The Prime Minister paid his respects at the pagoda on the last day of his three-day first bilateral visit to this Buddhist-majority country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited the 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, considered to be the pinnacle of Myanmar’s cultural heritage.

Mr. Modi paid his respects at the pagoda on the last day of his three-day first bilateral visit to this Buddhist-majority country.

He also planted a Bodhi tree sapling at the pagoda complex, signifying common cultural heritage.

“A moment with timelessness. PM @narendramodi visits 2,500-years-old Shwedagon Pagoda, considered to be the pinnacle of Myanmar’s cultural heritage,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing 'aarthi' at Kalibari Temple in Yangon on Thursday. | Photo Credit: PIB

The Shwedagon Pagoda enshrines strands of Buddha’s hair and other holy relics.

Located west of the Royal Lake in Yangon, Shwedagon Pagoda is considered to be the most sacred and impressive Buddhist site for the Myanmarese people.

From a humble beginning of 8.2 metres, the Shwedagon Pagoda today stands close to 110 meters.

Shwedagon Pagoda is covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of the stupa is encrusted with 4,531 diamonds, the largest of which is a 72 carat diamond.

Leaves for home

Mr. Modi thenleft for home after concluding his first bilateral visit to Myanmar during which he held wide-ranging talks with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and vowed to combat terror.

“My Myanmar visit covered significant ground in giving a much needed impetus to India—Myanmar relations & deepening bilateral cooperation,” Modi tweeted before he left for India.

“I thank the people and Government of Myanmar for their exceptional hospitality during my visit to the beautiful nation of Myanmar,” Mr. Modi said in another tweet.