February 08

SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing inspects the maintenance of the Loka Tharaphu Pagoda and the Maung Oh brick road in ancient Inwa City in Mandalay Region.

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo and council members, Union ministers and their wives, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and officials, yesterday afternoon visited Loka Tharaphu Buddha Image and inspected the maintenance of the Maung Oh brick road in ancient Inwa City in Mandalay Region.

The Senior General, his wife and his entourage paid homage to the Loka Tharaphu Pagoda. They also visited inside and outside the pagoda and then went around Mahaloka Thinkyit Pagoda built close to the west of a brick tier-roofed building where the Loka Tharaphu Buddha Image is kept. The Senior General inspected the maintenance of the religious edifices in the precinct and heard reports on the maintenance and renovation of the pagodas and the background history of the buildings.

In his guidance, the Senior General stressed the need to repair the damaged interior walls of the pagoda in original works and emphasize repairs of the platform of the pagoda, and improvement of proper drainage measures. He gave guidance to officials to systematically maintain ancient religious buildings, renovate stairways around the precinct in ancient works and maintain ancient works and cultural heritage. The Senior General said that it is planned to ensure that solar electricity will be supplied to illuminate the pagoda and religious buildings.

The Senior General and his wife donated cash to the fund for the overall renovation of the pagoda.

The Loka Tharaphu Pagoda was built by King Hsinbyushin Taninganway who was the ninth of the Nyaungyan dynasty in the second Inwa era, in 1730 AD, 1092 ME. As the king passed away before the completion of the pagoda, his son King Maha Dhammarajadhipati called King Kyathapatay captured Hanthawady and continued the construction of the pagoda till 1733 AD, 1095 ME. The Loka Tharaphu Buddha Image was curved in a large marble rock, half of which was kept in the ground. The Buddha image is some 30 feet high and the circumference of the sitting area is some 20 feet wide. It weighs 490.36 tonnes. The Mahaloka Thinkyit Pagoda was built close to the west of the brick tier-roofed building in which the Loka Tharaphu Buddha Image is kept. In 1140 ME, King Singu who was a king of the Konbaung dynasty enveloped the pagoda. Prince Pakhan, son of King Bodawphaya, King Hanthawady and King Bagan also renovated the pagoda. As an intensified earthquake jolted there in 1200 ME, the Mahaloka Thitkyit Pagoda and the brick chamber of Loka Tharaphu Buddha Image collapsed. Although King Mindon repaired them, these projects were not finished. Thanks to the renovation carried out by Abbot of Dipa Ayemya corner of Sagaing Hill U Nandasiri in 1342 ME, visitors can see the current situation of the edifices. Reportedly, officials have repaired the buildings in successive eras.

The Senior General inspected the wall and moat of the ancient Inwa City and left guidance on continuous maintenance of the city and wall and renovation of the moat.

He inspected the Mahazeyapahta Maung Oh Bridge and Brick Road on the TadaU-Inwa road section and instructed officials to submit a research report on the advantages and disadvantages of the renovation of the bridge and conduct research on the brick road. The Senior General and party viewed the road by car. — MNA/TTA