Woodworking in Burma, the monasteries

Burma is a very religous country, Budism is the main religion and you see the monks everywhere in large numbers. And they live in monasteries, so there is no shortage of these either. There are a couple of old ones preserved, made of teak wood. All of these with huge timbers, supporting the structure and lots of decorative carving.

The Bagay Kaung in Inwa, close to Mandalay and a former capitol of the country. It is made in 1834 and still in use as a monastery.

In the town of Mandalay there are two very nice ones. The Shwe In Bin Kyaung which had a serene quietness when we arrived. Rich Chinese jade merchants build this one in 1895.

The famous Shwenandaw Kyaung which is the most richly carved monastery with lots of (fading) gilding inside. It was first the royal appartment from King Mindon who died in 1878, but later moved out of the palace walls and converted to a monastery, luckily because the palace was completely ruined in WW2.