bago

DESTINATION

Yangon - Bago - Kyaikhtiyoe(Golden Rock) -Taunggu(Elephant Camp) - Kalaw - Inlay -Pindaya - Cave - Kakku - Mandalay - Pyin U Lwin - Hsipaw - Bagan - Salay -Pyay

Yangon

Yangon, formerly no more than a village or a small town called Dagon (1755), means literally "The End of Strife". Never regret to drop in to enjoy the visits of interesting themes like religious monuments, colonial architecture of old “Rangoon”, zoological garden, Wildlife Park in Hlawga , Peoples' Park on Pyay Road, Bogyoke Aung San Market and the Kandawgy and Inya Lakes.

Shwe-Da-Gon Pagoda

The Shwe-Da-Gon Pagoda is the prominent landmark of wayfarers, glittering under the sun-shine and assuming to be a solid gold-hill. One of the wonders of the world, the Shwe-Da-Gon is believed to have been built approximately 2,500 years ago. It is venerated for the embodiment of relics of Buddhas. Its oldest stupa built between VI and X century rises 98 metres (326 feet) above its base. Shwe-Da-Gon Pagoda is also highly admired for the elegant and grandeur of its architectural perfection by the natives and architects all over the world. It is the essence of Myanmar and a place that never fails to enchant.

Botataung Paya

Standing on the river-bank , you will enjoy from there the most scenic point of view on marine-life of the Yangon river. The name of the paya refers to the 1000 military leaders (Bo means military leader and tataung means 1000) who escorted the relics of the Bouddha coming from India 2000 years ago. The strong point of this pagoda is that the original hair-relics can be viewed in a glass-sealed relic-chamber.

National Museum

The most relevent object in this museum is the “Lion Throne”, once the symbol of power and authority of King Thibaw Min, the last king of Myanmar.

Thanlyin (Kyauk Tan)

Across the river lies Thanlyin, which was the base for Philip De Brito, a Portuguese adventurer, in early 17 century. The place hosts an old church with nothing left but only a shell and tomb-stone with inscriptions. Out of town lies Kyaik-khaukPaya which contains two Buddhas’hairs and two tombs of famous Burmese writers. Some 12 km further are to see the Yele Paya (also called Mid River Pagoda) and a gigantic sitting Buddha at Padagyi village.

Bago City

Situated 80 km east from Yangon (one hour drive ) Bago was grounded by two Mon princes (AD 573) and was the ancient Mon capital. During the 16 century Bago becomes the capital of the Kingdom of the Second Myanmar Empire, during the reign of King Bayintnaung.

Today, Bago still offers many historic buildings to draw the attention of a large scale of visitors.

Shwe-maw-daw Paya

The Paya is the heart of the region and is widely known as Payagyi (Great Golden God Paya, 114m high). Like the phoenix in Greek mythology, the Paya has suffered and recovered from 34 severe earth-quakes during its history, as Bago lies on the epicentre in the earth-quake prone-zone. Unlike the elegant Shwedagon, there is an out-break between the octagonal base and the bell-edge of the upper-structure. In fact, it is higher than any other pagoda in Myanmar

Shwe-tha-lyaung Buddha

This reclining Buddha is larger than Chauk-htat-gyi in Yangon and measures 55 m long, 16 m high and 9 m wide. It was first built for centuries ago (994 AD) and was totally lost after the destruction of Bago in 1757. Its restoration took place from 1881 to 1903. Nowadays, it is noted to be one of the most life like of all reclining Buddhas. Actually, it is done in well proportionate structure and symmetrical balance. Behind the Buddha figure you will see wall paintings and bas-relief carvings relating the historical foundation of the image.

Kyaik- Hti-Yoe ( Golden Rock )

The Kyaik Hti Yoe Pagaoda is also known as the Golden Rock. It is the largest domestic tourism centre located about 140 km east (5 hours drive) from Yangon. The Golden Rock is a sacred, massive, gold-leafed boulder resting precariously on the edge of a cliff at the top of Mount Kyaik Hti Yoe. The hill lies about 1100 m above the sea level. The legend says that the balance of the rock is due to a Buddha’s hair specially placed in the stupa

Pyay (Prome or Pyi) is best known for the nearby archaelogical site of Sri Ksetra (3rd to 4th century AD) known as Thaye Khittaya today. It is an important trading centre between Lower and Upper Myanmar. Pyay in Myanmar language means nation or country. It is located on the river bank of the Ayeyarwaddy river, 7 hours North from Yangon. According to legend our country starts from this city. There is one railway line from Yangon to Pyay, which is the very first railway line in Myanmar built by the British .

At 875 metres above sea level, Inle Lake is surrounded by high hills which keep the waters calm and the lake area misty. 22 km long and 11 km wide, Inle Lake is home to 70,000 Bamar, Danaw, Danu, Intha, Kayah, Pa-O, Shan, and Taung-yo peoples, among others - roughly half of the area’s population. The water is covered with floating gardens and busy fishing canoes.

