The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda (Burmese: ကောင်းမှုတော် ဘုရား [káʊɴ m̥ṵ dɔ́ pʰəjá]; Yaza Mani Sula Kaunghmudaw (ရာဇမဏိစူဠာ ကောင်းမှုတော်); also spelled Kaung-hmu-daw) is a large pagoda on the northwestern outskirts of Sagaing in central Myanmar (Burma). Modeled after the Ruwanwelisaya pagoda of Sri Lanka, the Kaunghmudaw is known for its egg-shaped design, which stands out among more traditional-style, pyramid-shaped Burmese pagodas. The stupa's formal name Yaza Mani Sula signifies the enshrinement of Buddhist relics inside its relic chamber. But it is commonly known by its popular name, Kaunghmudaw (lit. "Royal Merit-Making"). It is an important pilgrimage and tourist destination in the Sagaing area.
Pagodas in Burma (or Myanmar) are tiered structures for Buddhist religious purposes; the Burmese word is ဘုရား (MLCTS bhu.ra:; pronounced [pʰəjá]). Theravada Buddhism is the religion of the majority of Burma's population (90%). In all parts of the country where the Burmese people live there are pagodas and Buddhist monasteries. The graceful tapering shape of a pagoda painted white or gilded to a shining gold, is a basic part of any Burmese landscape. Burma is often called the "Land of Pagodas". Following are some lists of pagodas.
Mandalay is a cultural and religious center of Buddhism, having many monasteries and more than 700 pagodas.