13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Monks at the entrance of Mingun Stupa

The Mingun Pahtodawgyi is an incomplete stupa in Mingun (Myanmar). Earthquakes caused some deep cracks in the facade. Built to house a relic of the Buddha, the brick structure was originally intended to be over 150 metres tall. However, the technology was not capable of enabling its full construction and so it reaches 30 metres.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2015
Date Uploaded: 11.2015
Photo Location: Mingun, Myanmar
Camera: NIKON D800
Copyright: © María Ibáñez