Kyaukthittar Pagoda
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| Kyaukthittar Pagoda | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Theravada Buddhism |
| Location | |
| Location | Kyaukse, Mandalay Region |
| Country | Myanmar |
  Shown within Myanmar | |
| Geographic coordinates | 21°36′7.28″N 96°8′43.01″E / 21.6020222°N 96.1452806°E |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Alaungsithu or Swa Saw Ke |
| Groundbreaking | 11th century or 14th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | around 60 feet |
| Width | around 60 feet |
Kyaukthittar Pagoda (ကျောက်သေတ္တာစေတီ; lit. 'The Stone Chest Pagoda') is a stone-based Buddhist stupa situated at an elevation of approximately 350 feet on the slope of Kyaukse Hill in Myanmar. The pagoda is constructed atop a large rock formation that resembles the appearance of the famous Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. The stone has a circumference of about 60 feet. Its stone base and elevated position make it a notable religious and cultural site in the region.
The Kyaukse Yazawin (ကျောက်ဆည်မှတ်တမ်း) records that King Alaungsithu of the Pagan dynasty (r. 1113–1167) ordered the construction of the pagoda after a divine omen. During his royal tour, while paying homage to the Shwethalyaung Pagoda, he witnessed a miraculous sign—the sacred rays of Buddha relics paused and rested upon the legendary stone chest. Interpreting this as a divine message, the king declared, "At this sacred spot where the relics have manifested, I shall build a pagoda to honor my faith," and proceeded to erect the stupa directly atop the relic chest.[1]
An alternative account suggests that the pagoda was constructed in the 14th century by King Swa Saw Ke (r. 1367–1400), a monarch of the Ava Kingdom. Initially, the stupa and the stone were white, but they were later gilded and are now venerated as a golden-hued stone. It is said that although the pagoda originally stood at 9 taung (approximately 4.5 meters) when first built, subsequent devotees and merit-seekers gradually renovated and expanded the structure to its current height of 13 taung (about 6.5 meters) over time.
The pagoda was damaged, and the casket pagoda tilted approximately 30 degrees following the powerful 2025 Myanmar earthquake. Due to the risk of the stone chest pagoda collapsing from the impact, the local government planned its demolition using dynamite and urgently notified nearby residents to evacuate the area to prevent any potential harm.[2]
On April 15, 2025, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Prime Minister of Myanmar, visited the pagoda to inspect its condition. He issued directives to preserve the sacred site without resorting to demolition or the use of explosives, instead recommending structural reinforcement using poured concrete.[3]
