THE Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Mandalay Branch) continues the preservation of Golden Palace Monastery in its original artworks of the Yadanabon era for public observation in Mandalay, according to Daw San San Pyone, staff officer of the department. Among the work plans for this year, the department completed six repair works- recreating the signboard letters in front of the Monastery, renewing the historical documents of the palace, applying oil dregs underneath the pillars, conserving the pillars at the western and eastern chambers of Satawun Hall, replacing the damaged pillars and pruning.
“The king donated the Shwenandaw Kyaung, so it is one of the first-class ancient monasteries. The department conducts conservation works every year. We explain the historical importance to the local and foreign travellers. The palace survived intact during the Second World War. It offers an opportunity to study ten Myanmar traditional arts just in one place. Therefore, I would like to invite all domestic and foreign travellers, students from universities, colleges and basic education schools,” she said.
The 10 Jataka stories of Buddha are depicted on teak plates, which are six feet long and three feet thick, sticking on the pillars of the shrine room of the palace, and they are fenced to prevent people from touching them.
“The Department of Archaeology and National Museum conserved the Shwenandaw in 1995. The entrance fee is K500 per head for locals and free for children under 12, while K15,000 per head for foreigners. The admission is free for students,” she continued.
The Shwenandaw was situated in the Myanansan Shwenandaw compound and separate hall of King Mindon. After the death of King Mindon in 1878, King Thibaw, son of King Mindon, rebuilt the palace at the current site in 1883. The 150 pillars span 116 feet from east to west, 71 feet from south to north, and stand 60 feet tall. — Min Htet Aung (Mandalay Sub-Printing House)/KTZH