Yangon
Yangon, formerly called as Dagon became the
capital of the country in 1885 when previous
capital- Mandalay was seized by British. Yangon
means 'End of Strives'. It was renamed as Rangoon by
British rulers and was used until 1988. The seaport
town has been developed within over a century time
and became a clean beautiful city in Southeast Asia.
The city has many colonial-styled, historic, and
artistic and religious places as well as the
governmental offices and large shopping centres. The
landscape itself is completely picturesque with
lakes, parks, hills, shady old trees, and
rectangular grid-street system in downtown. The city
has few skyscrapers, negligible air pollution and
clear blue sky.
  
Shwedagon Pagoda
The Holiest place of Yangon, Shwedagon pagoda is
the world's biggest glistening golden stupa, built
on Seguttara Hill, in which the relics of previous
Buddhas including hair relics of last Gautama Buddha
were enshrined since Budhha's lifetime. By charity
and donations of many previous Kings and people in
centuries, the holy stupa had been modified to
existing amzing architecture and became a most
sacred tourist attraction spot in Southeast Asia.
Many more wonderful things can be seen on actual
visit to the shine. One will feel it would be quite
unlike and land that A tour to Myanmar will not
complete without visiting this holiest astonishing
temple.
Sule Pagoda
The 48m-high, octagonal-shaped Sule Pagoda
locates in heart of city, just beside elegant
massive Yangon City Hall (built in combination of
British style and Myanmar traditional touch),
surrounded by busy Yangon downtown traffic, all walk
of people, mosques, churches, offices, foodstalls,
bookshops and spacious Maha Bandoola Park in which
significant Independance Monument was built. Feeding
pigeons around the pagoda is an amusing experience.
Chauk-htat-kyi Pagoda
In the pagoda compound, this huge pavilion houses
70m-long reclining Buddha statue, considered to be
the second biggest (in length) reclining Buddha
statue in Myanmar, with scores of monks studying
sacred Buddhist manuscripts.
Kaba Aye Pagoda and Great Cave
With the meaning of World's Peace, Kaba Aye
pagoda locates at 12km north of Yangon, with
extraordinary hollow internal structure, adjacent
with a giant manmade stone cave, called Maha Pasana
Guha, in which Sixth Buddhist Synod took place in
late 1950s, was built by charity maker people under
the direction of the then Prime Minister U Nu. It is
a walking distance with famous gem emporium and gem
museum where a variety of precious Myanmar gemstones
and products are in display.
National Museum
This museum on Pyay Road near downtown exhibits a
large collection of antique royal regalia. The most
striking major showpiece, among various items on
display, is the 27ft-high Lion's Throne of King
Thibaw, the last king of Manadalay palace (Konbaung
dynasty), made of fine wood carvings and superb
lacquer-work. So many other archaeologic artefacts
from country's early history (back to 8-10
centuries) are also put on view.
Karaweik Royal Barge
With the shape of the mythological Karaweik bird,
this royal barge gives entire traditional scent with
excellent woodcarvings inside and strong concrete
piling to lake bottom, at the base. It houses an
excellent restaurant where one can enjoy wonderful
food, classical dance and music performances, the
serene lake view and stunning magnificence of holy
Shwedagon pagoda.
Bogyoke market
Also called Scott market previously, this
British-built two-storeyed giant brick market
locates downtown Yangon where wonderful range of
textiles, handicrafts, musical instruments, various
souvenirs, jewelleries and even cosmetics are sold.
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Thanlyin
Only 45 minutes by ferry across the Bago ( or
Hlaing or Yangon) River or about 30 minutes' drive
from Yangon by car or by train through " Thanlyin
Bridge" which was constructed by the aid of People's
Republic of China and one of the biggest and longest
bridge in the Union of Myanmar. Thanlyin was an
important trading center in the 17th century under
the Portuguese-Old buildings can be seen in Thanylin.
The construction work of some historic buildings
were mpleted during 'Visit Myanmar Year 1996'.
Kyaikkhauk Pagoda and Yele Pagoda on a small island
at Kyauktan are worth visiting. In future, Thanlyin
Area will be one of the Industrial and Economic Zone
of the country according to the government plan.
