THE reconstruction of the Inwa sacred tooth relic building, which was destroyed by an earthquake, is currently 70 per cent complete, archaeologist and writer Bo Shake (Yatanapura) told The Global New Light of Myanmar.
The total cost of this is funded by a single donor family. The Department of Archaeology and National Museum granted the official permission for the project in July and Myanmar renowned architect U Win Maung (Tampawady) is supervising the design.
Construction is expected to be completed by June. “The reconstruction is about 70 per cent finished up to the upper terraces. We expect it to be completed around June. Traditional carvings might not be fully integrated yet. Myanmar traditional craftsmen and engineers are working on it,” he said.
It was originally built and renovated by three kings: King Nyaungyan, King Myedu, and King Sagaing. It is historically unique as a royal stupa located at the front of the palace grounds.
“When we uncovered the base, we found some original remnants. We are preserving those without any destruction and rebuilding according to the exact measurements found in ancient records,” he added.
Once completed, this 70-foot building is expected to become a major attraction, allowing visitors to climb and watch, similar to a tower. To ensure year-round access, a gravel road is being constructed before the rainy season begins with funds donated by the building donor, Dr Hla Myint. — MT/ZN
