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Attractions in Yangon:

Yangon at a glance | Hotels - up to 75% discount over published rates | Tours from Yangon | History of Yangon

The National Museum has recently been renovated and is well worth a visit.  Located at 26, Pansodan Street, the National Museum exhibits the Lion Throne of King Thibaw, the last Myanmar King, Royal Regalia of l9th century, artifacts of various ancient periods, musical instruments and paintings.  It is open from 10:00 a.m.  to 15:00 p.m.  except Saturday and Sunday.  Entrance Fee: US$4.  Heading out of the town center, you will find Kandawgyi (or Royal) Lake and its surrounding gardens.  The gardens are a pleasant place to walk and you can find many local restaurants.  Sunset at Kandawgyi Lake looking towards Shwedagon Pagoda is one of Yangon's most memorable experiences.  Towering almost 100m above the green city of Yangon on Singuttara Hill is one of the wonders of the world: the golden Shwedagon Pagoda.  The original platforms for the Shwedagon Pagoda are believed to have been built over 2,500 years ago by the Mon settlers, although the current Stupa was replaced in the 18th century.  Truly a feat of imagination and architecture.  There are over 8,000 gold plates covering the monument and in excess of 5,000 diamonds and 2,000 other semi-precious stones creating an awesome sight to behold.  Little wonder upon Rudyard Kipling's visit to Yangon in 1889, he was prompted to verse: "Then, a golden mystery up heaved itself on the horizon - a beautiful, winking wonder that blazed in the sun, of a shape that was neither Muslim dome nor Hindu temple spire.  It stood upon a green knoll…"there's the old Shway Dagon," said my companion… The golden dome said, "This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about." (Rudyard Kipling, Letters from the East).  The Shwedagon Pagoda has to be one of the most magnificent constructions on earth.  A huge emerald in the middle of the Stupa catches the first and last rays of the sun.  Around the golden Stupa are more than 100 smaller stapes, pavilions and administrative halls.  Eight hairs of Buddha and other relics are said to be housed in Shwedagon Pagoda.  Myanmar is a profoundly Buddhist country and Shwedagon is the “heart” of Buddhist Myanmar.  Shwedagon is always bustling with people who come to worship, picnic, read or simply absorb their surroundings.  Dawn or dusk are the best times to visit although there is always plenty of coming and going at Shwedagon.  The Sule Pagoda, also at over 2,000 years old Sule Pagoda, or the heart of Yangon.  Located in the centre of the city acting as a tranquil yet dominating traffic island, it was once the social and religious focal point for centuries.  The British established the Pagoda as the geographic center of the city in the 19th century when they structured their Victorian street system around it.  By night the 46m (157ft) Pagoda, with its unique octagonal form, makes a fine spectacle with its decorated spire.  That is just two of the hundreds of Pagoda's and impressive sputa's that decorate this wondrous city's skyline.  Walking through Yangon you'll notice the Pagodas are amongst an assortment of latter day Chinese and Hindu Temples, Islamic Mosques, Cathedrals, and a Synagogue.  As well as cultural and religious monuments Yangon has a multitude of Theatres and cinemas.  Spread through out the city is over 50 cinemas.  In Sule Pagoda Road alone you can find 5 English cinemas.  To find original native arts & crafts visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market, (known during British times, and by some today, as Scott Market).  The market is over 70 years old and sprawls seamlessly across Bogyoke Aung San Street.  Providing the keen shopper with some of the most reasonable prices in town.  On the riverfront, not far from the famous Strand Hotel, is Botataung Pagoda which is one of the most important in Yangon and is said to house a hair and two other relics of the Buddha.  Bo means "leader" and tahtaung means "a thousand" -- 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 Botataung is hollow inside and you can walk through it.  It's a sort of mirrored maze inside the pagoda with glass show-cases containing many of the ancient relics and artifacts which were sealed inside the earlier pagoda.  Above this interesting interior, the golden pagoda spire rises to 40m (132ft).  Kaba Aye Pagoda:  The name Kaba Aye in Myanmar means "world peace" to which this pagoda is dedicated.  