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 another 10 minutes. We passed by houses, juice shops, tailors for monk robes, and street vendors.
We bought some beautiful printed longyi 9sarong) cloth from a few street vendors. The prices weren't too expensive, about 3500 Kyat (3.5 SGD) for 2.5 metres of cotton cloth. Some traders allow bargaining, some don't. We noticed that traders with shops sold the same materials at more than three times the price. The markets near Sule Pagoda also sell similar cloth for street vendor prices or even lower. Once my mum had her fill of shopping, we headed to Shwedagon.
We bought some beautiful printed longyi 9sarong) cloth from a few street vendors. The prices weren't too expensive, about 3500 Kyat (3.5 SGD) for 2.5 metres of cotton cloth. Some traders allow bargaining, some don't. We noticed that traders with shops sold the same materials at more than three times the price. The markets near Sule Pagoda also sell similar cloth for street vendor prices or even lower. Once my mum had her fill of shopping, we headed to Shwedagon.
I will never forget my first glimpse of the pagoda as it rose above the buildings. The image of a gleaming golden pagoda shining like a beacon through the Yangon smog is imprinted in my mind.
We took the Eastern entrance. It is lined with shops and street vendors selling all sorts of knick-knacks. My mum was interested in shopping, while I was itching to go inside the temple. So I left her to finish her shopping and went up on my own.
The entrance to the pagoda is flanked by two giant stone lions. The security guard asked me to remove my shoes as I entered the complex. I put my shoes in a plastic bag and went up. Turns out, the pagoda is all the way on top of the hill. I had to first pass through a big hall with shops on both sides. Then there was a security screening area where they scanned my bags and then let me in.
I read in travel blogs that it costs 10,000 Kyat (10 SGD) to go inside the Shwedagon pagoda. For some reason none of the guards or staff at the entrance even gave me a second glance. The entire time I was there, nobody asked me to buy an entry ticket. Maybe they only ask if you look very obviously foreign!
I read in travel blogs that it costs 10,000 Kyat (10 SGD) to go inside the Shwedagon pagoda. For some reason none of the guards or staff at the entrance even gave me a second glance. The entire time I was there, nobody asked me to buy an entry ticket. Maybe they only ask if you look very obviously foreign!
I was a little peeved about having to walk barefoot all the way to the top, especially seeing how dirty the floor was. But I guess it is all part of the experience. The atmosphere inside the pagoda totally made up for the icky feeling of walking barefoot!
Check out my next post where I talk about my time inside the Shwedagon complex.
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| First glimpse of the Shwedagon rising through the fog |
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| Eastern entrance to the Shwedagon |
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| Visitors have to walk through this hall to the top to enter the complex |
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| Ornate gates at the Eastern Entrance |
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