| Last updated March 18th, 2009 | 173 page views so far | 
Most visitors to Shwedagon Pagoda climbed up the Singuttara Hill by one of four stairways or zaungdans. Shwedagon Pagoda, like most other pagodas in Myanmar, has four stairways or zaungdans, one on each side of the pagoda (north, south, east and west). The stairway that is most used by the foreign visitors is the Southern Stairway, which ascends from the direction of the city center. The stairway starts immediately at the end of the Shwedagon Pagoda Road, which runs straight from downtown Yangon (Rangoon). Shwedagon Pagoda Road starts near Bogyoke Aung San Market, and runs north until it ends at the foot of the Shwedagon Pagoda. From here starts the Southern Stairway. The entrance of this stairway is guarded by two beautiful and equally fearful Chinthes, which are mythical creatures, or leogryph. These are giant half lion, half griffin creatures which guard most entrances to pagodas in Myanmar. Along the length of the stairway on either side are the shops that sell Buddha images, flower pots, religious charms, books on Buddhism, flowers and souvenirs. Next to the stairway is a public lift and a toilet for tourists as well as a counter for collecting tourist entrance fees of US$ 5. There is also another entrance fee collection counter at the end of the stairway.
Western Stairway can be approached from U Wisara Road (Tiger Alley). This is the longest zaungdan among the four stairways of Shwedagon. This stairway was closed for almost 80 years during British occupation. Original zaungdan was built by Ma Mya Kalay, wife of King Tharrawaddy. It was damaged during the second Anglo-Burmese War and was closed to public. It was totally destroyed by fire in 1931. An effort to rebuild the zaungdan was done by the contribution of two pice (small coins) by Buddhist shopkeepers of Theingyizay Bazaar; hence the zaungdan bears the name “Two Pice Tazaung”. An escalator was installed in this stairway now. This stairway is the only stairway in Shwedagon without any shops on the way.
Northern Stairway was built by Queen Shin Saw Pu in 1460. The entrance to this stairway is guarded by two Chinthes, as well as crocodiles on each side of the stairway as borders. As usual, there are stalls on each side of the stairway. Places of interest near this stairway are the
- Martyr Hill, where the assassinated leaders of Burma, Aung San and 8 others, are buried,
- Heroic Solders’ Mausoleum, in honor of all those soldiers who lost their life during the independence movement and the civil conflict,
- Thwezekan (literally means blood wash pool), a large pool which, according to popular legend, is the place where Kyansittha, the commander in chief of Bagan Army and later the popular Burmese king, washed his blood stained sword during King Anawrahta’s expedition into the Mon Kingdom in Southern Burma in early 11th century.
Eastern stairway is approached from Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake by road. There is Bahan Bazaar near the entrance of the zaungdan. Along the road leading to the entrance of the zaungdan are a number of stalls selling souvenirs. On the way to the pagoda terrace, on the side of the stairway are three stones erected by Mon King Dhammazedi in 1485. Written in Burmese, Mon and Pali, the stone inscriptions, known as Dhammazedi Stones, described the history of Shwedagon from the time of Gautama Buddha to the time of King Dhammazedi. These stones have now been moved to a building in the North-East corner of the terrace.
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