Shwedagon Pagoda 99 meter high gold plated stupa topped with diamond studded hti

The elegant Shwedagon Pagoda is Yangon’s most famous landmark. The massive 99 meter high gold plated pagoda with the diamond studded spire set on top of a small hill in downtown Yangon dominates the area and is visible from much of the city. After dark there is a mystical atmosphere with the pagoda lit up by spotlights.

The very impressive pagoda, also known as the Golden Pagoda, is Burma’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage site. The main stupa enshrines sacred relics of the Gautama Buddha as well as the three previous Buddhas.

History of the Shwedagon Pagoda

According to legend the pagoda is more than 2,500 years old dating back to the lifetime of the Buddha, making it the oldest pagoda in Burma. Historical evidence suggests the pagoda was built by the Mon around the 6^th century. Since then the Pagoda has been enlarged and renovated many times, and numerous smaller stupas and other structures have been added.

The Sularata Nat that found the spot to build the pagoda

According to legend two merchant brothers from Okkalapa (present day Yangon) who lived about 2,500 years ago met the Buddha in India. The Buddha gave them eight of His hairs and told them to enshrine them in the same spot on a hill in Okkalapa where relics of the previous three reincarnations of the Buddha were buried.

The brothers returned to Okkalapa and presented the Buddha relics to their King, who started searching for the spot. After years of searching in vain a Nat spirit called Sularata decided to help the King. The Nat who was millions of years old hat witnessed the visits of the previous three Buddhas and remembered the spot on Singuttara hill where the relics were enshrined. It was at this spot that the Shwedagon pagoda was built.

Temple complex

There are four entrances to the complex, all of which except the Eastern one have either an escalator or an elevator. All are guarded by enormous Chinthes, Burmese mythological lions with a white body and golden colored head. The upper part of the walls at the entrances to the complex are decorated with beautiful Burmese style depictions of the Jataka tales, the stories about the previous lives of the Buddha.

The center of the large complex is formed by a large platform measuring 275 meters long with the main stupa and many smaller stupas surrounding it. The main stupa enshrines relics of the four previous Buddhas including sacred hair relics of the most recent Buddha.

Since the Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred place for Buddhists in Burma, large numbers of devotees come to the Shwedagon every day. They walk around the stupa and make offerings to the Buddha.

At each corner of the octagonal pagoda is a shrine with a Buddha image (one for each day of the week, Wednesday is split into two). Every shrine has a planet and an animal sign associated with it in accordance with Eastern astrology. Burmese people pray to the shrine belonging to their day of birth burning candles, offering flowers and pouring water over the image.

The gold plated main stupa with the diamond studded hti

The main stupa is the temple’s most impressive structure. It is visible at its hilltop location from much of Yangon city. The stupa is surrounded by 64 small stupas.

The 99 meters high main stupa is completely covered with gold plating and enshrines the sacred Buddha relics. Its core is solid and not open to the public.

A seven spired hti, an ornament shaped as an umbrella with golden bells attached to it is placed at the top of the pagoda. The hti is decorated with thousands of diamonds and other precious stones.

If you stand in the right spot of the pagoda platform, you will see the reflection of the rays of the sun from the huge diamond on top of the gold plated hti in various colors like red, purple and orange.

 

Karaweik Hall & Kandawgyi Lake

The Karaweik Hall, also known as Karaweik Palace is one of Yangon’s many landmarks. From a distance the Karaweik Hall looks like a huge golden barge floating on Kandawgyi Lake, glittering in the sun.

After dark the Karaweik barge is lit up in spotlights, the golden stupa reflecting in the water of Lake Kandawgyi.

The hall actually is a concrete structure looking like two enormous golden birds with a roof in the shape of a Pyatthat, a Burmese style multi tiered very ornate roof structure. The prow of the ship is built in the shape of a Karaweik, a bird from Burmese mythology. A golden ball is hanging from its beak. The back of the structure is formed by the tail of the Karaweik bird in red and gold colors, on top of the tail is a depiction of a Nat spirit

The Karaweik Hall was completed in 1974, its design based on the Pyi Gyi Mon Royal Barge. In the old days this barge was used by Burmese Kings to travel around the Kingdom. A working model of the Royal Barge can be seen at the Phaung Daw U pagoda in Inle Lake. During the annual Phaung Daw U festival the Karaweik Barge carrying Buddha images is towed over the large lake.

Traditional Burmese entertainment and buffet

Inside Karaweik Hall are reception halls, conference rooms, buffet restaurants and theatres. Visitors can enjoy an extensive buffet, a selection of Chinese, Burmese and Western food while watching a variety of traditional Burmese entertainment. The entertainment which lasts some 2½ to 3 hours consists of shows like Burmese puppet show, the elephant dance and traditional Burmese dancing. The dancers wear traditional style Burmese costumes. There is also an exhibition of Burmese arts, handicrafts and traditional costumes.

