Soon U Pon Nya Shin Paya Pagoda and a Hundred More Pagodas on the Hills in Sagaing

Soon U Pon Nya Shin Paya Pagoda is one of the richly-decorated Buddhist temples on a hill in Sagaing. Of all the hundreds of pagodas in Sagaing, this one is the most-visited paya. Buddhist devotees flock here to give their offerings to the Buddha.

After my sightseeing tour in Mingun the whole morning, my tuktuk driver/unofficial tour guide brought me to this pagoda. He told me that this temple sits on a frog-shaped hill.

“The hill,” he said, “is Sagaing’s second tallest hill, called Son Nya Shin hill.

Where is Sagaing?

Sagaing, as you know, is 12 miles outside the city of Mandalay. The area has a lot of historical and cultural interests that spending a day here won’t be enough.

However, one thing that stays in the mind of Sagaing is the panoramic views of the pagodas from across the river.

As we crossed the Sagaing bridge, my jaw dropped seeing the stunning views with golden stupas glistening under the sun.

Inside Soon U Pon Nya Shin Paya Pagoda

Right when you enter and on top of the flight of stairs, a huge statue of Buddha greets you. This is the biggest one in the temple and tends to be crowded.

Inside, the lavishly-decorated ceilings are marvellously impressive!

The columns, the walls, and the floors are truly head-turners, too!

Everything around pops colours and they’re a feast in the eyes.

Don’t forget to look up and dote on the 97-feet golden stupa made in 1312.

When you are done inspecting every detail of the interior, invite yourself to the outdoor balcony of the pagoda.

Here, the breathtaking views of the hills and the Ayeyarwarddy River await your admiration.

Don’t try to start counting how many pagodas you can see. Just drink in the views and admire it silently.

Standing here, I told myself that Myanmar, undoubtedly, is the country with the most Buddhist pagodas. I’m pretty sure about that. 🙂

Cheap Hotel in Mandalay

I stayed at the Royal Pearl Hotel, which is 10 minutes walk to/from the Mandalay Palace and 5 minutes walk to the train station.  Hotel Iceland. There are a lot of convenience shops, restaurants, and food stalls in the area. The rooms are clean, and the staff members are nice. You can book it via Booking.