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It has been designed as a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon, Myanmar to show the gratitude of India to Myanmar for preserving the non-sectarian Vipassana Meditation, in its pristine purity, when it was lost in the country of its birth, India.
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The genuine relics of the Buddha are enshrined here.
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It is one of the largest stone monuments in Asia.
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The technique of inter-locking stones is used to construct the monument. This negates the need for any pillars in the construction of the Pagoda.
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It contains the biggest pillar-less stone dome on earth. It is more than thrice the size of the previously largest stone dome structure - the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur (90 feet in diameter).
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At its centre is a huge meditation hall, 280 feet in diameter which has a seating capacity of 8000 people.
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At 325 feet height, it is almost as tall as a 30 storey building.
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Approximately 2.5 million tons of stone was used in the construction.
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3.87 million man-days were required to complete the monument.
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It took 11 years to finish. The foundation stone was laid in October 1997 and the construction was completed in November 2008.
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The construction work progressed without interruption supported selflessly by Vipassana meditators and devotees from around the world.
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It is expected to exist as a beacon of Peace and Harmony for the next 1000 years.
