Yangon Zone

Yangon

The capital city of Myanmar was a settlement in the Yangon area 2,500 years ago. Its ancient name was Okkala, grew in fame after the building of the Shwedagon Pagoda, the landmark of Yangon.
Having many colonial style buildings and modern vitality among then many shady parks and beautiful lakes. Yangon has known as "the Garden City of the East". Its name means "End of Strife" and was anglicized as "Rangoon" by the British. Rangoon city was modeled and implemented by Lieutenant Fraser of the British Engineering Corps, who had also drawn the city plan of Singapore. Yangon covers 400 square miles and has a population of over 5 millions to date . Yangon was founded by King Alaungpaya, the founder of the Koung Baung Dynasty when he conquered the lower Myanmar and built a new city on the site of Yangon, which at that time was known as Dagon in 1755. Yangon has a seaport which handles with modern facilities now. It is also linked with international airlines daily. Domestic flights operate from Yangon to various tourist destinations in Myanmar.
 

Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda is the great golden majestic pagoda. Shwedagon Pagoda was built over 2500 years ago by King Oakkalapa. Shwe means gold and Dagon means the ancient name of Yangon City. Shwedagon Pagoda is very beautiful and magnificent. It was situated on Singuttara Hillock which is about 190 feet above the sea level. Originally it was about 20 meters high. But Myanmar and Mon king's renovated and raised it. Nowadays, it rises 326 feet (99 meters) high. It was built over the shrine containing the Buddha's hair relics.
The unique artistic architectural design of the Shwedagon Pagoda is purely Burmese and is described on hollows. It begins with 3 terraces called Pyitsayans. The fruit terraces consist of 64 small pagodas and 4 bigger one at each corner.

Sule Pagoda

Sule Pagoda is situated in the downtown area of Yangon, the capital of Myanmar. The octagonal structure of this pagoda, which is consistent up to the bell and inverted bowl, clearly indicated its Brahman-Buddhist heritage. The Sule Pagoda is built in the typical Burmese Mon style with four entrances, facing the four compass points. There are small shops around the pagoda.Sule Pagoda was built by Minister to the King of Thaton whose name was Maha Sura in the year 235 Buddhist Era or about 2200 years ago. It has been through so many renovations that its actual origins are obscure. Today, the recently renovated 47 metres high. The word “Sule” is derived from Mon word “Kyaik Athok” or Sura Zedi where a sacred hair relic of Lord Buddha and other relics are enshrined.

Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha

The reclining Buddha image is only a short distance 
northeast beyond the Shwedagon Pagoda.The measurement of this image is 76 meters long and 16 meters high.This present image is replacement of the original one. It was built by Myanmar rich merchant Sir Pho Thar and his wife Daw Pu in 1907 and damaged due to earthquake and exposure to climate over the years.The head of Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda is pointing to the Suth and its holy head is supported by right hand. The reclining Buddha position is relaxing. The glass mosaic on the sole of its feet represents 108 special characteristics of the Buddha. Many monasteries and the fortune-tellers on the surrounding platform offer astrological and palm readings.

Kaba Aye Pagoda and Maha Pasana Guha

It situated about 11 km north of the city held centre. Kaba Aye means "World Peace", was built to commemorate the Sixth Buddhist Synod in 1952. It was held in the Maha Pasana Guha (the Great Cave) in the same compound. The structure of this pagoda is like no other of Myanmar. It was covered to the relics chamber with iron beams as the tunnel. In the tunnel, five bronze Buddha Images are circling the relics chamber. There are also five entrances in the face of these images. At the upper part of the relic chamber, another 28 small gold-plated statues, representing the precious Buddha.

Botatung Pagoda

Botataung Pagoda is situated in Eastern Yangon by the side of the Yangon River (or) vanguard. When eight Indian monks carried relics of Buddha here more than, 2000 years ago, 1000 military officers (Botatung) formed a guard of honor at the place where the rebuilt pagoda stands today. The original Botataung Pagoda was bombed by the Allies in Nov' 1943. When the pagoda was rebuilt after the war , it was constructed with a hollow inside so visitors can walk into the stupa; Look out for the glass mosaics and the many small alcoves for private meditation. This pagoda is bell shaped stupa and 40 metres high. The festival of Botataung Pagoda held annually in December of Each year.

