The Roaming Hat

View of the Bagan plain from one of the ruins Bagan is on the itinerary of many tourists visiting Myanmar. Initially I was a bit hesitant on adding Bagan to my list of places to see because I wasn't too keen on crowds. But being interested in Buddhist history and architecture I decided not to skip this place. I am really glad I took that decision. Bagan was spectacular! Bagan is often called Myanmar's Angkor Wat. While not as touristy or grand, it is still stunning in its own way. Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in central Myanmar, flanked by the Irrawady River on one side. It is home to more than 3000 pagodas built between the 9th to 11th centuries. It is said that at its zenith, the Bagan plain had more than 10,000 Buddhist pagodas and monasteries! It is a dry and dusty place with pagodas dotting the landscape. It is impossible to see each and every pagoda in Bagan. They all have similarities while managing to remain unique. A popular thing to do...

Mid--day sun over the Shwedagon I have created three blog posts for the Shwedagon Pagoda itself. I found it utterly mesmerizing, and simply could not stop staring at it. I am probably not the only one who thinks this way. Many visitors who have been there report being dazzled by the Shwedagon. I took many photos of the place, and this post will have more photos than text! Little shrines to the Buddha everywhere you turn  This tree was grown from a cutting from the original Bodhi tree that the Buddha gained enlightenment under The Singu Min Bell There is an interesting story associated with the Singu Min Bell. This bell is more than 300 years old and weighs about 25 tons. It is said that in 1825, the British took it from the Pagoda as spoils of war during the first Anglo-Burmese War. But the bell was so heavy, that the British ship which was carrying the bell sank! Any attempts to salvage the bell by the British ended up being unsuccessful. A Burmese group ...

Location:   The Shwedagon Pagoda is located in the south of Yangon on the Singuttara Hill in Dagon Township. It is a huge complex and has four entrances. The most popular entrances are the southern and eastern entrances. All entrances except the eastern entrance have an elevator and an escalator. The Shwedagon Pagoda - As viewed from one of the many prayer pavillions The Shwedagon Pagoda is a popular tourist destination in Myanmar and also an important place of worship for Myanmar Buddhists. It forms an important part of Burmese culture, folklore, and identity. It is said to be over 2500 years old and is believed to house relics of the four Buddhas of the present aeon. It has witnessed the evolution of Myanmar over the centuries. From a historical perspective the Shwedagon Pagoda was most likely built by the Mon people around the 6th-10th centuries AD. Over the centuries, subsequent dynasties left their mark on the pagoda by rebuilding and expanding it. It receiv...

A trip to Yangon is not complete without a visit to the glittering golden Shwedagon Pagoda. It is the pride of Myanmar. Even if you don't see anything else in your trip to Myanmar and spend all day lazing at your hotel, at least do not miss the Shwedagon. The Shwedagon Pagoda is a Buddhist temple built on a hill. The Burmese say it is more than 2000 years old, and contains some of the Buddha's relics. It is an important place of worship for Burmese Buddhists and a popular tourist destination as well. It is a complex with many ornate shrines, Buddha statues, and a giant  stupa  (Buddhist shrine) in the centre covered with gold and precious stones. The pagoda rests on a hill in Dagon township, and is easily reached by public transport and taxis. We took YBS bus #12 from Sule Pagoda to Shwedagon pagoda. It cost us 200 Kyat (0.20 SGD) per person and it was a short 15 minute ride. We asked the locals which stop to get down at. The walk from the bus stop to Shwedagon took ...

Central Fire Station Downtown Yangon in the evening with Sule pagoda in the distance Most travellers to Yangon generally stay in one of the three districts- Bahan/Dagon, Airport area, or Downtown. Bahan and Dagon are more upscale areas with nicer hotels. Many embassies are found there, and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda and Inya Lake are also found in this area. Downtown Yangon is where there are more budget options. Many backpackers and budget travellers stay here. I found plenty of hostels, budget hotels, money changers, pharmacies, and street food options here. There are also many travel agents who do tour and bus/train/flight ticket bookings at a pretty low cost. Not only that, downtown Yangon is where the old British colonial-era buildings are located at. Majority of the attractions from the Yangon City Heritage List are located in this area. We stayed at East Hotel in Downtown Yangon, which was right opposite a big mall called Sule Square. We found getting into and...

Hot milk at a street stall Stalls selling Indian style meat and fish dishes are abundant Freshly made Naan in a Tandoor Piping hot Pooris Street food in Yangon is delicious and cheap. I stayed in the downtown area of Yangon. This area is cheaper and has more street food options than slightly more upscale neighbourhoods like Bahan or Dagon. A lot of hostels, money changers, and travel agents are also located in downtown Yangon. Apart from that, downtown Yangon is where you can see different ethnic groups living side by side. This area is old, dirty, and shabby but it is a fascinating place. The food in Burma is heavily influenced by Indian and Thai cuisine, and to some extent Chinese cuisine too. There is a good balance of meat dishes and also vegetarian food. I prefer to eat vegetarian as much as possible, especially while travelling. I had no trouble finding vegetarian food options in Myanmar. Anawrahta road, Latha township, and Strand Road are some popular p...