This is a list of the tallest structures in Myanmar. The list has two main parts: one list for the tallest buildings above 90 m (295 ft), and another list for other tallest structures above 60 m (197 ft). The lists are based on publicly available data and may likely be incomplete as the information on structures and buildings in the country is poorly documented and/or not publicly available.
The vast majority of the country's recorded tallest structures have been Buddhist pagodas and statues. The country has had a 100 m (328 ft) tall pagoda since the 11th century in the Shwesandaw Pagoda in Bagan (Pagan). The 134 m (440 ft) Yeywa Dam in Kyaukse is currently the tallest structure in the country.
Tallest buildings
See List of tallest buildings in Myanmar.
Tallest structures except buildings, masts or towers
The following is a list of tallest known structures above 60 m (197 ft) in Myanmar, excluding buildings, guyed masts, or cellular towers, ranked by their pinnacle height.
Many of the structures on the list are Buddhist stupas (pagodas), temples, and statues. Many pagodas have been rebuilt many times throughout their history, often taller. Furthermore, Burmese pagodas are typically measured by their architectural height (nyandaw) without including the height of the hti spire. The htis are replaced periodically, and the new htis may change in size and height, thus altering the overall pinnacle height of their pagoda. Height estimates are given in italics.
The list may not be complete or up-to-date.
| Rank | Name | Image | Location | Height: m (ft) |
Pinnacle height m (ft) |
Year Completed | Type | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yeywa Dam |  |
Kyaukse | 134 m (440 ft) | 134 m (440 ft) | 2010 | dam | [1] | |
| 2 | Lower Paunglaung Dam | Pyinmana | 131 m (430 ft) | 131 m (430 ft) | 2005 | dam | [2] | ||
| 3 | Laykyun Sekkya | Monywa | 116 m (381 ft) | 129.4 m (425 ft) | 2008 | statue |
3rd tallest statue in the world pinnacle height includes the 13.4 meter throne |
[3] | |
| 4 | Shwemawdaw Pagoda |  |
Bago | ? | ? | 14th century | stupa | Tallest pagoda in Myanmar since 1954 | [4] [5] |
| 90 m (295 ft) | ? | 1796 | |||||||
| 114 m (374 ft) | ? | 1954 | |||||||
| 5 | Shwedagon Pagoda |  |
Yangon | ? | ? | ? | stupa | 2500+ years old according to tradition | |
| 18 m (59 ft) | ? | 1362/63 | [6] | ||||||
| 40 m (131 ft) | ? | 1462 | [6] [7] | ||||||
| 99 m (325 ft) | ? | 1775 | [6] [7] | ||||||
| 112 m (367 ft) | 1871 | [6] [7] | |||||||
| 6 | Uppatasanti Pagoda | Naypyidaw | 98.7 m (324 ft) | 111.7 m (366 ft) | 2009 | stupa | Replica of the Shwedagon but 30 cm shorter; presumably, its hti is also of the same height as the Shwedagon's. | [8] | |
| 7 | Upper Paunglaung Dam | Naypyidaw | 103 m (338 ft) | 103 m (338 ft) | 2015 | dam | [2] | ||
| 8 | Goteik viaduct |  |
Nawnghkio | 102 m (335 ft) | 102 m (335 ft) | 1900 | bridge | Most of the viaduct's pillars destroyed during WWII. Rebuilt in 1951. | [9] |
| 1951 | |||||||||
| 9 | Shwesandaw Pagoda | |
Bagan | 100 m (328 ft) | ? | 1057 | stupa | Tallest pagoda in Bagan | [10] |
| 10 | Dapein I Dam | Bhamo | 83.5 m (274 ft) | 83.5 m (274 ft) | 2011 | dam | [11] | ||
| 11 | Statue of Gautama Buddha | Kyaikto | 78 m (256 ft) | ? | 2019 | statue | [12] | ||
| 12 | Yangon Radar Station |  |
Yangon | 75 m (246 ft) | 75 m (246 ft) | 2016 | radar tower | 18 stories tall | [13] |
| 13 | Thatbyinnyu Temple |  |
Bagan | 61.3 m (201 ft) | 66 m (217 ft) | 1150/51 | temple | Tallest temple in Bagan | [14] [15] |
| 14 | Htupayon Pagoda | Sagaing | ? | ? | 1454/55 | stupa | [note 1] | ||
| ? | ? | 1605/06 | |||||||
| 49 m (161 ft) | ? | 1851/52 | |||||||
| 59 m (194 ft) | 61.5 m (202 ft) | 2016 | |||||||
| 15 | Nan-Myint Tower | Bagan | 60 m (197 ft) | 60 m (197 ft) | 2005 | Tower | Observation tower for the Bagan Archeological Zone; consists of 13 levels/stories | [16] |
Timeline of tallest structures
By architectural height
This is a list of tallest known structures in Myanmar as measured by architectural height without including spires such as htis or antennas.
