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Yangon and Surroundings |
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Yangon
 Yangon
is the largest city and main gateway to Myanmar by
air and sea. It's cool and green with tropical
trees, shady parks and beautiful with lakes. Most
famous for the unique and glittering Shwedagon
Pagoda, but a wealth of other sights a wait visitors
including markets, diverse temples, and impressive
colonial-era buildings. The world famous Shwedagon
Pagoda is the landmark of Myanmar. The golden dome
rises 100 meters above its base and is covered with
60 tons of pure gold. The magnificent glory,
serenity and sanctity of the Shwedagon Pagoda must
be seen and felt rather than by words.
Almost all
International Airlines are serving Myanmar fly to
Yangon International Airport. Therefore, one-night
stay in Yangon is recommended before visiting or
traveling to the up-country and one night at the end
of the trip. Yangon has direct air-links with
Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kumming, Dhaka, Kuala
Lumpur, Culcutta with Myanmar Airways International,
Silk Air, Thai International, Malaysia Airlines etc.
operate regular flights in and out of Yangon.
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Shwedagon Pagoda
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The world famous
Shwedagon Pagoda is the prominent landmark of Yangon
which is almost 100 meters towering above the green
city-scape of Yangon. It can be seen from miles
around and believed to have been built 2500 years
ago. According to legend, two brothers enshrined
eight strands of hair from the Lord Buddha with
relics from the previous Buddha. The chamber was
sealed with a gold slab and built over with a golden
pagoda. This pagoda was in turn built over with a
silver pagoda, then a tin, a copper, a lead, a
marble and then an iron brick pagoda.
*Your visit to Yangon will be incomplete without
visiting Shwedagon Pagoda.*
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Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda
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The pagoda
enshrines a large reclining Buddha image (70 meters
long), which was originally built in 1907 but it was
suffered damage due to the climate for years. It was
demolished in 1957 and rebuilt to this structure in
1966.
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Bogyoke Aung San Market
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Formerly named Scott Market, it
is the main shopping centre of the city. Open daily
from 09:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m. except public
Holidays.
Shopping
Myanmar arts and
crafts, mostly pure hand-made, are best souvenirs
and prices are very reasonable. Lacquer ware, wood
and ivory carvings, tapestries, silverware,
brassware, silk and cotton fabrics and shoulder bags
are some of the favorite items. For jewelleries,
there are Myanmar rubies, sapphires, jade and pearls
available at Myanmar Gems Shops.
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Other interesting places of
Yangon
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Blind School
Gem Museum and Gem Market
Hlawga Wildlife Park
Kabaraye Pagoda (World Peace Pagoda)
Kandawgyi National Park
Karaweik Palace
Meditation Centers
Nagar Glass Factory
National Museum
People's Square & People's Park
Yangon Zoo
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Yangon and Surroundings |
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Bago
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Bago is located
just 80km to the northeast of Yangon. It is believed
the first settlers here were the Mons. According to
the legend two Mon brothers founded the city in 825
AD. In the 13th century Bago became the capital of
the Mon Kingdom when it became to be known as "Hansavati"
or "Hanthawaddy". Today it is the capital of the
Bago Division.
Shwethalyaung
reclining Buddha Image (55 meters long 16 meters
high) is reputed to be one of the largest as well as
most life linked reclining Buddha images in the
world. In 994, this big Buddha was restored several
times but was overgrown by the jungle after the
total destruction of Bago by the Burmans in 1757.
From Yangon, on
the way to Bago, you can enjoy beautiful and green
landscape of country side. Bago is a small town but
you are recommended to visit only if you have extra
time. Moreover, you can extend your trip to
Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) which is one of the wonders
of Myanmar.
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Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock)
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"The Golden Rock"
(Kyaikhtiyo) is one of the most famous legendary
pagodas which is about 160 Km from Yangon. "The
Golden Rock" pagoda is a huge gold-plated boulder
poised on the edge of a steep cliff which is above
3615 ft above sea level. Our coach has to stop at
Kinpun Base Camp. Passengers have to take open
mini-trucks to the hermit "Yathae Hill". From "Yathae
Hill", they have to trek about an hour up hill.
Porters and palanquins are for rent to carry luggage
and pilgrims who are too old or weak. October to May
is the season of pilgrimage. You are recommended to
visit Kyaikhtiyo during the pilgrimage season to
explore not only scenic Mountain View but also
wonders of Kyaikhtiyo.*Memorable
for its tranquility, as well as for its majesty.*
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Pyay ( Prome )
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Pyay (formerly known as Prome) lies on a sharp bend in the Ayeyarwaddy River. It can be reached by road (an eight-hour drive to north of Yangon) or an overnight riverboat trip south of Bagan. Nearby one can observe the ruins of the ancient Pyu capital of Thayekhittaya. Pyay serves as an important transshipment point for cargo moving between Upper and Lower Myanmar along the Ayeyarwaddy River. Pyay has a famous pagoda named Shwesandaw. The pagoda is perched on top of the hill in the center of the town.
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Mawlamyine
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Mawlamyine is
situated 299 km ( 10 hours drive ) from Yangon. It
is reached by coach up to Mottama on the northern
bank of Thanlwin River and crossing by car ferry to
the southern bank.
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Thanbyuzayat
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One of the
historical sites of World War II is located in
Thanpyuzayat, 64 kilometers south of Mawlamyine, the
third largest city of Myanmar. This was the western
terminus of the notorious Burma-Siam Railway, known
as "Death Railway". In this remote town one can see
a locomotive and piece of rail tract commemorating
the Burma-Siam Railway. There is also the Allied War
Cemetery where 3771 graves of Allied soldiers who
gave their lives for the construction of death
railway line during the world war. The cemetery lies
a kilometers west of the clock tower in the town.
One can easily observed a small zinc roofed shelter
with eight pillars in the middle of the town. That
is the symbol of the town to be called "Thanbyuzayat".
Thanpyu means zinc and zayat means shelter.
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