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Monywa
Alaungtaw
Kathapa
Thambuddhe
Pagoda
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Monywa has the Thambuddhe Pagoda, plenty
of other sightseeing spots such as the
Chindwin river and the Alaungtaw Kathapa
forest reserve and Myanmar National Park for
trekking and elephant rides nearby. The
great flora and fauna includes some of the
last Burma tigers. |
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Monywa, is the gateway to the Chindwin
river,
a tributary of
the Ayeyawady or
Irrawaddy river,
65 miles (105 km) from Sagaing. It is a hub
of upper Myanmar trade and all the
agricultural products pass through the city.
It is also the main route of commerce and
trade through India-Myanmar Border trade.
Monywa at the
Chindwin River in Myanmar or Burma is a
great exotic travel destination. Its not
only the city itself with the marvelous
Thambuddhe Pagoda or rather temple, but the
whole atmosphere in the small river town.
Monywa is reachable from Yangon either by
car, a rather difficult and very long
travel, about 8 - 10 hours.
The alternative
is to take the aircraft from Yangon to
Mandalay and from there with the car or
pickup via Sagaing. Further west is Chin
state, Rakhine or Arakan and behind
Bangladesh and India.
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Closely is the
famous Alaungdaw Kathapa one of the real
great wildlife reserves or National Park in
Asia. The ideal place for a Myanmar
adventure vacation with trekking, elephant
ride, tiger and plenty of other wild animals
watching.
Close to Monywa
is a copper mining project which
about 20.000 tons of cathode copper output
per year. The only more or less hotel at
Monywa is the budget level Monywa Hotel.
But the 4 main
reason why many people do a tour to Monywa,
usually out of Mandalay, are the two
renowned pagodas and temples in Monywa.
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Monywa Thambuddhe Pagoda
Monywa Thambuddhe Pagoda |
and Hsu-Taung-Pyae
pagodas, highly revered by Buddhist devotees
and pilgrims. The next is Alaungdaw Kathapa
one of the most attractive Myanmar National
Park and the
Powintaung Cave Pagodas on the other
side of the Chindwin river relative to
Monywa.
The annual festival of the two pagodas
coincides in the same month of Thadingyut
(October) and is overcrowded with Myanmar's
and tourists.
The
Myanmar festival
bazaar opened for the occasion is extended
from one pagoda to another almost in a
straight line connecting the two shrines.
All kinds of commodities, textiles,
clothing, carpets, tapestries, brass wares,
mats of fine textiles, beds and pillows, and
many other items. Besides, there are shops
catering Myanmar delicacies and food. This
Mohnyin Thambuddhe Pagoda is just 7 miles
(11.2651 km) south of Monywa. It was founded
by the famed Mohnyin Sayadaw, after years of
solitary meditation in that forested area
without speaking a word to
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others as
instructed by his Master, Maha Thera Ledi
Sayadaw. After completion of the targeted
period of time (Years), the Master permitted
his pupil to build a monastery and a pagoda
there.
It is a big and baffling question how
could Mohnyin Sayadaw be able to carry
out such the big task of building such a
magnificent Monywa pagoda complex like
world-famous
Borobodur
of Indonesia, very similar in
architectural design. The imposing and
superb Pagoda surrounded by satellite
stupas, 864 in number bright and shining
in the tropical sun from the glass
mosaic covering outer and inner
surfaces, each measuring 132 ft in
height and gilded all over.
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In the entire complex of Thambuddhe,
there are colonnades of pillars
resembling
the Mahabodhi Pagoda of Bagan
(the 13th century Mahabodhi), each one
of the pyramidal pillars of Thambuddhe are made
up of tiers, each housing row of seated Buddha
images.
The pillars are topped by stupas of
various sizes. Not only the pillars are
filled with Buddha images but the
terraces and stupas all around the
complex contain seated pagoda images in
the niches. All in all, the confounding
total Buddha images are 582.363, all
executed in the uniform size.The
remarkable Ven. Mohnyin Sayadaw |
Thambuddhe pagoda and temple
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built this huge Pagoda complex
in 1929 on an arid and deserted
land covering 37 acres. At that time, it
was in the nature of a thick forest. It
tookmore than 10 years to complete.
