The ruins are the remains of a massive construction project begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790 which was intentionally left unfinished.

He set up an observation post on an island off Mingun to personally supervise the construction of the temple.

Thus, construction was slowed to prevent the prophecy's realisation and when the king died, the project was completely halted.

However, a small shrine with a Buddha image still serves its purpose as a place of worship and meditation.

The weight of the bell in Burmese measurement, is 55,555 viss or peiktha (1 viss = 1.63 kg), handed down as a mnemonic "Min Hpyu Hman Hman Pyaw", with the consonants representing the number 5 in Burmese astronomy and numerology.