No photo or words can describe the beauty and the spiritual atmosphere of Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar. I went to visit this sacred place during the day, spent hours wandering around and waiting for the twilight to observe the place in a changing light while it was turning dark. The various scenery of the place unveils hundreds of temples, stupas and pagodas, illuminated at dusk and by the flames of thousand of candles.
The main gold-plated dome is topped by a stupa containing over 7,000 diamonds and some 72-carat.
Shwedagon Pagoda complex is 2600 years old!
How to visit Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar?
It took me hours to walk barefoot among the crowd of visitors. This is one of the most mistique places I’ve been to so far. Monks quietly slipping among visitors, lightning hundreds of candles around the main stupa Shwedagon Pagoda.
The Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar, also known as the Golden Pagoda, is a breathtaking Buddhist temple located in Yangon. It is considered to be the oldest pagoda in the world, with a history dating back over 2,600 years.
The construction is 100 meters tall and built of tons of gold leafs.
TRAVEL ADVICE TO MYANMAR:
- Traveling to Myanmar is possible but check travel advice before departing sue to some safety concerns!
- Any transportation can be booked via: 12Go.com
- The easiest way to get to Myanmar is by plane.
- VISA is required for all visitors.
- Currency: 1USD = 2100 Myanmar Kyat
Myanmar’s Shwedagon Pagoda offers an experience unlike any other. I would call it the mystical beauty of Southeast Asia.
How to get to Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
You can see the illuminating golden Shwedagon Pagoda from almost every point of Yangon city. It reflects the sunrays during the day and glows at night. There are 4 entrances on each of the four cardinal directions – south, north, east, west. After taking hundreds of steps the guard refuses to let me in, although I have a long scarf covering my ankles, he finds it a little transparent. It means I have to go back and buy another shawl 🙂
Sunset is definitely the best time to visit Yangon Shwedagon Pagoda.
Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar dress code.
Yangon Shwedagon Pagoda dress code is one of the most important elements of your visit. Strict rules apply when visiting Myanmar famous pagoda:
- You need to cover your knees and shoulders,
- You cannot wear transparent clothing,
- You should not wear tight clothing.
Shwedagon is surrounded by street markets, even the stairs to holy Pagoda are cavered by local merchants market units with many beautiful handmade scarfs. I bought one which during the rest of my Asian jurney turned to be recognized symbol of Myanmar.
Myanmar famous Pagoda.
Visitors to the Yangon Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar are greeted by a stunning complex of temples, shrines, and pavilions, all intricately decorated with gold leaf, jewels, and intricate carvings. The main stupa, or zedi, is the focal point of the pagoda and is believed to house relics of the Buddha and three previous Buddhas.
I climb the stairs again to face one of the most magnificent top views in Asia. Worth every effort. It is a great honour to witness Shwedagon Pagonda Festival, which usually falls between February and March. In 2024 the festival will be held between 16-25 March.
History of Shwedagon Pagoda.
Legend has it that the Shwedagon Pagoda enshrines strands of hair belonging to Gautama Buddha himself, making it one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Buddhists around the world.
The pagoda is said to have been built by the Mon people between the 6th and 10th centuries, and has since been renovated and expanded numerous times, resulting in its current grandeur.
Sunrise and sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda.
Visitors are encouraged to visit the pagoda at sunrise or sunset, when the golden stupa shimmers in the light and creates a truly magical atmosphere.
One of the most breathtaking features of the Myanmar famous Pagoda is its golden exterior, which is made up of over 60 tons of pure gold. The pagoda is covered in gold plates and topped with a diamond-encrusted spire, giving it a radiant glow that can be seen from miles away.
The sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda was unreal. Golden pagodas with purple sky at the background was magic.
The Monks in the heart of Yangon.
There are different traditions among Monks in every part of Asia. While I was visiting small villages and towns in Myanmar, I observed a totally different ritual. Monks were getting up at 4 am and starting each day with meditation.
When Monks go out in the morning in rural and urban areas, they carry bowls of rice. They knock to the local houses and restaurants to receive blessings for their food. I found it incredible, this show an amazing bond between local people and Monks. They break all boundaries to become one society. Unfortunately, this custom remains very rare in big cities. Monks are usually allowed to eat only two meals per day, the last meal is at 12.00 noon. That’s why they get up so early. They are forbidden from consuming solid food after noon and until sunrise the following day.
After walking around, they start to pray. In every single Asian house, there is a small Buddha altar, honoured with the best location in the house. Fresh fruits, rice, cooked food, fanta, coke and even wine, which is highly expensive in Asia, are being placed in front of the Buddha statue.
Local Myanmar people.
A lot of things have changed recently in Buddhist culture.. Monks don’t live in line with strict buddhist rules, as they used before. It’s not surprising seeing a Monk holding a very expensive camera, or any apple device. Theravada Buddhist is a dominant form of religion in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. It forbidds Monks to handle money of any kind, as the religion says that the soul wealth is worth much more than the money richness.
Asian people wake up very early to avoid working in the heat. You will see almost nobody on the streets in the afternoon time. Sometimes it was even hard for me to find any street food. After 6 pm. every street corner turnes into a noisy, delicious, colorfull and tasty scenery full of crowds and local merchants.
Few years ago you, before coming to Yangon you had to book an accommodation in advance. This was one of the cities, where almost every guesthouse is overbooked, even when it’s one of the most expensive accoms in Asia. This was of course way before covid. Myanmar was also much more expensive than any tooher south-east Asia corner. You would find difficult to pay less than 15$ per night, while in Cambodia it was almost a suite 😉
Shwedagon Pagoda opening hours.
Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar is opened from 4.00am to 10.00pm Monday to Sunday.
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