Sitagu International Buddhist Academy

Myanmar is trying to position itself as the quintessential Buddhist country worldwide. The sheer amount of temples helps to perpetuate this view. It's not strange therefore, to extend special long-term visas for people practising meditation here, or that they have created an International Buddhist University (Sitagu International Buddhist Academy). In the centre of the university there is a curious pagoda, which unlike many others that I've seen, has offices inside it. Surrounding the stupa there are small compartments where you can find exhibitions of photographs, always with Buddhist themes.