Kandawgyi Lake

The Karaweik Hall is located in the South East corner of Kandawgyi Lake, a large lake in downtown Yangon. On the Southern end of the lake is a boardwalk (entrance fee 2,000 Kyat), around the park are several open air restaurants.

Several places in the park offer good views of the Shwedagon pagoda, especially after dark when the pagoda is lit up by spotlights.

Every November the lake is the scene of the annual traditional boat races.

How to get to Karaweik Hall

The Karaweik Hall is found in the South East corner of Kandawgyi Lake a few hundred meters East of the Shwedagon pagoda. A taxi from downtown Yangonshould cost around US$ 3 - 5.

Entrance fee & opening hours

The Kandawgyi Lake and park opens daily until 10 pm. Entrance fee to the Karaweik Hall is 300 Kyat, around 0.50 US$. The traditional Burmese entertainment starts around 6:30 pm until about 9:30. Price of the buffet including a few drinks and the entertainment costs around US$ 20 per person.

 

Sule Pagoda Ancient octagonal pagoda in the center of Yangon

The Sule Paya is a small pagoda located in the center of Yangon. The pagoda, known in Burmese as the Kyaik Athok Zedi, is surrounded by busy streets, a market and colonial era buildings like the Supreme court building and Yangon city hall.

According to legend the pagoda was built during the lifetime of the Gautama Buddha, about 2,500 years ago. The pagoda was much smaller at the time. It has been renovated and enlarged several times by later Kings. The paya reached its present height when it was renovated halfway the 15^th century.

Named after the Sule Nat

The Sule pagoda is named after Sularata, the Sule Nat (spirit) who lived at the spot where the pagoda now stands. According to legend Sularata, a Nat millions of years old found the spot where relics of the three reincarnations of the Buddha were buried, and the location where the Shwedagon pagoda was to be build some 2,500 years ago. Nat spirits have been worshipped for centuries in Burma, even before the arrival of Buddhism.

The Sule is much less visited than the better known Shwedagon.

Octagonal golden pagoda

The Sule’s golden Mon style pagoda measures 44 meters high. Unusual in its design is its octagonal shape, that continues all the way up to the spire. The pagoda is topped with a hti, a multi tiered ornamental element shaped as an umbrella. The Sule Paya is highly revered because it enshrines a hair relic of the Buddha. A steady flow of Burmese devotees make merit and bring offerings.

Other structures on the grounds

Around the pagoda is a circular structure housing small shops where services as astrology and palmistry are offered. Four entrances topped with multi tiered Pyatthat roofs provide access to the Sule grounds. Shrines around the pagoda house images of the Buddha, bronze bells are rung by Buddhist devotees making merit.

Several depictions of a Hintha bird, the symbol of Bago, can be found on the temple grounds. One of the mythological birds with a miniature pagoda on its back sits on top of a pole in a lotus flower, another one with a shrine on its back hangs down from a steel cable. Several images of Nat spirits are found on the Sule grounds. Nat spirits have been worshipped in Burma for centuries, the most important ones live on Mount Popa.

 

Sule Pagoda Ancient octagonal pagoda in the center of Yangon

The Sule Paya is a small pagoda located in the center of Yangon. The pagoda, known in Burmese as the Kyaik Athok Zedi, is surrounded by busy streets, a market and colonial era buildings like the Supreme court building and Yangon city hall.

According to legend the pagoda was built during the lifetime of the Gautama Buddha, about 2,500 years ago. The pagoda was much smaller at the time. It has been renovated and enlarged several times by later Kings. The paya reached its present height when it was renovated halfway the 15^th century.

Named after the Sule Nat

The Sule pagoda is named after Sularata, the Sule Nat (spirit) who lived at the spot where the pagoda now stands. According to legend Sularata, a Nat millions of years old found the spot where relics of the three reincarnations of the Buddha were buried, and the location where the Shwedagon pagoda was to be build some 2,500 years ago. Nat spirits have been worshipped for centuries in Burma, even before the arrival of Buddhism.

The Sule is much less visited than the better known Shwedagon.

Octagonal golden pagoda

The Sule’s golden Mon style pagoda measures 44 meters high. Unusual in its design is its octagonal shape, that continues all the way up to the spire. The pagoda is topped with a hti, a multi tiered ornamental element shaped as an umbrella. The Sule Paya is highly revered because it enshrines a hair relic of the Buddha. A steady flow of Burmese devotees make merit and bring offerings.

