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Myanmar
/ Yangon / Attractions in Yangon
Photo: Shwedagon Pagoda
Shwedagon
Pagoda
The Shwedagon
pagoda is the most important attraction not just of Yangon, but
of all of Myanmar. It is situated on Singuttara Hill, some
three kilometers from the city center.
The pagoda dates
back to the time of the Buddha, some 2,500 years ago. As temple
legends tells, two Burmese merchants went to visit the Buddha and
received eight of his hairs as relics. Though the merchants
allegedly gave four hairs to regents of the different kingdoms
on their way back to Myanmar, all eight hairs eventually
showed up in Dagon, as the place was named then. In order to keep
those eight hairs, the original Shwedagon pagoda was built.
The original
pagoda, just nine meters high, is long gone, for unlike Angkor Wat
in Cambodia, the Shwedagon pagoda has been "in use" ever since.
Because it has continously been, and still is, a place of worship,
it constantly has been extended, changed, renovated, rebuilt after
fires and earthquakes, decorated according to the styles of the
respective times, rebuilt again ... and so on.
Photo: Every day, thousands of pilgrims visit Shwedagon Pagoda.
The main
Stupa, more than 100 meters high, was built its present shape
only in 1774. The Stupa, and many other buildings of the
temple complex, are decorated with myriads of gems and gold. Thousands
of pilgrims visit the site every day. Around the temple vendors
sell ritual articles.
Chaukhtatkyi
Pagoda
This pagoda
with the difficult name features a pavilion with a modern, 70-meter
lying Buddha statue.
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