The Mahamuni Buddha Temple is the most important pilgrimage site in Mandalay, housing a 3.8-metre seated Buddha image that is one of the most revered in Myanmar. According to tradition the image was cast during the lifetime of the historical Buddha and is one of only five that carry his own likeness — a claim that concentrates extraordinary devotion on this spot.
The temple compound is lively and active at any hour, with monks and pilgrims in constant attendance. Around the main shrine, a cluster of bronze statues — captured from the ancient Khmer capital of Angkor and brought to Mandalay in the 18th century — stand in an outer courtyard. Early morning (before 5am) is when monks ritually wash and anoint the image's face, a ceremony attended by hundreds of worshippers. The temple is about 3 km southwest of the palace.