Myanmar / Burma Travel Update
Since I was there, the situation in Myanmar/Burma has changed a lot. In February 2021, a military coup sparked widespread civil unrest and armed conflict.
The U.S. State Department currently advises: "Do not travel to Burma due to civil unrest and armed conflict." You can find their full travel advisory and security alerts here. And you can find the British Foreign Office's travel advice for Myanmar / Burma here.
Myazedi, which translates as “emerald stupa,” is located just north of Myinkaba Village and just south of Old Bagan.
A notable item at the Myazedi stupa is a stone slab with the text in four languages: Pyu, Mon, Pali, and Burmese. It’s the earliest dated example of written Burmese language, dated to 1112 or 1113. Prior to that, the Mon language was used most often for written documents.1 It’s one of a pair, and this one was reconstructed from several large fragments. Its partner slab was better preserved and is now in the museum up the road.
It’s only a single stone slab, and while it’s not as visually impressive as the so-called World’s Largest Book at Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay, it’s impressive in its own right for its age.
Photos of Myazedi Stupa
What to Know Before You Go
It’s sometimes referred to as Myazedi Stupa and sometimes as Myazedi Pagoda. You might also see reference to the Mya Zedi Quadrilingual Stone Inscription. That’s the stone tablet in the courtyard.
More to Check Out
If you enjoyed this, these might also be of interest:
- Donald M. Stadtner, Ancient Pagan: Buddhist Plain of Merit (Bangkok: River Books, 2013), pp. 24, 172. [↩]
