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.
Shwedagon Pagoda
 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.
Chaukhtatkyi
Pagoda
 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.
Bogyoke Aung San
Market
 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.
Other interesting
places of Yangon
- 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
Yangon and
surroundings
Bago
 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.
Kyaikhtiyo
(Golden Rock)
 "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.
Pyay ( Prome )
 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.
Mawlamyine
 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.
Thanbyuzayat
 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. |
