Shwedagon Paya, Rangoon

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This Pagoda complex is amazing. its huge, varied, stunning, and absorbing.

This is apparently one of the most visited temple complex's in the world and I can sure see why.

I spent 2 hours here and my mind was in overload. You need at least one whole day to see it all and explore thoroughly, but not all at one time.

Be aware that the marble paving gets hot in the sun, walk in the shade if you can

Located in the north side of the paya, this temple built after the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya is totally different in syle from the rest of the buildings of the complex. The temple was built by Dagon Khin Khin Lay a famous Myanmar writer and a grandaughter of a high official of the court of Mnadalay.

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Maybe one of the most impressive buildings in the world, the complex is also the most sacred place in Myanmar. The pagoda is located north of the city, between the People´s park and Kandawgyi. The paya measures 1421 feet and is covered with more than 8,600 solid gold blocks. The top of it is decorated with diamonds, rubies and other gems, there´s a big emerald in the top of it that capture the sun´s rays. There are eight sides to the paya, 64 stupas and temples all housed together in a giant central terrace. There are four long stairways to the platform, being the south entrance the most popular due to the proximity to the city centre. Another way to get to the paya is through a lift (nort entrance), a good option is to climb the staircase when you arrive, leaving through the lift.

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RANGOONThe most visited site here in Rangoon would have to be the Schwendagon Paya (holy one) Pagoda ..This is just the most amazing site that you will see in all your travels here..The first sight that you have of this ..is one long remembered ..Located not far from the city centre..(I took a cab there and back) standing nearly a 100 meters high this is said to be number 1 on the list of the worlds most amazing Temples...supposedly covered with over fifty tons of gold and the top of the spire covered in many thousands of precious Diamonds,Rubiesand Sapphires..This is just a mind boggler to say the least..
The day I was here it was an extremely hot day and as is with ALL Temples in Asia..I had to take off my shoes and must say some of the hot marbled areas had me doing the jumps..Arriving at the Temple you will be confronted by children selling plastic bags.(50cents)..it soon becomes apparent that these are for your shoes or sandals that must be checked in ($1 dollar)...a numbered ticket is given for retreival of same..
There is an entry fee here ( U.S.$ 5.00 )as there is for everywhere in Burma..This is a huge site and many hours can be spent here with a lot to see.There is over 80 other buildings here in the compound..even the entrance and the huge stairway to the top leaves one truly amazed...Make sure that you have plenty of water with you..also make sure that you have plenty of space on your camera and a fully charged battery...as you will take just so many photos of this amazing site..Try and get photos when the sun is shining on it as the reflecting gold will just glisten ..

Surrounding the basis of Shwedagon-pagoda are many different smaller shrines. They are dedicated to pre-Buddhist spirits, the socalled " Nats". There are also miracle working images, and even a wish granting stone. Walking around the foot of Shwedagon on its warm, solid marble tiles gives you an idea of the sense of beauty and the palpable feeling of serenity, the entire temple complex radiates.

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This amazing paya is the crown jewel of Myanmar - and "the" definitely must visit place in this country. For the Burmese, Shwedagon is the most sacred of all their temples, and the most visited. You can see the huge 98 metre golden paya from almost anywhere in the city - glistening gold above the jaded glory of the Western style houses and buildings, and the squalor and poverty of much of modern day Yangon.

While the current form of this paya extends back to the 18th century, the original construction is felt to date from somewhere between the 6th and 10th centuries - built by the resident Mon people. The buildings have suffered earthquake damage, and several rebuilds have been necessary.

Once you walk up one of the covered corridor style staired walkways to the platform where the temple rests, the sheer size of Shwedagon is immediately apparent as you emerge to face the main paya. Its a good idea to employ a guide to take you around, as it is a large complex, and we found the assistance and additional information very helpful.

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Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, the very symbol of Rangoon and Myanmar alike. This massive bell-shaped stupa rises nearly 100 meters above its hill-top surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, Temples, and Buddha images, and see religious and secular visitors from all parts of the globe.Sitting high atop the sacred shrine of Singuttara Hill, housing relics of The Buddha and three Buddhas that preceded him, encased in gold and in jewels, the Shwedagon pagoda is a wonder to see.
As described by Somerset Maugham: "The Shwedagon rose superb, glistening with its gold, like a sudden hope in the dark night of the soul, of which the mystics write, glistening against the fog and smoke of the thriving city."
Visiting the pagoda in the early morning or early evening, when most of the tourists have left and the locals bring their offerings, ritually washing and cleaning the countless Buddha-statues, is a very special experience !

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Whilst there is a National Monument in downtown Yangon (see seperate tip) it is a modern, concrete pillar. For my money the true National Monument of Yangon, indeed Myanmar, has to be the Shwedagon Paya. You can see it from just about everywhere in town, but it is only when you go there that you appreciate the scale and majesty of the place.

The bald figures themselves are impressive but do not nearly do justice to it. It stands on 14 acres of ground, is about 300 feet high, covered in 90 tons (yes, 90 TONS) of gold and topped by an 87 carat diamond. Given that amount of gold it positively glows in the bright Myanmar sun, and becomes even more magical when lit up at at night.

The complex itself consists of various prayer halls, great bells, shrines etc. and there are also a couple of exhibitions tracing the history of the place and of the life of Buddha. It is no exaggeration to say that no visit to Myanmar would be complete without a trip here.

There is a $5 entrance fee for foreigners, and the complex is open from very early until 2200 hours. I would suggest the best time to visit is in the late afternoon. The sun is not so hot (remember you have to walk atound in bare feet) and the sunset views over the city are spectacular.

I took so many photos here, I haven't got room to put them all here on the tip, so please check out my Shwedagon travelogue on my Yangon page for a few more.