Bupaya

The Bupaya pagoda stands out for its distinct, bulbous shape that resembles a gourd. This golden structure rises directly from the steep, terraced banks of the Irrawaddy River. Legend credits its construction to the mid-ninth century Pyusawhti, a king who cleared the area of gourds to secure the land. While the original structure collapsed into the river during the nineteen seventy-five earthquake, the pagoda that rises here today is a faithful reconstruction, serving as a landmark for travelers navigating the river.