Pagoda in Yangôn (Rangoon) that is the centre of Burmese religious life.
A Buddhist temple complex begun in the 15th century, the cone-shaped Shwe Dagon is constructed of brick and is completely covered with gold. Raised over a relic chamber, it was rebuilt several times and was brought to its present height of 326 ft (99 m) in 1841 by King Tharrawaddy. The pagoda sits atop a hill that rises 168 ft (51 m) above the city.