Yangon & Its environs

The main attraction of Yangon is the World famous Shwedagon Pagoda. The platform is more than 5 hectares large and 58m height. It is plated with more than 30 tons of gold. The top of the golden cone is set with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, topaz and other precious stones. All around the main Stupa is a cluster of temples, shrines, prayer halls, religious images and statues. Deeply religious well-wishers and donors have been donating those precious items willingly. According to the legend, it was built more than two thousand and five hundred years ago. Shwedagon pagoda was rebuilt higher several times until it finally reached its present. The best time to see Shwedagon is at sunset its gilded stupa is bathed in the fading rays of the sun and takes on a magical glow. 

Sule is the landmark and heart of Yangon. It's just across Myanmar Travel & Tour office. It is said to have been over 2000 years old too. This pagoda is also said to enshrine a hair of Buddha: it's Mon name, "Kyaik Athok" means "the pagoda where a sacred hair relic is enshrined". Sule Pagoda is extraordinary in it's octagonal shape. It stands 152 feet (46 meters) high and is surrounded by small shops and all the familiar non-religious services such as astrologists, palmists, photographers, and so on. 

"Botataung" means "one thousand military officers". It stands on the riverbank of Yangon river. The locality is the busy waterfront with wharves, their daily traffic of steamer and boats.The 40 m high Stupa is holy type, and the visitors are able to walk around inside it. The interior of the room is covered with mosaic glass and display with donated valuable items and the relic. It's said to have the genuine hair relics of Buddha. 

This Pagoda has one of the largest reclining Buddha Images having smiling lips. The original image was built in 1907. It was in ruins and damages due to worse climate over the years. In 1957, the image was demolished and rebuilt into this structure in 1966. The image itself is 67m long and famous for its 108-disinguishing symbols on the soles of his two huge feet. There are about fifty monasteries surrounding the reclining Buddha image. Nearly 500 monks reside there and they are learning the Buddhist Scriptures.

The pagoda was built in honor of the sixth international Buddhist council in 1954.Near to the Pagoda lies a Great artificial cave for religious ceremonies and gatherings. Quite close by, there exist Gem Museum and Gems market with Jeweler shops and Museum. 

If you visit to Bago, first the "Kyaik Pun" pagoda will be staring you in the face. King "Dhammazedi" built these four Buddha Images in 1476. It exists of 30 meters high four huge-sitting-Buddhas placing back to back around a huge square pillar. This unusual and impressive pagoda is 5 km away from Bago on the Yangon-Bago road.

One of the oldest pagodas in Bago is Shwemawdaw. It is said to be more than thousand years old and 114 meters high. Two Hairs of Buddha enshrined under this Stupa. Behind the Shwemawdaw Pagoda located on the hilltop, there lays another Pagoda named "Hinthagone". It was built by "U Khanti" who was a hermit monk. He was also the architect of Mandalay hill. It was good view over Bago from the hilltop. 

It is a reclining Buddha image, a little km away form railway station. King Minga Depa II donated it, in 994 AD. It is 55m long and 16m high. The image represents as though relaxing mode. 

It was once a major trading port and its surroundings create many attractions. Portuguese occupied buildings are still standing as evidences. It is 30 minutes drive from Yangon. The two busy pagodas "Kyaik-Khauk" and "Yele (Island Pagoda), Portuguese church and a century old Sacred Heart church are there. Kyaik-Khauk pagoda, it is built on a hillock on the road to Kyauktan. It is an imposing golden Stupa similar to the Shwedagon pagoda. A short day trip to Thanlyin can be taken from Yangon Jetty either by a ferryboat or by crossing the 270-meter long bridge. Yele (Island pagoda) means the pagoda in the middle of river. The visitor can reach by ferry to the pagoda.

Twante is famous for the 21 miles long canal that runs between the Irrawaddy Delta and the Yangon River. It is known as the pottery town that has been one of the places of interest and famous for its pottery and hand-woven cotton cloth. These pots have been in use extensively across the nation for kitchen application purposes and others. Twante is only three-hour boat trip from Yangon.