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Kuthodaw Pagoda, Home of the World’s Largest Book

Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Myanmar (Burma) // Mandalay Myanmar· Pagodas Temples Wats & Stupas Location: [post_gps_latitude], [post_gps_longitude]

It’s known as the world’s largest book. But it doesn’t look much like any book you’ve seen before.

Each of the 729 “pages” is a large marble tablet inscribed with text from the Tipitaka (some of the Buddhist scriptures). The text was originally in gold, but it has long since weathered away. Each page is housed in its own individual white stupa. They radiate out in concentric squares from a central golden stupa. From the air, it looks like a remarkably uniform above-ground cemetery.

The main stupa is modeled after the 11th-century Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung-U, near Bagan. But this one is much newer, dating back to the 1860s during the reign of King Mindon.

Photos of Kuthodaw Pagoda

Tablets of the World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

A close-up of part of one of the pages etched in marble. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Main Entrance of Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

The main entrance to the compound. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Rows of small white stupas, each containing a page of the book, run in concentric squares radiating from the large golden central stupa. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Main Entrance of Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

As is traditional, each stupa is topped with a hti, or umbrella (or crown). Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Tablets of the World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Another of the marble tablets. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

A covered walkway from the main entrance to the interior of the complex. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

The large central gold stupa. It’s modeled on the much older Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung-U. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

The hti on top of the central stupa. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Kyauksa Gu for World's Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

What To Know Before You Go

Kuthodaw Pagoda is located at the foot of Mandalay Hill and not far from Shwenandaw Golden Palace Monastery.

It’s the site of a major festival in the October full moon as people gather and light candles in the grounds.

Yep, you guessed it: you’ll have to take your shoes off as with any Buddhist holy site.

Where to Next?

  • Jade Emperor Pagoda Ho Chi Minh City Shrine with Incense
    Jade Emperor Pagoda
  • Lemyethna Pagoda in the Bagan Archaeological Zone
    Lemyethna Pagoda
  • Pagodas of Bagan, Myanmar
    Dhammayazika Pagoda
  • Tran Quoc Pagoda Hanoi Monk Praying
    Hanoi's Oldest Pagoda
  • Hanoi One Pillar Pagoda Branches 327-0535413038
    Hanoi's One Pillar Pagoda
  • Taungbi Village Pagoda, Old Bagan Myanmar (Burma)
    Taungbi Village Pagoda
  • Shwezigon Pagoda at Nyaung-U, Myanmar, Burma
    The Golden Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung-U
  • Buddha Statue at Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda, Sagaing, Myanmar
    Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda
  • OoHminThoneSel Pagoda in Sagaing, Myanmar (Burma)
    Oo Hmin Thone Sel Pagoda


Travel Advice for Myanmar (Burma)

You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Myanmar (Burma) (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.

The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Myanmar (Burma) here and the Australian Government's here.

Health & Vaccinations

The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Myanmar (Burma) here.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.


Location: Kuthodaw Pagoda
Country: Myanmar (Burma)
Coordinates:
      Latitude: 22.00463800
      Longitude: 96.11269369

      # Mandalay Myanmar
      # Pagodas Temples Wats & Stupas



About David Coleman

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living.

I’m based in Washington, DC.

You can find my photography gear reviews and tips at havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

Licensing & Prints

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

Get in Touch

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Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


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