Phowintaung Cave Complex
A Phowintaung Buddha statue with murals
Location within Burma
Basic information
Geographic coordinates 22°02′44.46″N 94°59′3.03″E
22°02′44″N 94°59′3″E
Affiliation Theravada Buddhism
Country Myanmar
Architectural description
Completed 14th century
Phowintaung (Burmese: ဖိုဝင်တောင် [pʰo wɪ tàʊɴ], also spelt as Hpowindaung, Powintaung, Po Win Taung) is a Buddhist cave complex located approximately 25 kilometers west of Monywa and 10 kilometers southeast of Yinmabin, in Yinmabin Township, Monywa District, Sagaing Region, Northern Burma (Myanmar). It is located on the western bank of the Chindwin River. The name of the complex means Mountain of Isolated Solitary Meditation.
The complex contains 947 small and large richly decorated caves. It is carved into a sandstone outcrop and contains numerous carved Buddha statues and mural paintings of geometric patterns and Jataka stories. The statues and paintings have been dated to between the 14th and 18th centuries.
Accessibility
It is accessible from Monywa either by direct road over the new bridge or by a ferry across the Chindwin and then taking a jeep at the scenic Nyaungbin village.
