Today in Myanmar » Yangon travel guide

Shwedagon Pagoda Guide

Bamarlay — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:47:40 +0000

History According to legend, Shwedagon Pagoda was built more than 2,500 years ago during the time of Lord Buddha. The two merchant brothers from then Okkalapa (now Yangon) met with Gautama Buddha shortly after he attained enlightenment, and became the first disciples of Lord Buddha. Gautama Buddha gave them eight hair relics which they brought back to their country. In Okkalapa, they built the first pagoda in the history of Buddhism, Shwedagon on the holy Singuttara Hill. Although there is no archeological evidence to support this official story, most Buddhists in Myanmar and around the world believe in this story and Shwedagon becomes one of the most important centers of Buddhism. For detailed history of Shwedagon Pagoda, please see the article Shwedagon Pagoda History. Stairways (Zaung-dans) 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 [...]

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Yangon Travel Guide – Thanlyin

Bamarlay — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:45:20 +0000

The nearest place to visit just outside of Yangon is Thanlyin (or Tanyin) formerly Syriam. Just across the Bago River (Pegu River) it is an important port town in Yangon Division. It is only about an hour’s drive from downtown Yangon. On the way, you have to cross one of the longest bridges in Myanmar, the Thanlyin Bridge. Thanlyin is a very ancient town in Myanmar and has many ancient pagodas and monuments. One of the famous pagodas is Kyaik Kauk Pagoda which is on the way to Kyauk Tan, on a hillock. The pagoda is very similar in structure to Shwedagon Pagoda. If you travel further to Kyauk Tan, you will reach Yaylel Pagoda. The name means in the middle of water: the pagoda is actually built in the middle of water out in the sea. The pagoda complex consists of several buildings including a monastery. Pilgrims and visitors are ferried by boats to the pagoda. While crossing, you can feed catfishes which jump out of water to snatch food thrown at them. Pagodas are not the only things to see in Thanlyin. Although the town itself was established since ancient Mon and Myanmar kingdoms, it was British who [...]

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Yangon Travel Guide – Colonial Buildings

Bamarlay — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:57:55 +0000

Under British rule, Rangoon (Yangon) was a major port city as well as a major financial, political and administrative center. As Burma at that time was a major exporter of oil, cotton, rice and timber, many foreign businesses open their offices in Yangon. Most of them are British owned with some Indian businesses. These businesses built grand and elaborate offices in the center of Rangoon. British government also built quite a number of administrative office buildings in Rangoon. They were usually built in the best design and standard available at that time to show the never fading glory of the Empire where the sun never sets. Although the sun has already set over the once glorious Empire, and Rangoon already lost its former glory, remnants of its former glorious days remain in Rangoon. Many colonial era buildings that survive the Second World War remain in the faint shadow of their past glory and grandeur. For me, the most impressive colonial era building is the High Court Building. Built in early 20th century, the building served the colonial government well in its oppression against oppressed. The building was built in early colonial style, and painted brick red. Although lack of proper [...]

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Yangon (Rangoon) Travel Guide – interesting places to see

Bamarlay — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:35:06 +0000

When people think about Yangon (Rangoon), they only think about Shwedagon. Although Myanmar is a land of pagodas, there is more than pagodas in Yangon (Rangoon) to visit. Apart from famous pagodas like Shwedagon, Sule and Nga-htat-gyi, there are many places in Yangon to visit. One of these places worth visiting is Allied War Memorial Cemetry in Htauk-kyant, Mingalardon Township. This is a war cemetry in honor of 27,000 allied soldiers lost their lives in World War 2 in Burma. A beautiful memorial building with beautiful marble columns can be seen on one side, which is a very nice place for photography. Friends, commerades and relatives of those who had fallen pay regular visit to Htauk-kyant war memorial each year. The memorial is open to public daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There is no entrance fee. Htauk-kyant War Memorial can be reached by taxi from downtown, and takes about one hour drive. Expect to pay around 5,000 to 6,000 kyats for a return trip for taxi. (This can be more expensive, and many taxi drivers might ask around 10,000 kyats). Hlawgar Wildlife Park is just a few minutes drive from Allied War Memorial Cemetry. The park covers 1650 [...]

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Tips for going from Yangon Airport to Town

Bamarlay — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 15:19:55 +0000

If you are a foreigner, and coming to Myanmar (Burma) for the first time, you will find yourself in a completely different world. And the first daunting task would be to go to your hotel. If you have already arranged with your travel agent to pick you up at the airport, everything would be OK. But if not, you will have to hire a taxi. There is no airport bus service running from Yangon airport so the only way you can go to your hotel is by a taxi. And this might be more complex than you think. The taxis in Myanmar are not metered, and the fare is not fixed. So you have to bargain with the taxi drivers at the airport. They will tell you that this is a fixed price, but it is not true. The taxi fare from airport is always more expensive, but you can always bargain. If you are not carrying many things, you can walk out of the airport compound (which indeed is a very small compound) and hail a taxi on the road. Only a few taxis come this way but most of the time, you will be able to get a [...]