Whoever took refuge at the pagoda area
escaped the ravages of World War II as
it is a noted place of purity and peace. |
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Monywa around Bodhi Tahtaung Pagoda |
Bodhi Tahtaung lies
quite close to Thambuddhe Pagoda. In the
precincts a thousand Bo Trees are planted with a
shrine for each tree. It is a grand and splendid
sight. Moreover there is also a massive Bodhi Ta
Htaung Reclining Buddha Image.
Another Pagoda known
as Aung Setkya Pagoda is also constructed, 225
ft in height in addition to the base which is
216.75 ft, therefore the total height of the
Pagoda is 441.75 ft. The Pagoda is surrounded by
1060 satellite pagodas.
There are almost no
tourists coming to this part of the country
although it is one of the most interesting in
terms of culture and nature, through the Myanmar
National Parks. Also the proximity to the Indian
border bring a lot of insights what's going on
in this remote area which is rather not so
remote by distance its not far from Mandalay but
since the infrastructure, in particular roads
are not good at all not much people want to bear
the problems. Actually the problem with bad
roads, many are still from colonial times when
the English built them, is everywhere in Burma.
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Alaungdaw Kathapa
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is with an area of
1600 skm the largest Myanmar National Park, the
proximity to Monywa and Mandalay makes it very
attractive for a short trip out of Mandalay.
This famous Forest Reserve Area, Alaungdaw
Kathapa, is 60 miles north-west of Monywa
district in the Yinmabin Township. The journey
involves 17 miles of tough trekking and elephant
ride, ups and downs of difficult terrain. This
travel is definitely a good attraction and
interest to the hikers and the bold and the
brave.
Alaungdaw Kathapa near Monywa is
one of the top areas for nature
conservation park. The name
connotes a Boddhisatva, one of
the disciples of Gautama Buddha
and an ordinary priest. Opinions
vary and views on the subject
differ from one another.
The region known as Alaungdaw
Kathapa was designated a
National Park by the Myanmar
Government on 1 April 1984.
Formerly it was a sanctuary.
Hlawga and Popa are also
sanctuaries. Out of these three,
Alaungdaw Kathapa has the
makings of a National Park. It
possesses abundant flora and
fauna. |
To the west of the
Chindwin River,
in the vicinity of Kani
and Mingin townships, it
also envelopes the
Muhtolon and Tawdwin
forest reserves. On its
east lie the Ponnya hill
and the Myittha valley.
Dense forest growth is
noticeable at Alaungdaw
Kathapa. Mist and haze
often surround the area.
So thick is the
vegetation there that
darkness often descends
on it by 5 p.m. Hardwood
trees such as teak,
pyinkado, padauk, ingyin,
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Chindwin River |
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htaukkyant, thityar, etc seem to
be quite abundant there. The
Thitlone camp, a beautiful
wooded area awaits the tired
traveller before he reaches
Alaungdaw Kathapa. Many believe
that one gets refreshed and
invigorated after making a
stopover at Thitlone. The sound
of rushing and gushing streams,
the chirpings of tropical birds
and the pleasant wooded
bungalows give an added impetus
to travel on. From here to
Alaungdaw Kathapa, the distance
is only a mile away. |
Author of Alaungdaw
Kathapa section is
partly Hla Thein,
Myanmar elephants. |
Alaungdaw Kathapa has
like many other places
in the country a brick
Tazaung which is a 40
feet wide brick
structure. Twenty-eight
seated Buddha images
which the Myanmar call
hnakyeik shihsu, with
the reclining Alaungdaw
Kathapa in the centre,
can be seen inside. The
local folks however
believe that the genuine
remains of Alaungdaw
Kathapa lies directly
underneath these statues
somewhere in the bowels
of the earth.
A
traveler can go right up to the
cave entrance from a path formed
near the Tazaung. The passage
into the cave is blocked and
sealed and there is no way of
getting inside. Thousands of
bats have congregated at the
entrance and made it their home.
It is their haven. Their poise
and balance get disturbed at the
sight of every human approach.
