Shwezigon Pagoda

The Shwezigon Pagoda is a gilded Buddhist stupa located on the eastern side of the Bagan archaeological zone in central Myanmar. It was begun in the late 11th century and is an important early model for Burmese pagoda design.

The complex features a large central bell-shaped stupa surrounded by smaller shrines and galleries, and it is a major pilgrimage and tourist site within Bagan. Pilgrims and visitors come to view the gilded dome, the surrounding reliefs, and the many devotional images within the complex.

Construction was initiated under King Anawrahta in the late 11th century and completed under King Kyansittha later that century; the site has been restored and maintained in subsequent centuries. It was built to enshrine Buddhist relics and has remained an active religious site.

The pagoda sits within the Nyaung-U/Bagan area in central Myanmar, on the plain that contains hundreds of other temples and stupas. It is accessed from nearby Nyaung-U and Old Bagan settlements that serve as the main visitor bases.

• Best time to visit: Best visited at sunrise or sunset when the stupa's gilding and the surrounding temple silhouettes are most photogenic; early morning also avoids the largest crowds.
• Context within Bagan: Located on the eastern edge of the Bagan temple zone, it is often visited as part of a circuit that includes several nearby temples and shrines.