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Travel Guide to Yangon (Rangoon) – Pagodas

Bamarlay — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:13:45 +0000

Where to visit in Yangon after Shwedagon and around? After a must pay visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, one can pay a visit to other pagodas. Apart from Shwedagon, another Pagoda worth visiting is Sule Pagoda. Situated in the center of Yangon (Rangoon), in downtown Yangon (Rangoon), it is easy to reach by bus or by taxi. The pagoda is reputedly 2,000 years old and has a strange octagonal shape. As the Sule Pagoda is situated in the center of downtown Yangon, it is always packed with people. On the pagoda, you can see a shrine for Sule Bobogyi (Grandpa Sule – the sipritual being who is believed to protect Yangon). Other attractions near Sule are Yangon (Rangoon) City Hall, which is a mix of Myanmar and European architecture, High Court Building, Maha Bandoola Garden and many other colonial style buildings. Myanmar Tourism Office (Tourist Burma) is just near by. Entrance fees for Sule Pagoda is US$ 2 per person. Another pagoda situated just off the downtown Yangon is Botataung Pagoda. Meaning One Thousand Officers, Botataung is situated on the river bank of Yangon (Rangoon) River. There is a museum built inside the Pagoda structure where ancient Buddha stupas, images and [...]

Travel Guide to Yangon (Rangoon) – Pagodas is an article from Myanmar Today, a site about Myanmar news, culture, custom, information and travel advice.

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Yangon (Rangoon) travel guide – Shwedagon and arround

Bamarlay — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:57:53 +0000

Yangon (Rangoon) is the former administrative capital of Myanmar (Burma). Although the government has moved the capital to Naypyidaw, Yangon remains the commercial capital of Myanmar (Burma). Yangon is the only port of entry in Myanmar, and because there are many historical places in Yangon, it is worth visiting the City a few days before traveling up country. Brief Historical Note Yangon was established by King Alaungphaya in 1755. Formerly known as Dagon, a small town at the end of Hlaing River (Yangon River), the town rapidly established itself into a booming port town under Burmese kings. Because of its strategic location, British forces invaded Myanmar (Kingdom of Ava) by amphibious assault through Rangoon, in both first and second Anglo-Burma Wars. After the second Anglo-Burma War, British took control of the lower Burma and established the capital in Rangoon. Since then, Rangoon become the most important City in Myanmar (Burma). Shwedagon Pagoda – Most important place to Visit Myanmar (Burmese) people believe Shwedagon to be the first pagoda to be built on earth, although many historians express doubt on the claim. (Archaeologists believe Shwedagon was built somewhere around 6 and 10 century AD by Mons). However, Shwedagon is undoubtedly the [...]

Yangon (Rangoon) travel guide – Shwedagon and arround is an article from Myanmar Today, a site about Myanmar news, culture, custom, information and travel advice.

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Bogyoke Aung San Market

Bamarlay — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:34:16 +0000

If you ever visit Yangon, one place you must go is Bogyoke Aung San Market. Even if you have no intention of buying anything from the market, the place is a must go place for tourists. Nearly one hundred years old now, the market is one of the oldest markets in Yangon. Previously known as Scott’s Market, the name was later changed to Bogyoke Aung San Market in honour of the national hero General Aung San. The market is situated in the centre of Yangon, just a walking distance from Sule Pagoda and Traders Hotel. It is situated on the road bearing the same name. There are a number of shops in the market selling variety of things ranging from Burmese clothes to jewellery. You can also find shops selling paintings and Burmese handcrafts as well as gifts. If you want to fill up your empty stomach, food court is in the centre of the market. Be warned though as the food here is quite expensive. One thing to remember while shopping in Bogyoke Market is to use your utmost bargaining ability. The place is very notorious for asking high prices for goods so try to bargain as much as [...]

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Yangon Taxi

Bamarlay — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:48:39 +0000

Like any other cities in the world, Yangon has a lot of taxis running the streets of the city. Unlike other cities in the world, taxis in Yangon are not metered, that means there is no meter to calculate the fare. In fact, there is not a single taxi with a meter in Yangon. (However, this might change in the near future as the Yangon municipality has plans to install meters in taxis). So you have to bargain with the taxi driver when you hire a taxi. Usually most taxi drivers ask for a higher price, especially if you are a foreigner or somebody coming from up country. If you don’t know the usual price, you might be cheated. So a good bet is to bargain for around half the asking price. It is cheaper to hire a taxi using the CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). Look for the CNG sign on the side of the taxi. Another thing to keep in mind is that it is cheaper to hire a taxi driving on the road than the one parked on the side. Those parked around shopping centers would ask for higher than normal price. One thing to say: the taxis [...]

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Cinema Halls in Yangon

Bamarlay — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:52:17 +0000

Compared to other capital cities of South East Asia, Yangon has fewer cinema halls. And most of them are quite old, dating back to as far as the colonial period. There are about six or seven cinema halls in downtown Yangon which show Hollywood, Bollywood (Indian movies) and local movies. They usually play four shows a day. In Myanmar, the cinema halls are single theater types, usually having two levels of seating. On first level, there are usually three or four classes with the front seats being the cheapest. Level two is upper class or first class, and the most expensive. Because of limited number of cinema halls in Yangon, there usually a lucrative black market of cinema tickets, sold at two to three times the official selling price, depending on the popularity of the movies. Most of the theaters in Yangon are equipped with old and out dated projectors and sound systems. There are now a few theaters equipped with more modern projectors and sound systems. However, the quality is still no where near those from other modern theaters. Contributed by Bamarlay. Original article posted in Myanmar Man’s Diary. Cinema Halls in Yangon is an article from Myanmar Today, [...]

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Today in Myanmar » Yangon travel guide

Shwedagon Pagoda Guide

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