Ancient Mon-era pagodas in Yangon Region: Sapagan Pagoda stands out

 

According to the Twantay Township Cultural Heritage Trust, among the ancient Mon-era pagodas spread across Twantay, Kawhmu, and Kungyangon townships in Yangon Region, only the Sapagan Pagoda remains preserved in its original state.

 

U Saw Myint Swe, the central working executive of the trust, explained that Dala, Twantay, Kawhmu, and Kungyangon townships were once home to ancient Mon cities. The principal pagoda, Twantay Shwesandaw, known as Kyaikkaytha in the Mon language, is accompanied by nine other pagodas from the same era. However, the Sapa­gan Pagoda is the sole pagoda preserved in its original form.

 

Dating back to approxi­mately the 18th and 19th cen­turies, the Sapagan Pagoda boasts a distinctive Mon-style brick structure in its architec­tural design.

 

Situated along the Twan­tay-Kawhmu-Kungyangon road, the cluster of pagodas marks the route through which the eight strands of sacred relic hair were trans­ported to the construction site of the Shwedagon Pa­goda. Consequently, these pagodas are renowned as "Sandawkyo", meaning "ush­ers of the sacred relic hair." — ASH/NT