Pindaya Caves
| Pindaya Caves
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 Entrance to the Pindaya Caves |
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| Location: | near Pindaya in Shan State in Myanmar | |
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Geographic location: |
20 ° 55 '30 " N , 96 ° 39' 4" E | |
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| Geology: | Limestone caves | |
| Particularities: | Buddhist pilgrimage site | |
The Pindaya Caves ( Burmese ပင်းတယ ရွှေဥမင် , pronounced: pɪ́ɴdəja̰ ʃwè ṵmɪ̀ɴ) are a Buddhist pilgrimage site near the city of Pindaya in Shan State in Myanmar .
history
More than 8000 statues of Buddha have accumulated in the cave. The oldest date from the 18th century, and new votive offerings have been added to this day. Scientists are pushing for the site to be included on UNESCO's World Heritage List .
description
The limestone caves are located in a ridge near the city of Pindaya. There are three caves on the north-south ridge, but only the southern cave can be entered and explored. It is not known whether the other two invade the slope over a longer distance. The caves are accessible via a covered staircase. A network of corridors leads deep into the mountain from the spacious entrance hall. The walls of the small halls and corridors are covered with mostly gilded Buddha statues made of different materials and in different sizes.
Legends
According to a legend, a giant spider locked seven princesses in one of the caves. Prince Kummabhaya killed the spider with an arrow and chose the youngest and most beautiful princess as his wife. Sculptures of the spider and the prince aiming with a bow and arrow have recently been erected at the entrance to the covered cave stairs. Another says that a secret passage at the end of the cave leads to the ancient city of Bagan , which Began kings are said to have used as an escape route.
gallery
View from Pindaya
Covered rise
Entrance hall
Cave with stupa
Altar niche
Shielded Buddhas
Miniature buddhas
Great Buddhas
Individual evidence
- ↑ Andrea Markand: Stefan Loose Travel Guide Myanmar . 4th completely revised edition. DuMont Reiseverlag, Ostfildern 2013, ISBN 978-3-7701-6724-1 , p. 410 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
literature
- Wilhelm Klein: Burma (= Apa Guides. ). Nelles, Munich 1982, ISBN 3-88618-991-0 , p. 248.
- Andrea Markand, Markus Markand, Martin H. Petrich, Volker Klinkmüller: Myanmar. (Burma) (= Stefan Loose Travel Manuals. ). 2nd completely revised edition. DuMont Reiseverlag, Ostfildern 2006, ISBN 3-7701-6147-5 , p. 344.