This pagoda was built in 1952 for the 1954-56 Sixth Buddhist Synod.  The 34m (111ft) high pagoda also measures 34m around its base.  It stands about 11km north of the city, a little beyond the Inya lake Hotel.  The Buddhist Art Museum and Maha Pasana Cave are also located in the same compound.  Mahana Guha:  The "great cave" is a totally artificial "cave" built close to the Kaba Aye Pagoda.  It was here that the Sixth Buddhist Synod was held to coincide with the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment.  The participants at the Synod recited, edited and approved the entire Buddhist scriptures known as the Tipitaka.  The cavern measures 139 by 113m (455 by 370ft).  Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda:  The reclining Buddha image here is one of the largest images in Myanmar.  The original image was built in 1907.  But it has suffered damage due to climate over the years.  In 1957 it was demolished and rebuilt to this structure in 1966.  The pagoda is on Shwegondine Rd, only a short distance beyond the Shwedagon Pagoda.  If you can't get to Bago to see the Shwethalyaung, then don't miss this colossal image.  Mai-Lamu Pagoda:  A wonderland of spired pagodas and sculptured figures located in North Okkalapa, a satellite town about 20 minutes' drive from the city centre.  Mai-Lamu Pagoda is famous for the giant images depicting Buddha's earlier lives.  Mahavijaya Pagoda:  The symbolic memorial of the First Successful Congregation of the Sangha of All Orders held in 1980, this elegant Mahavijaya Pagoda is a unique blend of traditional patterns and the modern styles.  The sanctuary contains the finely wrought Buddha image and the reliquary donated by the King and Queen of Nepal. Botataung Jetty is close to the Pagoda and is an excellent place to watch ferries crossing the Yangon River.  Heading out of the city towards the airport, you will pass close to Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to a 72m reclining Buddha.  This is a good place to find fortune tellers!  Zoological Garden:  Located near Kandawgyi Hotel , the Zoo is noted for its collection of wild animals, flora and fauna which have been collected over the years since it was opened in 1906.  On weekend and public holidays Snake Dance and Elephant Circus are performed for visitors.  Open daily from 8 a.m.  to 6 p.m.  Entrance Fee: Kyat 4.  Myanmar Agriculture Service Vegetables & Fruits Research & Development Centre:  This garden offers plenty of fruits and vegetables of Myanmar agricultural sector which has a rich farmland and abundant fruit orchards.  It is located on the Yangon-Mandalay Road.  It takes a little more than an hour-drive before reaching Bago.  The entrance fee is US$2.  In the garden, visitors may experience a bullock ride.  Hlawga Wildlife Park:  This Park is about 45 minutes drive from the city.  The Park which covers 1, 650 acres of land and the Lake is home to over 70 kinds of herbivorous animals and 90 species of birds.  Flocks of migratory birds frequently visit the park.  It is an ideal place for picnickers, naturalists, botanists and bird-watchers.  Visitors can also enjoy elephant rides, boating and fishing in the park.  People's Square and People's Park:  This Park occupies over 130 acres of land between Shwedagon Pagoda and Pyithu Hluttaw (Parliament).  There is a Museum housing life-size models of nationalities in their colorful dress and flora and fauna.  The Restaurant serves Myanmar, Chinese and European Food.  Open from 7a.m.  to 7p.m.  Entrance Fee US$3.  Camera Fee US$3.  Video Camera Fee US$6.  Bogyoke Aung San Park:  A scenic park with a lovely view of Kandawgyi Lake is located on Natmauk Road.  The Park is a popular recreation centre where city-dwellers relax and enjoy their leisure in peaceful tranquility.  The playgrounds and picnic areas are favorite spots for children and teenagers.  Allied War Memorial Cemetery:  Located at Htaukkyant, about 32km from Yangon on the road to Bago.  It is a memorial cemetery of Allied soldiers who died in the Myanmar Campaign during the Second World War.  The cemetery's beautifully kept grounds has 27,000 stone-graves of Commonwealth and Allied soldiers.  Martyrs' Mausoleum:  Close to the Shwedagon and on a hill offering a good view over the city stands this memorial to Bogyoke Aung San and his fellow cabinet members who were assassinated with him. Interesting day trips from Yangon are Thanlyin (Syriam), Kyauktan and Twante.