One of the two natural big lakes in Myanmar, Inle is situated on the Nyaung Shwe plain in Southern Shan State. It is an uphill lake and the commonest tour destination in Eastern Shan plateau. The leg-rowing style of the inhabitants is so stylistic and breathtaking. Then, The colourful ethnical tribes at market place, the traditional costumes at pagoda festivals and the ceremonies always reveal the incredible beauty of this lake.

The most famous are the Paungdawoo pagoda festival which lasts 3 weeks between September and October and the traditional regatta contest. Handicrafts of Shan clothes, bags, and silver-wares will be on your souvenir shopping list.

Kalaw is a peaceful and quiet place situated in the West of the Shan State. Former colonial British hill station, this small-town offers cool temperatures (Kalaw sits at 1,300 meters elevation) and plenty of trekking opportunities. Traveling by car, it's about two hours west of Nyaungshwe on the western edge of the Shan hills.

Trekking around Kalaw can vary from a one-day to a three-day trek into the surrounding hills.

Palaung women wear colourful blue and red costumes and families often live in "long houses

About 45 km drive from Kalaw is Pindaya City not only popular for its caves but also for its scenic road passing through Pa-O and Danu villages surrounded with fields of potatoes which are grown in red mud mounds.

Pindaya is well known for its extensive limestone caves overlooking the lake . The caves are set deep in the hillsides and contains more than 8000 Buddhas images made from alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer and cement which have been put there over the centuries and arranged in such a way as to form a labyrinth throughout the various cave chambers.

Kak-Ku is located on the borderline of Shan and Pa-O region and is managed by a Pa-O collective. The land route from Inlay lake (Nyaung Shwe) to Kakku is 144 Km (three hours drive), and most part of the road is well paved and tarred. There is a railway line between Taungyi and Kakku. It has been constructed by the government in 1996, but foreigners aren’t allowed to take public transport to the site.

Over two thousand Stupas not higher than 3m to 4m, in various shapes and descriptions, are spread within Kakku Pagoda Complex and are the main attraction of the place.

The beautiful landscape surrounding the pagodas and the small winding roads leading to the complex, permitting a close observation of the vegetation and cultivation practices, are also of great interest. The final attraction is the observation of the daily life of the Pa-o tribal and their culture, their villages lining up along the main road.

Bagan is the most extraordinary sight in Myanmar dotted with thousand of 800-year old Pagodas and Temples spread all over the place stretching along the Ayeyarwady River. Some of them with beautiful mural paintings.

The archaeological zone is situated in Old Bagan which sits on the eastern bank of a deep bend of the Ayeyarwaddy River. This zone, the villages of Myinkaba, Bagan Myothit and Thiripyitsaya, is known as Bagan.

Mont Popa

Mont Popa is a volcanic cone rising to 737 m. (1518 from the sea level). At the top is the Popa Taungkalat, famously confused with Mt Popa itself. The Popa Taungkalat is the favoured home of the 37 Burmese nats (animist spirit entities). Popa is the center of the most important nat worship in Myanmar.

Mandalay is situated 600 km North from Yangon and was named after the Mandalay Hill, which is situated at the northeast corner of the present city. It is the historical old capital of Myanmar , interesting for culture and traditional arts and crafts. It is also here that the Fifth Buddhist synod took place under the reign of King Mindon. Mandalay was the capital of the last Burmese kingdom, which in 1886 was finally conquered by British colonial forces. Mandalay still has considerable cultural and religious significance and its Buddhist monasteries are among the most important in the country. About 60% of all the monks in Myanmar reside in the Mandalay area.

The four ancient cities around and near Mandalay

Amarapura, with the U Bein's wooden bridge which is made out of teak and is 1.2 km long and the Mahagandhayong Kyaung, center for monastic study for several thousand young monks

Inwa (Ava), this ancient city was the capital of a Burmese Kingdom between 1364 and 1841 date on which the shift was made to Amarapura. The Pali name of the city was Ratnapura (Yadanabon in Burmese) which means City of Gems.

Sagaing, was the capital of the independent Shan kingdom from 1315 to 1364, and later again from 1760 to 1764. Today it is a place mostly known as a religious centre with dozen of Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. In the Sagaing area there are some 600 Buddhist pagodas, temples and monasteries.

Mingun, is a pleasant and interesting trip with plenty to see along the way.

Pyin U Lwin (renamed Maymyo by a British colonel) lies 67 km east from Madalay, at 1070 m. There are several natural attractions around Pyin U Lwin and many colonial–era buildings. Beside these, it is also pleasant and cool and the air is fresh

For more details, please kindly contact me at the three under mentioned e-mail addresses:

info@sonny-myanmar-travelguide.com

sonny@myanmar.com.mm

sonnymyanmar@gmail.com

You can also reach me by phone :
(+951) 72 81 41 and (+95 9) 511 46 71. Fax : (+951) 72 90 47