How it would look.
Just a small ways upstream from the former Myanmar capital of Mandalay are the ruins of the Mingun Paya. Set to be the largest Buddhist stupa in the world when construction began in 1790, no stupa to this day would have surpassed it. Construction was soon abandoned though, as a astrological advisor to the king predicted that he would die and his dynasty would come to an end should the Mingun Paya ever be completed.
Now the base remains a large tourist attraction, though people are no longer allowed to climb. It’s jokingly referred to as the largest pile of bricks and rubble in the world.
The scale of the Mingun Paya base from a distance.
I also love to travelling ancient temples.
The base has a Mon-Dvaravati look. Would love to visit this one one day.
You’re right in that it has a very square/cubic base. A curious variation from the usual basic bell-shape you see around Thailand and Laos, or even the rest of Myanmar. Kind of a shame it was never finished, though that photo of the intended shape was very helpful in imagining it.