Bago
The City of Bago is situated on the river of same
name, 80 km northeast of Yangon. The ancient capital
of "Hanthawadi " said to have founded in 573 AD by
two Mon princes from the capital Thaton. In 13th
century Bago became the center of the Mon kingdom of
"Ramanadesa" which consist of all lower Myanmar. In
16th century Burmese took over the capital when king
"Tabinshwehti" annexed Bago to his "Taungoo" second
dynasty kingdom. It is still surrounded by the ruins
of its old wall and moat. There were 42 kings in the
Bago Dynasty. Razadirit, Queen Shin Saw Bu,
Dhamazedi and Bayinnaung were great rulers.
Shwethalyaung reclining Buddha Image Measuring 55
meter long and 16 meter high is reputed to be one of
the largest as well as most life link of most
reclining Buddha images. Originally built of brick
and stucco in 994 AD by the king Mon king "Migadepa
II". It was however deteriorate and was restored
several times during it existence before the
destruction of Bago in 16 century. Thus the huge
Buddha Image was completely covered by overgrown
jungle until British occupation when an Indian
contractor found it accidentally digging earth in
construction on railways line.
Shwe-maw-daw Pagoda
Over 2000-yeat-old Shwe-maw-daw Pagoda,114-
meter-high Buddha Image overlooks the land scrape,
was built by two merchants 'Taphussa' and ' Bhikkika',
and was rebuilt several times because of damaged
caused by earthquakes. The gilded Pagoda is said to
house a number of Holy Relics of the Buddha and is
consequently one of the most venerated pagodas in
the country.
Entrance Fee - US$ 2
Maha-zedi Pagoda
The Maha-zedi Pagoda or the great pagoda, where
only man are allowed to ascend the steps to the top
of the 100-meters high structure was built in 1560
to house a duplicate tooth of the Buddha and Emerald
Bowl containing more of his relics. There is an
another similar pagoda in Sagaing upper Myanmar.
Entrance fee -US$ 2
Shwe-tha-hlaung Pagoda
The huge 1000-years-old Shwe-tha-hlaung Pagoda is
reckoned to be one of the largest reclining Buddha
and the most life-like, measuring 55-meters in
length and 16-meters in high.
Entrance Fess -US$ 2
Kan-baw-zathati Palace
Bago is one of the richest archaeological site in
Myanmar. The Archaeology department has being
excavating at the Palace site of King Ba-yin-naug at
the ancient Royal Capital Bago.
Actually, Ba-yin-naung was the title, not the
name. Shin-yehtut was Ba-yin-naung's name. It was at
"the battle of Naung-yoe" in 1538 that Shin-yehtut
earned the title "Ba-yin-naung". Ba-yin-naung
literally means the king's elder brother. King
Tabinshwehti, brother-in-law of Bayin-naung, had
high regret for Shin-yehtut. The king conferred upon
him the unusual title of Ba-yin-naung and the fief
of Hlaing Town.
King Tabin-shwehti and Shin-yehtut fought side by
side in wars of National Unification. Bayin-naung
became king a year after the death of king
Tabin-shwehti in AD 1551. After assuming office,
King Bayin-naung became his career of Conquest,
building the Second Myanmar Empire.
The creditable achievement of King Bayin-naung
was fully recorded in Myanmar history. Especially,
the new Capital "Hamsavaddy"(Hanthawady) which king
Bayin-naung founded and the new palace Kanbawzathadi
that he built where mentioned in some details not
only in native chronicles but also in Foreign
Historical Writings.
Achievement of King Bayin-naung's military
campaigns, political, social and religious merits
his capital palace Kanbawzathadi are world renown.
An immortal fame and historic figure like King
Bayin-naung, the royal capital Hamsavaddy and that
of the palace Kanbawzathadi at Bago have been well
known to the Myanmar People.
The work of excavation and restoration of old
capital and palace was begun in 1990. The
archaeological diggings made good progress which
enthusiasm and high tempo. The construction work of
some historic buildings has to complete during Visit
Myanmar year 1996.
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