Address

Bagan Kyauk-mye-mo-zedi-gyi Stupa, Myanmar

Nyaung-U, Bagan,

Myanmar (Burma)

Moolavar

Buddha

Introduction

Kyauk-mye-mo-zedi-gyi is one of about 50 instances of “encased” stupas in Bagan, in which an older stupa is encased in a newer (though still ancient) stupa built around it. It is located near the east bank of the Irrawaddy river amidst a small group of monuments, of which Monument 1152 is the most notable, and stands about 450 meters southwest of the large So-min-gyi-hpaya temple.

The inner core of the monument is a cone-shaped stupa built of bricks averaging 36 x 18 x 6.5 centimeters in size, arranged in a series of concentric to ruses stacked upon one another. At some later date the monument was encased in brick, hidden within a much larger bell-shaped stupa built upon an octagonal base with two square terraces. The outer stupa partially collapsed at some point prior to 1930 and the remains were reinforced beginning in 1983. The west side of the outer stupa is in the best condition with the remains of a stucco-coated waistband still visible, decorated with a frieze comprising bands of triangles arranged like teeth.