly Burma).

Shwenandaw Monastery was built in 1880 by King Thibaw Min, who dismantled and relocated the apartment formerly occupied by his father, King Mindon Min, just before Mindon Min's death, at a cost of 120,000 rupees.[1] Thibaw removed the building in October 1878, believing it to be haunted by his father's spirit.[2] The building was reconstructed as a monastery over the course of 5 years, dedicated in memory of his father, on a plot adjoining Atumashi Monastery.[2]

The building was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura, before it was moved to Mandalay, where it formed the northern section of the Hmannan (Glass Palace) and part of the king's royal apartments.[2] The building was heavily gilt with gold and adorned with glass mosaic work.[1]

The monastery is known for its teak carvings of Buddhist myths, which adorn its walls and roofs. The monastery is built in the traditional Burmese architectural style. Shwenandaw Monastery is the single remaining major original structure of the original Royal Palace today.[2]

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