They would then, as usual fly in
all directions before returning
to their nooks and crannies. The
locals believe that a stream
meandered |
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inside the cave at one
lime. In those days
offertories floated into
the cave from outside
would come out cleared
and emptied at the other
end.
Opinions on Alaungdaw
Kathapa have been
forwarded by learned
scholars. Dr. Than Tun,
citing the inscriptions
argued that the name
does not connote the
monk who was supposed to
be the disciple of
Gautama Buddha. He
believed that Alaungdaw
Kathapa is only an
ordinary priest, a
forest dweller
(oaqeoloS) known as
Paunglaung Shin who
lived at the time of
King Bagan (1846-53). He
was born at Pareimma, a
place somewhere in
Sagaing division in 1807
and passed away in 1916,
at a place 60 miles away
from Monywa. The late U
Chan Mya, Professor of
Myanmar Language,
Mandalay University
concurred with Dr. Than
Tun. He opined that
Alaungdaw Kathapa, the
disciple of Gautama
Buddha had died
thousands of years ago
at Webula hill near
Rajgahir in India. |
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A story has it that in
his tender days as a
koyin (novice),
Alaungdaw Kathapa was an
ardent bird lover and
watcher. But the
presiding abbot of his
monastery detested the
caging of these winged
creatures. One day, to
escape his wary eyes
Alaungdaw Kathapa hid
his little 'catch' under
a tripod of stones. Most
unfortunately, the tiny
bird died from lack of
sufficient air.
Alaungdaw Kathapa paid a
heavy price, just before
attaining parinibbana he
died locked inside a
tripod of rocky
boulders. Then there is
another story of how a
koyin miraculously
escaped from the cave.
Alaungdaw Kathapa
trekking.
The locals believed
that, at one time the
cave was an open sesame
to all and sundry.
Pilgrims and tourists
arrived, entered the
cave and left without
let or hindrance.
Amongst them, a story has it
that, one day a young priest and
a koyin were on their |
Alaungdaw Kathapa
trekking,
jungle of
Myanmar. |
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pilgrimage
to Alaungdaw Kathapa. Inside the
cave the two of them saw the
non-decomposed body of Reverend
Kathapa amidst the glitter and
shimmer of precious gems. Greed
came upon the mental awareness
of the young priest. With that
mental formation the cave door
suddenly closed. They became
locked inside.
At the critical
moment, the story goes, the young koyin pledged
and vowed that he never had harbored the thought
of stealing these priceless gems. He prayed hard
and lo and behold! An aperture wide enough for
him to pass through became apparent on the cave
wall. The koyin hurried to this gaping hole and
made good his escape.
Then there was the
case of the miraculous survival of a young
female pilgrim who accidentally slipped and fell
into the deep gushing stream at Alaungdaw
Kathapa. She flowed with the turbulent current
and appeared alive and kicking at the other end
of the cave entrance. Her physical frame was
unscathed and unbruised. It was indeed a most
astounding and unbelievable occurrence.
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Myanmar adventure travel |
An almost
unbelievable incident took place at Alaungdaw
Kathapa round about June 1994. A group of
pilgrims from Kani township witnessed the
strangest phenomenon at Alaungdaw Kathapa at
that time. They saw the cave wall change from an
opaque to that of a clear transparent formation.
For a few minutes it was just like a sheet of
glass, transparent and clear. Right inside they
saw the remains of Reverend Kathapa. They paid
obeisance to the arahat, their ascetic pleasure
knew no bonds. So great was the impact that some
pilgrims cried aloud; some shed their tears in
silence. But the scenario soon changed with the
arrival of another batch of pilgrims. The wall
again became opaque as before. The pilgrims who
witnessed this most unusual phenomenon were said
to be still living in Kani area in the mid 90s.
May be some of them still are.
Myanmar adventure travel at Alaungdaw Kathapa
National Park
is a great
experience. It is also a haven for monks and
ascetics. The locals believed that a rikshi once
sojourned here for almost two decades. These
religious recluses
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discharge their routine
spiritual gymnastics
amidst the serene
atmosphere, which
pervades there. They
remained uncommunicative
and silent as much as
possible. |
Legends
During the life-time
of Lord Gautama Buddha, Shin Maha Kathapa
occupied a second spot in seniority amongst
Buddha is highest Disciples.
