The Shwedagon Pagoda is a stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar. Archaeologists believe the stupa was actually built sometime between the 6th and 10th centuries. The pagoda itself is a wondrous architectural achievement. The top soars well over 300 ft into the air (approximately 98 meters or more) above the hilltop and can be seen from quite far away. The Shwedagon, which means, loosely translated, “golden hills” is magnificently made out of gold and jewels all over.The base or plinth of the stupa is made of bricks covered with genuine gold plates.The crown or umbrella (hti) is tipped with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies. The very top, the diamond bud (sein bu) is tipped with a 76 carat (15 g) diamond.
