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 Yangon, the capital city, is the main gateway to Myanmar. Evergreen and cool with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lake, Yangon has earned the name of the Garden City of the East. Yangon was founded by King Alaungpaya on the site of a small village called Dagon when he conquered Lower Myanmar in 1755. The name Yangon means "End of Strife" which was anglicized to Rangoon. The present day Yangon covers over 350sq.km. and has a population of over 5 million. |
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| Shwedagon Pagoda |
 Towering almost 100 metres above the green cityscape of Yangon, the Shwedagon Pagoda is the landmark visible from miles around. One of the wonders of the world, it was believed to have been built over 2500 years ago where the four Buddhas' relics were enshrined. Successive kings had embellished the Pagoda during the 15th Century and Queen shin Saw Pu raised it to its present height. Tourist Information - Open from 4am-10pm everyday.
- Admission Fees - US$5.
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| Botataung Pagoda |
| The Botataung Pagoda was named after the thousand military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India over two thousand years ago. The meaning of Bo is "leader" and tahtaung is "a thousand" . It was built almost in the same time as Sule Pagoda and Shwedagon Pagoda over, 2500 years ago. The name of the pagoda was originally Kyaik-de-att, which was a Mon name, or Sandaw Shin as it is enshrined with the sacred hair of the Lord Buddha. Tourist Information - Open 6am to 8pm daily.
- Entrance Fee : US$2
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| Chauk Htat Kyi Buddha Image |
| The Chauk-Htat-Kyi Pagoda is famous for its huge image of Reclining Buddha, built in 1966 replacing the old image built in 1907 by Sir Hpo Thar. But it was suffered damage due to climate over the years. In 1957 it was demolished and rebuilt to this structure in 1966. It measures 65 meters and is housed in an iron structure with corrugated iron sheets ro of of six layers. Hence it is generally referred to as the six-tiered pagodas. The heavy cost of this construction was entirely donated by the people. The image is larger than the image of the Reclining Buddha at Shwe Thar Hlyaung Pagoda in Bago. The monasteries in the vicinity of this pagoda accommodate over six hundred monks who study Buddhist Scriptures from the senior and qualified monks. The entire cost of maintenance is met from the people's donations. Tourist Information |
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| Sule Pagoda |
| The Sule Pagoda is an excellent landmark. It is said to be over 2,000 years old. The pagoda is said to enshrine a hair of the Buddha: its Mon name, Kyaik Athok translates as "the pagoda where a Sacred Hair Relic is enshrined". The golden pagoda is unusual in that its octagonal shape continues right up to the bell and inverted bowl. It is surrounded by small shops and all the familiar non-religious services such as of astrologists, palmists, and so on. Tourist Information |
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| The National Museum |
| The National Museum of Myanmar was founded in 1952 with its premises at what was once the Jubilee Hall. In 1970 the museum was moved to a more spacious building on Pansodan Street. But these premises were not originally constructed to house a museum. The present National Museum is located on Pyay Road in a splendid five-storey building constructed for the purpose in spacious and specially landscaped grounds. Priceless ancient artifacts, works of art and historic memorabilia are on display in 14 halls on four storeys. Three halls on the ground floor hold exhibits on the evolution the Myanmar script and alphabet, the Lion Throne Room and Ratanapon Period pieces. Tourist Information - Location-66/74, Pyay Road, Dagon Township, Yangon,Myanmar.
- Opening Hours-Open daily 10:00 am-4:00 pm, except Myanmar New Year Holidays (Thingyan Festival) in April.
- Admission Fees : US$ 5
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| Gems Museum |
| The National Museum of Myanmar was founded in 1952 with its premises at what was once the Jubilee Hall. In 1970 the museum was moved to a more spacious building on Pansodan Street. But these premises were not originally constructed to house a museum. The present National Museum is located on Pyay Road in a splendid five-storey building constructed for the purpose in spacious and specially landscaped grounds. Priceless ancient artifacts, works of art and historic memorabilia are on display in 14 halls on four storeys. Three halls on the ground floor hold exhibits on the evolution the Myanmar script and alphabet, the Lion Throne Room and Ratanapon Period pieces. Tourist Information - Location - Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
- Opening Hours - Open From 9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily except Mondays and gazette hoildays
- Admission Fees : US$ 5
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| Bogyoke Aung San Market |
| Bogyoke Aung San Market is situated in the heart of Yangon - on Bogyoke Aung San Road. The Bogyoke Aung San Market is the most popular market and a great tourist destination in Yangon. It is one of the precious colonial buildings you can find in Yangon. The market was first built and inaugurated on the present premises in 1926. It was named Scott Market after Mr. C. Scott, the then Municipal Commissioner. Nowadays, it is called Bogyoke Aung San Market in honor of our national leader General Aung San who was assassinated in 1947. Tourist Information - The market is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Close on gazette holidays. Even through it's opened at 9:00 am; 10:00 am would be the best time to visit, when the entire market is fully opened.
