World's Most beautiful Pagodas
By: Lee

Bagan, Myanmar

Formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Division of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the ancient capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma.

The pagodas and temples here dates from 11th and 12th centuries. The shape and construction of each building is highly significant in Buddhism with each component part taking on spiritual meaning.

Chùa Má»™t Cá»™t- One Pillar Pagoda, Hanoi, Vietnam

This pagoda s an icon of Vietnamese culture. The One Pillar Pagoda is a historic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It is regarded alongside the Perfume Temple, as one of Vietnam's two most iconic temples.

Huqiu Tower, built in 961 outside of Suzhou, China

It has several other names, including the 'Leaning Tower of China' and the Yunyan Temple Tower. The tower was built in the later period of the Five Dynasties (907-960 CE), completed by the second year of the Song Dynasty. The tower rises to a height of 47 m (154 ft). It is a seven-story octagonal building built with blue bricks. In more than a thousand years the tower has gradually slanted due to forces of nature.

Pha That Luang, the holiest wat, pagoda, and stupa in Laos, in Vientiane

Pha That Luang is a gold-covered large Buddhist stupa on the eastern outskirts of Vientiane, Laos. Since its initial establishment suggested to be in the 3rd century, the stupa has undergone several reconstructions until the 1930s due to foreign invasions to the area. It is generally regarded as the most important national monument in Laos and a national symbol.

Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda in Ping Shan, Hong Kong

Tsui Sing Lau was, according to the Tang clan, originally located at a mouth of Deep Bay. It was built by the seventh-generation ancestor, Tang Yin-tung, to avoid evil spirits from the north, prevent floods and help the Tangs win a title in the imperial examination. Numerous Tangs have been granted titles. It was declared a monument on 14 December, 2001.

Iron Pagoda of Kaifeng, built in 1049 AD, during the Chinese Song Dynasty

The Iron Pagoda of Youguo Temple in Kaifeng City, Henan province, is a Buddhist Chinese pagoda built in 1049 AD during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) of China. The pagoda is so-named not because it is made of iron, but because the colour of the building resembles that of iron. It is a brick pagoda tower built on the location of a previous wooden pagoda that had been burnt down by lightning fire in 1044 AD. Along with the Liuhe, Lingxiao, Liaodi, Pizhi, and Beisi pagodas, it is seen as a masterpiece of Song Dynasty architecture.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, built in Xi'an, China in 652

One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang.

Global Pagoda, the largest unsupported domed stone structure in the world

The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a notable monument in Mumbai, India. The pagoda is to serve as a monument of peace and harmony. This monument was inaugurated by Pratibha Patil, the President of India on February 8, 2009. It is located in the north of Mumbai in an area called Gorai and is built on donated land on a peninsula between Gorai creek and the Arabian Sea.

Beisi Pagoda at Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, built in 1162

The base of the pagoda has an octagonal frame, and the tower rises nine stories in a total height of 76 m (243 ft). The pagoda was once eleven stories tall, yet was damaged and reduced to nine stories. its double eaves and flying corners are similar to that of the Liuhe Pagoda found in Hangzhou. Its base and outside walls are made of brick, the balustrades made of stone, and the eaves and banisters encircling the structure are made of wood.