The list may not be complete or up-to-date.
| Name | Image | Location | Height: m (ft) |
Pinnacle height m (ft) |
Years as tallest | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shwesandaw Pagoda | |
Bagan | 100 m (328 ft) | ? | c. 1057–1954 | Tallest pagoda in Bagan | [10] |
| Shwemawdaw Pagoda | |
Bago | 114 m (374 ft) | ? | 1954–2005 | Tallest pagoda in Myanmar | [4] |
| Lower Paunglaung Dam | Pyinmana | 131 m (430 ft) | 131 m (430 ft) | 2005–2010 | [2] | ||
| Yeywa Dam | |
Kyaukse | 134 m (440 ft) | 134 m (440 ft) | 2010–present | [1] |
By pinnacle height
This is a list of tallest known structures in Myanmar as measured by pinnacle height.
The list may not be complete or up-to-date.
| Name | Image | Location | Height: m (ft) |
Pinnacle height m (ft) |
Years as tallest | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shwesandaw Pagoda | |
Bagan | 100 m (328 ft) | ? | c. 1057–1775 or 1871 | Tallest pagoda in Bagan | [10] |
| Shwedagon Pagoda | |
Yangon | 99 m (325 ft) | 112 m (367 ft) | 1775 or 1871–1954 | [6] [7] | |
| Shwemawdaw Pagoda | |
Bago | 114 m (374 ft) | ? | 1954–2005 | Tallest pagoda in Myanmar | [4] |
| Lower Paunglaung Dam | Pyinmana | 131 m (430 ft) | 131 m (430 ft) | 2005–2010 | [2] | ||
| Yeywa Dam | |
Kyaukse | 134 m (440 ft) | 134 m (440 ft) | 2010–present | [1] |
See also
Notes
- ^ (MNA 2016) gives the height as 202 feet (61.5m) but (Moore, Win Maung 2016: 168–169) says the pagoda's height was raised by 10 meters from the original height of 49 meters, meaning the new height is now 59 meters (193.5 feet). The 61.5 meter height is likely inclusive of the hti (umbrella or spire).
References
- ^ a b c "Yeywa Dam". Burma Rivers Network. 18 August 2008. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ a b c d "Upper and Lower Paunglaung Dams". Burma Rivers Network. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ Foer et al 2019: 170
- ^ a b c Zaw Winn (2008-04-28). "Shwemawdaw Pagoda welcomes in the New Year". The Myanmar Times. 21 (416). Archived from the original on 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ Timothy Tye. "Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Bago". Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ a b c d e UNESCO 2018
- ^ a b c d Langmead, Garnault 2001: 307
- ^ "Naypyidaw's Version of Shwedagon Pagoda Nears Completion". The Irrawaddy. 2009-03-06.
-
^
"Nawnghkio & Gokteik Viaduct". Global New Light of Myanmar. 28 August 2018. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
{{ cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( link) - ^ a b c "Shwesandaw Pagoda – A "GUARDIAN" OF ANCIENT BAGAN". 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ "Dapein Dams". Burma Rivers Network. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ "Construction of Gigantic Sitting Buddha Statue Nearly Complete". Myanmar Digital News. 2019-01-14.
- ^ Matsui, Motokazu (2016-08-07). "Japan-built weather radar a new landmark in Yangon". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 2020-04-17.
- ^ Ishizawa, Yoshiaki; Yasushi Kōno (1989). Study on Pagan. Sophia: Institute for Asian Cultures. p. 239.
- ^ "Bagan". Union of Myanmar Travel Association. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
- ^ "Nan-Myint Tower". Retrieved 2020-04-26.
Bibliography
- Foer, Joshua; Ella Morton; Dylan Thuras. Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders (2 ed.). p. 170. ISBN 9781523508471.
- Langmead, Donald; Garnault, Christine (2001). Encyclopedia of Architectural and Engineering Feats. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781576071120.
- Moore, Elizabeth H.; Win Maung (Tampawaddy) (June 2016). "The Social Dynamics of Pagoda Repair in Upper Myanmar". Journal of Burma Studies. 20 (1). NUS Press: 149–198. doi: 10.1353/jbs.2016.0006. S2CID 148063193.
- Myanmar News Agency (2016-03-16).
"Holy symbols hoisted atop Sagaing Htupayon Pagoda". Global New Light of Myanmar. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
{{ cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( link) - Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, Myanmar (2018-12-06). "Shwedagon Pagoda on Singuttara Hill". UNESCO.