Global Vipassana Pagoda, Meditation hall in Gorai, Mumbai, India
The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a meditation hall in Gorai, a neighborhood in western Mumbai, India. The main dome rises 99 meters (325 feet) high and encloses a large open space designed for silent meditation.
Planning began in 1997, followed by construction starting in 2000. The completed building opened in February 2009 with Indian President Pratibha Patil attending the ceremony.
The name comes from Vipassana meditation, a practice visitors can learn during quiet sessions held inside. People from many countries come to meditate and view the religious relics kept here.
Foreign visitors need to show a passport or driving license to enter. No food may be brought in or eaten anywhere on the grounds.
The dome is the largest stone structure in the world without support pillars. Each stone weighs between 600 and 700 kilograms (1320 and 1540 pounds) and interlocks without needing mortar.
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