Up the river Irrawardi we went by a rented boat (two decks for just two of us) from Mandalay to Mingun. The cruise lasted one hour. The most important pagoda there is Mingun Paya which was to be the largest in the dawn, but the king Bodawpaya died before he finished the construction.
An earthquake in 1838 destroyed what was left unfinished and now the building looks like a huge pile of bricks. I guess the biggest brick pile in the world.
Another pagoda (Hsinbyume ) with a beautiful shape, completely white, also has its dramatic history. Built for the oldest wife of the king, has never been used.
Another reason for Mingun to be proud is a huge bell, hung up on a special pedestal, is the biggest hanging undamaged bell in the world. It weighs almost 100 tons. (Although a larger is in Moscow, but that one is cracked, ha!)
