Kuthodaw Pagoda is at the southeastern base of Mandalay Hill

At the southeastern base of Mandalay Hill is Kuthodaw Pagoda. At the center of the temple is the 100 foot high golden Maha Lawka Marazein Pagoda. But the most interesting feature of the temple is the 729 smaller pagodas that surround the central shrine.

 
Kuthodaw Pagoda has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The pagoda houses more than 700 marble slabs etched with the entire Buddhist Scriptures as adopted at the 5th Buddhist Synod during the reign of King Mindon more than 200 years ago. This collection of marble slabs with the Buddhist Scriptures is also known as the World’s Biggest Book!
The pagoda's original name, Maha Lawka Marazein is a Pali name. "Kuthodaw" means "royal merit". It was built by King Mindon in 1859 and the design was modelled on the Shwezigone Pagoda in Bagan. It was completed in 1862. Indochinatourguide.com is pleased to take you to grab a genuine Myanmar tour.

After the fall of Myanmar (Burma) post the third Angalo-Burmese war of 1885 and annexation of Mandalay by the British, the Kuthodaw Pagoda’s jewels were looted and the gold ink and the edges of the marbles were scraped. The marbles were later restored in black ink and the Pagoda was slowly restored by efforts of various parties, including Queen Victoria, her officers, monks and former officers of the king Thibaw, Shan prince, and many others, including the public.