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| Thanlyin (Syriam) |
| Than Hlyin is situated at the confluence of the Yangon and Pegu Rivers; to be exact, on the southern bank of the Pegu River. To the south of Than Hlyin is a ridge named Utaringa Kon in history but locally known as Shin Mwe Nun Kon. It is on this ridge that Kyaik Khauk Pagoda stands. The colonial town of Syriam was built by the British for it's port and petroleum refinery plant. It is also a sub-urban town right a few miles away from Yangon, across 1.5 mile-long bridge. The tombs of 2 famous Myanmar poets Laureate of 16th century, an 18th century Portuguese Church, and a century-old Sacred Heart Church are there. Only 30 minutes' drive from Yangon, Thanlyin was a major port from the 14th to the century, until it was displaced by Yangon in 1755, and was briefly controlled by the Portuguese adventurer de Brito at the beginning of the 17th century. The ruins of a Catholic Church built by an Italian Barnabite missionary in the 18th century can still be seen in Thanlyin. Kyaikkhauk Pagoda in Thanlyin and Yele' Pagoda at Kyauktan are some of the places of interest. |
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| Ye Le Pagoda |
| Ye Le Paya at Kyauk Tan means the pagoda in mid-stream built on a laterite reef. It was built by King Zeyasana, the seventh king of the Pada Dynasty in the third century BC. The first pagoda was only 11 feet high. The pagoda complex comprises several buildings including a monastery. Pilgrims and visitors are ferried across to the pagoda. One can feed shoals of long river catfish, which surface to snatch tit-bits of food thrown at them. When food is thrown, they reach out to snap at it, revealing their size, which can reach up to one meter in length. |
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| Bago |
| Bago(Pegu) is just 80 km(50 miles) north of Yangon. It is just about an hour drive from Yangon. Bago is one of the richest archaeological sites in Myanmar. Apparently Mons were the first to settle at this site. Two Mon brothers Thamala and Wimala from Thaton, first founded the city about 825 A.D. In 13th century A.D. The site, which was then on the Gulf of Martaban, had already been earmarked as the location of a great city by Gautama, the historic Buddha. Bago was made the capital of the Mon Kingdom and it came to be known as Hansavati (Hanthawaddy). It was also the seaport of ancient Mon kings. Then it became the Second Myanmar Empire founded by King Bayinnaung. |
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| Shwe-tha-lyaung Reclining Buddha |
| Built by the Mon 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. The 55 meter long and 16 meter high reclining Buddha is well known in Bago. It was rediscovered in 1880 and restored again several times to bring it to this condition. This huge reclining Buddha with a sign on the platform in front of the image giving the measurements of each body part. It is reputed to be one of the most lifelike of all reclining Buddhas. The Myanmar people say that the image represents Buddha in a 'relaxing' mode. |
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| Shwemawdaw Pagoda |
| The Shwemawdaw or 'Great Golden God Pagoda' of Bago has been growing for more than 1000 years. The Shwemawdaw Pagoda whose spire can be seen behind this impressive entrance portal, was originally built by the Mon to a height to 23 meters in the 8th century and was rebuilt higher several times until it finally reached its present 114 meter stature in 1954. The pagoda was originally built by 2 merchants, Taphussa and Bhalita, to house some hair relics of the Buddha. Originally built to a height of 23 meters, it has over the centuries become the tallest of the Burmese pagodas. As with other pagodas, this growth in size occurred during numerous reconstruction periods, usually following great earthquakes. The most recent quake, in 1930, nearly leveled the ancient structure and it was not until 1952 that it again dominated the Bago skyline. Legends say that enshrined beneath the towering pagoda are the hairs and teeth of the Buddha. Because of these relics, Shwemawdaw is visited by throngs of Buddhist pilgrims during all hours of the day and night. Tourist Information - Opening hrs : 4am to 9pm; Opening days : Daily;
- Admission fee : US$ 2
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| Kyaik Pun Buddha Images |
| Kyaik Pun Pagoda is in the form of four gigantic Buddha images all in sitting posture facing the four cardinal points of the compass. They are seated back to back against a massive brick pillar. This unusual and impressive pagoda is only a few hundred feet off the Yangon-Bago road. It was built by King Dhamma Zedi in 1476 A.D. They are kept in a fair state of preservation. Kyaik Pun pagoda is situated amidst the lush rugged countryside strewn with a large number of ancient ruins many of which are under repair. According to a legend four mon sisters were connected with the construction of the images. It was said that if one of them marry, one of the Buddha would collapse. Tourist Information - Opening hrs : 4am to 9pm; Opening days : Daily;
- Admission fee : US$ 2
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| Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock) |
 The famous legendary Pagoda on the Golden Rock about 160 Km from Yangon and 11 km of hiking from the base camp at Kyaikhto. Visitors can also go by car up to a point about a mile away from the Pagoda. This pagoda is situated on a rocky mountain 3615 ft above sea level. The Kyaikhtiyo pagoda is one of the most ancient and celebrated of all pagodas in Myanmar. It is situated in the vicinity of Kyaikhto township, Thaton district. The pagoda is said to have been built during the life-time of the Buddha over 2400 years ago. |
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