Kuthodaw Pagoda & the World's Largest Book
Kuthodaw Pagoda & the World's Largest Book
Kuthodaw Pagoda & the World's Largest Book
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural BuildingsReligious Sites
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 10:45 PM
About
The Kuthodaw Paya houses "the world's largest book", 729 marble slabs of Buddhist scriptures.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,688 reviews
Excellent
890
Very good
666
Average
122
Poor
8
Terrible
2
Claudianus R
Waltham Forest, UK3 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
Okay, so "book" might be a bit of a stretch, but seeing hundreds of stone tablets inscribed with Buddhist scriptures is seriously impressive! The whole Kuthodaw Pagoda complex is stunning, all white stupas glittering in the sun. It's peaceful and awe-inspiring, even if you don't understand the language. We spent hours wandering around, soaking it all in.
Written December 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK7,186 contributions
Jan 2020
Kuthodaw was built during the 1860’s by King Mindon to house copies of the sacred Buddhist scripts. To make sure the scripts lasted for as long as possible Mindon had them chiselled on to 729 marble tablets with writing on both sides. Each tablet was then housed inside its own little small pagoda called a Dhamma Ceti to prevent damage from the weather. Glistening white pagodas topped with a golden spire each having a stone slab with an inscription of the Buddha‘s teachings. A picturesque collection of these plus larger pagoda buildings.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ron d
Caloundra, Australia602 contributions
Feb 2020
The Kuthodaw pagoda in Mandalay is described as the world’s largest book. Each ‘page’ is a marble slab about 150 x 100 cm, inscribed with instructions on how a Buddhist should lead a moral life. Each slab is housed in its own temple or shrine. There are 729 of them arranged in a grid around a central stupa. It is an impressive sight.
But the world’s largest book? Well it may have been when it was built but about 50 years later the similar Sandamuni Pagoda was constructed right next door, with 1774 ‘pages’!
But the world’s largest book? Well it may have been when it was built but about 50 years later the similar Sandamuni Pagoda was constructed right next door, with 1774 ‘pages’!
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michele P
Marrakech, Morocco476 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
This Pagoda is impressive even before you enter. Seen from a distance, it is spectacular, and impossible to drive by!
The atmosphere is calm and the repetitive architecture adds to this feeling of serenity. It really is a wonderful place to stroll around and appreciate the scale and beauty of the building.
The views around the Pagoda are also wonderful, surrounded by further temples and countryside.
Certainly unmissable and incredibly photogenic. I only wish that I could have spent more time here to appreciate all it had to offer.
The atmosphere is calm and the repetitive architecture adds to this feeling of serenity. It really is a wonderful place to stroll around and appreciate the scale and beauty of the building.
The views around the Pagoda are also wonderful, surrounded by further temples and countryside.
Certainly unmissable and incredibly photogenic. I only wish that I could have spent more time here to appreciate all it had to offer.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sundncr
Washington DC, DC1,129 contributions
Dec 2019
If you think a book that is made up of pages, which are are a big block of stone with inscriptions. Each page/slab is then housed in its own white walled shrine. This makes the Pagoda the world's largest book. Visit the Pagoda too for a spiritual purpose and relax on the floor after the visit. The Pagoda is part of the tourist network of Mandalay and one ticket covers many sites in Mandalay. There is plenty of parking. I came here with a private car. Camera men are available to take your picture for remembrances. After a visit to this site, go up the Mandalay Hill to visit a Pagoda at the top and enjoy great views.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suresh
16 contributions
May 2022
A heritage site with 729 small pagodas surrounding a Big Pagoda. inscriptions on white marble placed in each pagoda. historically and spiritually important place with the worlds largest book.. see it to believe. worth a few pictures.
Written June 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jwgbusiness
Thornhill, Canada146 contributions
Dec 2019
This is a huge complex where there is a main, central pagoda with a large buddha and surrounding it are 729 stupas, each stupa containing a marble tablet written on both sides. The writings are sacred Buddhist texts and teachings. That is why it is called the world's largest book. The main pagoda which is a magnificent building itself with a huge hall area for worship is approx. 200 feet tall. Cats and dogs are quite commonly seen.
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan C
Southampton288 contributions
Dec 2019
Beautiful site, peaceful walking around the temples. Excellent Golden Pagoda. Learned the art of Bell ringing (essential for a visit to Burma) from our guide Mr Starskey from Starskey and Hutch Taxi Service.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
milliesmum2016
Christchurch, New Zealand1,763 contributions
Jan 2020
This Pagoda is very unique, I think. It is a huge rectangular enclosure and you really need a birdsye view to appreciate the scale. There is a scale model close by the main entrance but you can also get a great idea of it from the top of Mandalay Hill. There are hundreds of little white shrines which each are a page of Buddhist sacred text. Then in the centre there is a more usual type of pagoda with a large central Buddha. I think he's made of one huge block of marble. The weight must be colossal. The floor must be good! An endearing thing about the pagodas, monasteries and monuments is all the cats and dogs happily living there. The cats at this pagoda all had the little flowery carpet squares that you see in the local markets, so that they were comfortable on the marble floor. How sweet is that?
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cherry
Mandalay, Myanmar29 contributions
Feb 2020
Warmly welcome to Mandalay. This pagoda is the one of the memory of the world. You can see 729 white marble stone slabs and big star trees. This place is a panic place in the cool shade under the trees. This book is the largest and heaviest book in the world. This pagoda's style look like Shwesigon Pagoda's style in Bagan.
Thanks.
Cherry
Thanks.
Cherry
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am planning to visit Myanmar in January 2017 and Mandalay is part of my target place to visit. I want to know what is that book like ? It claimed the largest book in the world. When I try to find out the pictures of that book, no one post .. Is this the real book or just complex everywhere like marble stone?
Written November 4, 2016
Honestly, it is so worth the trip!!! Every page of the book is on a marble slab sand every slab has it's own small stupa. It really is beautiful and it is so different from the rest of the pagodas/stupas you will see!!
Written November 8, 2016
Is there a fee? How did you get there? Is it good to have a guide for information?
Written August 4, 2016
There is no fee but there are women who "watch" your shoes while you are inside and you can give them a tip if you like. First time I went I had a guide which I found helpful, went back by myself just to sit and soak it up and also enjoyed that.
Written August 5, 2016
Not sure, but 2-3 acres seems about right. Unless you want to actually read each tablet, there is no need to cover it all. We found a short stroll around gave us all the full ambience and insight into this extraordinary undertaking.
Written February 14, 2015
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