'Shwe Nan Daw' trsnslates as the Golden Palace Monastery'. Built in 1880, the monastery was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura before it was moved to Mandalay. It is the only remaining original structure of the Royal Palace that survived.
The building is a perfect example of the traditional Burmese architectural style and a Konbaung-era monastery. It is adorned with fine teak carvings of Buddhist myths. 150 pillars support the monastery and its 42 columns are engraved with ancient figures, once covered by gold leaves, now severely damaged. A unique feature of the monastery is its three-tiered roof that distinguishes it among other similar monasteries.
The conservation project of the monastery financed by the US Ambassadors Fund, the World Monuments Fund, and the Mandalay government started back in 2014. Currently the monastery needs improvement of the drainage system and repair of the stairs, where teak elements will be partly replaced with ironwood while retaining the original form.
Shwe Nan Daw Monastery to Receive USD300,000 for Conservation and Repair Works
News in Asia
Shwe Nan Daw monastery near Mandalay Hill, Myanmar, will receive additional USD300,000 for restoration works from US government on request of the Department of State’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.