A cultural stay in Monywa can be organised around two main themes: well-known pagodas in town and art sites in the surrounding area. The annual Buddha Pujaniya Festival at Hsutaungpyae Pagoda is another highlight. This brings sacred buildings, cave and wall art, and a time-specific event together; you can decide whether architecture, religious practice or visual art will be your main focus.

Pagodas and Festival in Monywa

Shwezigon Pagoda and Hsutaungpyae Pagoda are among Monywa’s well-known pagodas. The Buddha Pujaniya Festival at Hsutaungpyae Pagoda lasts ten days each year in the month of Thadingyut and attracts numerous pilgrims and visitors. If you are planning to travel for the festival, check the specific dates and current event details in advance.

Art and Worship in the Monywa Area

Mohnyin Thanbuddhe Pagoda is mentioned as a destination in the Monywa area for local and international visitors, particularly for its art and craftsmanship. Visitors can pay homage to standing and seated Buddha images of various sizes. A description from 2020 lists 582,363 Buddha images on the inner and outer walls of the main building. The same description lists 864 surrounding pagodas that can be seen at the pagoda and prayer hall. The details emphasise different things: paying homage describes an act, while the figures refer to the images and surrounding pagodas.

Cave Art West of Monywa

Pho Win Taung and Shwe Ba Taung are in Yinmabin Township, 25 kilometres west of Monywa in Sagaing Region. Both sites feature stone carvings, wall art, sculptures and religious art from ancient Myanmar. Stone carvings and sculptures complement the wall art with three-dimensional forms, showing that the cultural focus is not limited to a single motif.

At Shwe Ba Taung, numerous caves and temples are carved into the surrounding volcanic rock and contain ancient Buddha images. The cave walls bear murals from the 13th century. The rock, architectural form and visual art belong together here: the paintings complement the spaces carved into the rock with a clearly dated art form.

Pho Win Taung comprises numerous man-made caves, whose interior walls feature Buddha images and ancient paintings. According to legend, the alchemist U Pho Win lived in the caves of Pho Win Taung; the mountain and caves were named after him. This account of the name should be understood as a legend.

Two Different Time References

For travel planning, two details should be kept distinct: the 13th century dates the murals at Shwe Ba Taung; Thadingyut is the month when the annual ten-day festival at Hsutaungpyae Pagoda takes place. One is an art-historical date, the other a seasonal travel occasion.

Discover more destinations: Myene, Katha, Khin Mun, Sagaing

For the main travel overview: Sagaing Division.