The Shwedagon Paya is not just about the central stupa, although admittedly, it is the most prominent part of the Shwedagon Paya complex. The main stupa itself it surrounded by a multitude of small and large Buddhist temples. None of them though are directly attached to the main stupa. The platform of the Shwedagon Paya is basically a set of temples, with the stupa right smack in the middle.
The temples themselves are nothing to sneeze at either. There are certainly very ornate and fit to be at grounds of the Shwedagon Paya. Although, the temples tend to have the same features there were some that were quite distinct from the others. Some sported a Burmese look, others approach a Thai look, while others have an Indian temple look. The temples here were built over the years and it was fortunate that there complex was not filled with temples in every corner.
The main “road” surrounding the main stupa is nice and wide, this having been paved with marble. Some of the other temples didn’t have this marble flooring, though they do make a nice shelter from the hot sun. Although a huge majority of the visitors come to see the central stupa, a lot of the locals pay their respects at the individual temples. Each one of them filled with dozens golden statues of Buddha. I’m not sure what makes one different from the other, or what makes one more important than the other but seeing the individual temples is just as exciting as seeing the main stupa of the Shwedagon Paya.
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