Images posted on the BBC Burmese fan page and shared by many international news agencies on March 29th show that the main tower of the temple has almost completely collapsed. The surrounding staircase is also damaged.
Hsinbyume Pagoda, also known as Myatheindan Pagoda, is located north of Mingun in the Sagaing region of Myanmar, about 10 km northwest of Mandalay. The pagoda is painted white and modeled after a sacred Buddhist mountain. It is one of Myanmar's most famous pagodas, a landmark of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, alongside the Ubein Bridge. The pagoda frequently appears on local tourism posters and is considered "one of the most photogenic pagodas."
The temple consists of seven concentric steps, representing the seven mountains surrounding the sacred Mount Meru – a legendary site considered the center of the universe in Buddhism. The winding lines around the temple are described by local guides as resembling the bodies of hundreds of dragons.
The temple is a testament to the love story of Prince Bagydaw and his wife Hsinbyume. Hsinbyume tragically passed away during childbirth. Prince Bagydaw grieved for a time, and in 1816, he commissioned the construction of Hsinbyume Temple in her memory. In 1836, the temple was severely damaged by an earthquake. In 1874, the King of Mindon ordered its restoration.
On social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok , many news sites and communities around the world are sharing images with headlines such as "The iconic white pagoda of Myanmar has been damaged," and "The magnificent Hsinbyume Pagoda in Myanmar, a symbol of cultural heritage, has been destroyed in the earthquake."
Le Thi Huong Giang, a photographer living in Hanoi , visited Myanmar in 2014 and stopped by the temple. She was introduced to the place by a local tourism professional and photographer. Giang said the temple is a popular destination for both tourists and locals.
"The temple is beautiful, with unique architecture, unlike the temples with many statues in Bagan. I was very impressed and took many photos here. Seeing the photos of the collapsed temple is heartbreaking," Ms. Giang said.
Ms. Giang added that she had only been able to contact one friend in Myanmar after the earthquake on March 28th; other friends had not responded. Her friend said that hospitals were overwhelmed, there was no electricity, no water, and no internet. "The situation is very bad," a friend from Myanmar shared with the Vietnamese visitor.
TH (according to VnExpress)Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/chua-noi-tieng-o-myanmar-bi-pha-huy-nang-sau-dong-dat-408396.html
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