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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. (put photo of City
Hall and Slue, and park)
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. (put foto)
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.
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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