The Buddhist architecture of Monywa

A nondescript, average town in Central Myanmar, **Monywa, **seems to be little more than a transit stop between Bagan and the western destinations, of no **interest **to a **traveler **in itself. Alright, it is Myanmar, so there is always something to see, but you would not think the place warrants a dedicated stop. And the town probably does not. But its vicinity harbors plenty of unique **Buddhist architectural **monuments, ranging from modern **pagodas **and a giant hollow Buddha, towering above the landscape, to the ancient **cave temples **carved into cliffs.

Thanboddhay Paya

Presumably built over 7 centuries ago, but so effectively renovated you would never guess it, Thanboddhay Paya is an **impressive **sight. Perhaps it is a bit kitschy, excessively colorful, but **impressive **nonetheless. This is one place where photographers will wish they had a drone, so bring one if you can drag it through Burmese customs. The central **pagoda **is surrounded by a forest of spires, golden, red, pink, yellow. It looks like a grove of spiky plants or an expanse of stalagmites sans the cave. The interior is equally opulent: tall sitting and standing **Buddhas **encircled by endless galleries of tiny Buddha figures, row upon row. The **color **palette is the same combination of yellows and reds, striking the eye.

Bodhi Tataung

There is a disputable claim to fame, Bodhi Tataung. Burmese insist the standing **Buddha **here is the tallest in the world. Chinese argue that it is merely the second, and the real champion is in China. Either way, it is huge, the size of a skyscraper. Like most giant **Buddha **images in this part of the world, it is hollow, its interior filled with paintings and dioramas depicting everything Buddhist, from Jatakas to sinners tortured in hell. Nearby there is a reclining Buddha, a bit smaller, but still building-sized, with similar scenes inside. And all around the two main statues, myriads of smaller **Buddha **and monk images stand in lines - Bodhi Tataung literally translates as "a thousand Buddhas", but there are way more.  

Hpo Win Daung

This is probably the most **interesting **sight in the vicinity of Monywa. An entire hill has been perforated with artificial **caves **like a piece of cheese, and each **cave **is a temple. The site is also quite old, believed to be created in the 14th century, then gradually added to until quite recently. By now, however, it looks abandoned, inspiring that "Indiana Jones" sensation in a traveler. Some **cave temples **are decrepit, with nothing much left inside, some may host a few bats or a stray monkey, but are otherwise intact, with murals and statues. Overall, there are hundreds of **temples **here - count on at least half a day if you want to visit them all. 

Shwe Ba Taung

This weird **architectural **experiment a stone's throw away from Hpo Win Daung looks like a hybrid of Ethiopian Lalibela and a **Buddhist **McDonalds. Deep gouges have been carved in a large rock to make sunken pathways, then expanded to the sides, forming underground temples. As if this were not **impressive **enough, bright **colors **were applied to every surface, making the whole scene outright tacky. One of the rock **temples **here is actually shaped like a white elephant - you really cannot get much kitschier than that. Unlike Hpo Win Daung, Shwe Ba Taung is well maintained, and many **temples **are in use. Both can be visited on a single day trip from Monywa.