After Buddha’s
demise, Ven. Maha Kathapa convened the First
Buddhist Synod (Council) for the purification
and perpetuation of Buddha Sasana at Razagyo
kingdom.
In one of his former existences, the round of
Samsara (Round of Rebirths) Ven. Maha Kathapa
had kept a small bird playfully between small
rocks causing its death.
For that bad deed,
or evil Kamma (Action), the Rev.Maha Thera, Maha
Kathapa had to pay in his last life before
liberation or deliverance from Samsara or
attaining Nirvana. Ven. Maha Kathapa knew the
effects fully well – he has to pay for that
misdeed.
Near the cave, he
made a solemn vow that his corps would burn only
in the hands of potential Arimettaya Buddha, the
fifth and the last Buddha of the
Buddhism Universe. He then entered
the cave and lie on the rock bed prepared by the
Celestials and at once his body turned into
solid gold. When King Ajatassatu and his
retinue, came upon the Rev. Thera being passed
away, they had to make several valuable
offerings and returned.
Those who wish to reach the said cave have to
descend from the east of the chamber of the
reclining image. When you find a little stream
that is the sign that you have already arrived
at your destination. Unfortunately, you will not
be able to enter the cave where the golden image
is lying. A huge stone slab has blocked the
cave, which no one |
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could open. It is said to be the work of
the Celestial just to keep away
intruders.
However, one
can tell the beads, practice meditation
there. Devotees can also offer food in
bowls and pots, just along the running
water of the stream. If one offers only
food, the bowls and the pot will flow
out of the cave stream. If one offers
everything, nothing will come out. If
you bury certain offertories in the sand
before the said cave, within minutes,
those offertories will disappear in the
sand. |
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Not far from chamber of the Reclining
Image a pavilion that houses 3 bells, a
small pagoda and over a hundred
triangular brass gongs (kyesis). Nearby
is a stream and a pond where Ven. Maha
Kathapa is said to have washed his alms
bowls, and washed and dried his monk’s
robe. A mile from the Reclining Image,
is the Atatassatu village where the King
Ajatassatu built 21 pagodas in memory of
Ven. Maha Kathapa.
On the hillock, facing the Reclining
Image, there is a well named, Thitsa
Well (Truth), or Myitta Well (Loving
Kindness). This small well never dried
up. The more the pilgrims arrive; there
is more water in the well. The water of
the well is believed to cure all kinds
of ailments.
Pilgrims to the Monywa area from far and
near, numbering 20,000 to 30,000 visit
the shrine during the dry season. |
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There are 2600 National Parks all over
the world; 33 in Thailand, 5 in Sri
Lanka, 12 in Malaysia, 10 in Indonesia,
22 in India and 1 (Alaungtaw Kathapa) in
Myanmar. Popa is now earmarked to become
a National Park.
Some time ago, Col. John Blashford
Snell, OBE, (Hon.) FRSGS, Chairman of
the Scientific Exploration Society,
England and his party of 13 people,
mostly secientists and naturalists came
to Alaungtaw Kathapa for the second
time, being here in the late 1960s and
1970s remarked, “We have never seen such
good and pristine forest in South East
Asia, flora and fauna especially tigers,
thamin, golden deer, cenvus eldi
(thamin) which are already extint in the
world. They can be only found in Chattin
Wild Life Sanctuary and the Shwesettaw
Wild Life Sanctuary.” |
Around Alaungdaw Kathapa,
all at e-books |
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The wild life sanctuary is full of wild
life and fauna; the habitat of large
mammals like sambers, barking deer, wild
pigs, tigers, Hinlyan bears and wild
elephants. Poaching and illegal hunting
are prohibited under the Myanmar
National Parks Law, 1994. In the streams
and rivers, there are variety of birds,
like red-wattled lapwing, wag tails,
sand pipers, forest birds like
woodpeckers, lauging thrushes, babblers,
orioles drangos, mynas, parakeets,
barbets, crucals, jungle fowls, pigeons
and doves, etc. |
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