| Native name | ကရဝိတ်နန်းတော် |
|---|---|
| Architectural style | Traditional Burmese architecture |
| Location | Kandawgyi Lake, Yangon, Myanmar |
| Address | Kandawgyi Lake, Nat Mauk Road, Yangon, Myanmar |
| Coordinates | 16.7986°N 96.1657°E |
| Construction start date | 1972 |
| Completion date | 1974 (age 52) |
| Floor area | 82 by 39 metres (269 by 128 ft) |
| Client | Government of Myanmar |
| Owner | Private leaseholder (since late 1990s) |
| Known for | Landmark |
Karaweik (Burmese: ကရဝိက် ဖောင် kəɹəweɪʔ pʰàʊɰ̃) or Karaweik Hall is a structure and landmark on the eastern shore of Kandawgyi Lake, Yangon, Burma.
Etymology
The word karaweik comes from Pali karavika (ကရဝီက), which is a mythical bird with a melodious cry.
History
The structure commissioned by General Ne Win, who was inspired by a Burmese pavilion displayed at the Expo '70 in Osaka, which in turn was modeled after the Pyigyimon royal barge used by Mandalay’s royal court.[1]
The barge was designed by Burmese architect U Ngwe Hlaing, designed to appear as if floating on the lake’s surface, with an ornate design featuring mythical karaweik birds at the bow and a seven-tiered pyatthat roof reflecting traditional Burmese architecture.[1] The barge was constructed as a two-storied construction of concrete and stucco, reinforced by iron rods, with a pyatthat-topped roof, two reception halls and a conference room.[2] Construction began in June 1972 and it was finished in October 1974.[3][4]
During the 8888 Uprising, it was a safe haven for monks from nearby monasteries.[1] Managed by the Ministry of Trade until the 1990s, it was later leased to a private operator.[1]
References
- ^ "Karaweik Palace". Architectural Guide: Yangon. Retrieved 2025-05-18.
- ^ "Kandawgyi Nature Park". Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
- ^ "Karaweik Palace". AFAR Media. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
- ^ DK Eyewitness Myanmar (Burma). Penguin. 2016-09-20. ISBN 978-0-7440-2350-3.