Each of the 729 marble slabs measures approximately 1.5 meters high and 1 meter wide.
The original inscriptions were inlaid with gold leaf, which was stripped by British soldiers during the occupation of Mandalay.
The text of the Tripitaka inscribed here consists of 14,582 pages.
King Mindon ordered the construction to ensure the preservation of Buddhist scriptures against colonial encroachment.
The site remains an active place of worship for local devotees, rather than solely a historical monument.
The pagoda grounds contain the royal tombs of King Mindon and members of his immediate family.
Kuthodaw Pagoda, formally known as Maha Lawka Marazein Paya, contains 729 stone slabs inscribed with the entire Tripitaka Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. Often referred to as the 'World's Largest Book,' each slab is housed within its own individual white shrine, known as a kyauksa gu. Commissioned by King Mindon in 1857, the site was built as part of the establishment of the royal capital, Mandalay. The central golden stupa is modeled after the Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung-U. The 729 inscriptions were completed by over 2,400 monks who read the text aloud in relays over six months. The entire site occupies 13 acres at the base of Mandalay Hill. In 2013, the Tripitaka stone tablets were inscribed into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The surrounding marble slabs are organized in rows around the central pagoda, creating a labyrinthine layout.
The elevated vantage point from the central pagoda looking out over the symmetrical rows of white shrines.
Walk through the rows of shrines to read the inscriptions, as the layout is designed for circumambulation.
Visit during the early morning to photograph the light hitting the white shrines before the heat becomes intense.
Bring socks for walking on the marble floors, which become extremely hot under direct sunlight.
Do not lean or sit on the white shrines, as they are considered sacred housing for holy texts.
Visitors must remove footwear and socks before entering the grounds. Shoulders and knees must be covered as it is an active religious site.
