Southern Shan palace devastated by storm
Once the abode of Shan princes, a historical palace in southern Shan state was reduced to a heap of wood by gales and downpours this week.
The Pinlaung Palace was already dilapidated by years of severe weather, earthquakes, and neglects. But a recent storm was the final straw, according to a video and photos posted on Facebook today.
The princes, or saophas, of Pinlaung ruled the palace for centuries, before they relinquished their titles in 1959.
The last saopha, Siripyanchi Sao Moe Kyaw, was jailed in 1962 along with the rulers of other Shan state principalities when the military seized power in a coup.
Relatives of the late Saopha who live in the area cared for the local attraction, but a lack of funding prevented any maintenance work.
