SCHWEDAGON PAGODA, (GOLDEN PAGODA)

Shwedagon Pagoda,  Yangon

No one can really say for sure how old this magnificent Pagoda is, it has been consistently added to for over two thousand years. It is believed that the Stupa (the central golden part) was built between the 6^th and 10^th century by the Mon, they are an ethnic group from Myanmar, they live mostly in Mon State, Bago area about 90 kilometers north of Yangon, Irrawaddy delta and along the Southern Thai border.  There is some controversy about who actually built the Stupa as the Buddhist monks believe it was built before Lord Buddha died in 486 BC

It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within, namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konagamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight hairs of  Gauytama, the historical Buddha.

Many Pagodas in Myanmar are painted with real gold, I guess this shows the significance of Buddhism in this country as there are many of these sacred sights, but this one is really the most beautiful and the most visited by tourists. It can be seen from many parts of Yangon city, especially at night. Walking around this Pagoda can take some time, you are not allowed to wear shoes, you can either carry them or leave them in a box at the entrance. To be respectful it is wise not to wear revealing clothing and for men usually trousers or shorts that are not too short are acceptable.

Allow minimum of half a day to walk around Shwedagon Pagoda, there is plenty to see. The monks are very friendly and will often strike up a conversation with you, I think for some, to practice their English. We chatted with a young monk for a very long time and he took us to a hall where he showed us a replica of the Buddha footprint, he told us that foreigners are usually not allowed into this particular hall, but not really sure if this is true.

The hall where the replica footprint of Lord Buddha resides

Below is the view of the Shwedagon Pagoda from Kandawgyi Palace Hotel, this hotel is a beautiful Myanmar traditional style building  located on Kandawgyi Lake. This building is part of Yangon’s history. In 1934, this was the location of the Rangoon Rowing Club where expatriates and high society of Yangon (Rangoon) used to hang out. From 1943 until 1945 it was used as a maternity hospital and later re-opened as the Union Club of Burma. In the 1960's it became the National Biological Museum and there is a huge dinosaur standing in the garden next to the the restaurant to attest to this. It has been extended over the years and is now a four star hotel.  Today one can enjoy the ambiance of old world charm with modern conveniences. A great place to stay when in Yangon.

The Pagoda view from our hotel room Kandawgyi Palace

 More to come.........................