National Museum

Located on the Pyay Road, the newly constructed this museum has five floors exhibits. Its shows 8m-high Sihasana (Lion's Throne), which is belonged to King Thibaw Min, the last Myanmar King of Koung Baung Dynasty; Its taken from Mandalay in 1886 after the Third Anglo – Burmese War, the throne and 52 other pieces of royal regalia were carried off by the British. In the Throne room, miniature models of the eight kinds of the Thrones of ancient Myanmar kings and the magnificent Royal Lion throne of our last monarch king Thibaw in all its original majesty. Other found artifacts from Burma's early history in Beikthano, Sri Khitara and Bagan in the museum's archaeological section include an 18th century bronze cannon and a crocodile shaped harp, paintings, manuscripts, traditional dress of various ethnic groups of Myanmar, traditional musical instruments etc..
 

Gems Museum

Fascinating Gems Museum located in the Kaba Aye Pagoda road which is well worth visiting. At this three-storey Gems Museum, the jewellery shops are located on the first floor and second floor, while the museum is on the third floor. Twice a year, in March and October, the gems fair and auction are held here attracts many jewel dealers from all over the world.It's found what are reputed to be the world’s largest pearl, shining nuggets of star sapphires, luscious golden pearls, rare sparkling pigeon's blood rubies, peridot and a variety of assorted colored stones, slabs of precious jade that come in various sizes and shades, pearls in lots or embedded in exquisite jewellery, gold ware, silverware and jade figurines.

People's Park

People's Square and People's Park Occupies 125 acres between Pyay & Uwisara Road, The Park entrance faces the eastern side, opposite of Shwedagon Pagoda's western gate.




 

Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market)

It lies just south west of the Yangon Railway Station and it is easy to go to the downtown areas. The market houses a wonderful range of Burmese handicrafts, woodcarvings, lacquer ware, dolls, musical instruments etc…
 

Zoological Garden

Originally developed in 1906 by the British. Located in near Shwedagon Pagoda and Kandawgyi Royal Lake. The area is 69.25 acres and the animals, mostly indigenous species, are well looked after. Yangon Zoological Garden is open for not only visitors, but also for those who want to study Botany. It has a verity of trees and plants, which include medicinal herbs.
 

It was situated 80 km north east of Yangon. Bago was an ancient capital of Mon Kingdom greatly flourished from 14th to 16th centuries. Founded in AD 825 and King Byinnya U, the second Mon King transferred his capital there in 1365. It was the capital city of Myanmar in the reign of King Bayinnaung during 16th century and of the Hamsavati kingdom for many centuries under the Mon and Myanmar Kings.
 

Htaukkant War Cemetery

40 minutes drives from Yangon, You will discover the British War Cemetery shortly after leaving Htaukkyant on the right. A memorial cemetery of 27,000 allied soldiers who were killed during the World War II campaign in Burma are buried there. The Cemetery is a calm, peaceful place and is beautifully tended by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
 

Shwemawdaw Pagoda

Located at the eastern end of Bago and many similarities to the great Shwedagon Pagoda. It was 114 meters higher than the great Shwedagon Pagoda and enshrined the relics of Buddha’s hair. It was built by the Mon, one of the national races of Myanmar.

Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha Image

This magnificent reclining Buddha, 55 metres long and 16 metres high built in AD 994 by King Miga Depa. The statue was most recently renovated in 1948, when it was re- gilded and painted.

Kyaikpun Pagoda

It consists of four 30 metres high Buddha figures, built by King Dhammazedi in 1476 AD, seated back to back against a square pillar facing the four points of the compass. This unusual and impressive pagoda is only a few hundred feet off the Yangon-Bago road.

Hinthagone Pagoda

Located behind the Shwemawdaw Pagoda. This site is originally supposed to have been an island (which later became joined to the mainland) large enough for a pair of Hinthas (mythical birds) to perch one on top of the other, marking the place of Bago's original settlement.
 

Kalyani Sima

The original Kalyani Sima was a monks' ordination hall constructed by King Dhammazedi in 1476. It was destroyed by King Alaungpaya in 1757, but was rebuilt in the 1950s.
 

Kanbawzathadi Palace

The old palace site of the Mon dynasty is in the process of being excavated. The palace compound in the centre known as Kanbawzathadi, housed King Bayinnaung from 1553 – 1599 and areas about 26 hectares have been excavated.
 

Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda (Island Pagoda)

It lies about 20 km south of Thanlyin on a tributary of the Yangon River, can be found the unusual Kyauktan Pagoda. The journey by jeep or bus takes about 45 minutes from Thanlyin. The Pagoda is indeed on an island in the middle of the river. 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.