Other structures on the grounds

Around the pagoda is a circular structure housing small shops where services as astrology and palmistry are offered. Four entrances topped with multi tiered Pyatthat roofs provide access to the Sule grounds. Shrines around the pagoda house images of the Buddha, bronze bells are rung by Buddhist devotees making merit.

Several depictions of a Hintha bird, the symbol of Bago, can be found on the temple grounds. One of the mythological birds with a miniature pagoda on its back sits on top of a pole in a lotus flower, another one with a shrine on its back hangs down from a steel cable. Several images of Nat spirits are found on the Sule grounds. Nat spirits have been worshipped in Burma for centuries, the most important ones live on Mount Popa.

 

Shwedagon Pagoda

The elegant Shwedagon Pagoda is Yangon’s most famous landmark. The massive 99 meter high gold plated pagoda with the diamond studded spire set on top of a small hill in downtown Yangon dominates the area and is visible from much of the city. After dark there is a mystical atmosphere with the pagoda lit up by spotlights.

The very impressive pagoda, also known as the Golden Pagoda, is Burma’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage site. The main stupa enshrines sacred relics of the Gautama Buddha as well as the three previous Buddhas.

History of the Shwedagon Pagoda

According to legend the pagoda is more than 2,500 years old dating back to the lifetime of the Buddha, making it the oldest pagoda in Burma. Historical evidence suggests the pagoda was built by the Mon around the 6^th century. Since then the Pagoda has been enlarged and renovated many times, and numerous smaller stupas and other structures have been added.

The Sularata Nat that found the spot to build the pagoda

According to legend two merchant brothers from Okkalapa (present day Yangon) who lived about 2,500 years ago met the Buddha in India. The Buddha gave them eight of His hairs and told them to enshrine them in the same spot on a hill in Okkalapa where relics of the previous three reincarnations of the Buddha were buried.

The brothers returned to Okkalapa and presented the Buddha relics to their King, who started searching for the spot. After years of searching in vain a Nat spirit called Sularata decided to help the King. The Nat who was millions of years old hat witnessed the visits of the previous three Buddhas and remembered the spot on Singuttara hill where the relics were enshrined. It was at this spot that the Shwedagon pagoda was built.

Temple complex

There are four entrances to the complex, all of which except the Eastern one have either an escalator or an elevator. All are guarded by enormous Chinthes, Burmese mythological lions with a white body and golden colored head. The upper part of the walls at the entrances to the complex are decorated with beautiful Burmese style depictions of the Jataka tales, the stories about the previous lives of the Buddha.

The center of the large complex is formed by a large platform measuring 275 meters long with the main stupa and many smaller stupas surrounding it. The main stupa enshrines relics of the four previous Buddhas including sacred hair relics of the most recent Buddha.

 

Cambodia A country with a rich history and beautiful beaches

One of the world’s poorest countries, Cambodia is bordered by Thailand, Vietnam and Laos and by the Gulf of Thailand in the South. The Mekong, one of the world’s longest rivers, runs through the country.

Capital and largest city is Phnom Penh, a city where Cambodia’s colonial past is clearly visible in the old French quarters architecture.

Much of Cambodia has a rural character with rice fields scattered over the country. Cambodia is a Buddhist country with a largely conservative population. Most of its people are involved in small scale farming.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing sources of income and employment for the country, with the magnificent Khmer era temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park being the main attraction.

History of Cambodia

Cambodia is known the world over for its rich history. The Khmer empire that was founded at the start of the 9^th century grew out to be one of the most powerful empires ever to exist in South East Asia. At the height of its power the empire extended out across much of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Many impressive monuments were build such as Angkor Wat and the Bayon, that are today a major tourist attraction and a source of pride for the country.

The power of the Khmer empire came to an end after an invasion by the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1431. The state religion during the Khmer era was Hinduism; Shiva and Vishnu were worshipped until the 13^th century, when Buddhism became prevalent.

Recent history

Cambodia was colonized by France in 1863 and stayed under French control until 1953. French influence is still clearly visible in the colonial style buildings of Battambang and the French quarter of Phnom Penh. From 1975 until 1979 Cambodia was under control of the Khmer Rouge, the communist party led by Pol Pot. The regime tried to implement agricultural reforms, which led to widespread famine. More than one million people died of starvation, exhaustion or execution. This era in Cambodia’s history is known from the movie “The Killing Fields”.

To do & see in Cambodia

Cambodia is an increasingly popular tourist destination, the main destinations being Angkor, Phnom Penh and the beaches around Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand.

Angkor Archaeological Park & Siem Reap

Most visitors to Cambodia visit the Angkor Archaeological Park, an area of more than 400 square kilometers near the town of Siem Reap. This area was the scene of one of the world’s most developed civilizations of its time. A large number of impressive monuments as Angkor Wat and the Bayon remain in a well preserved state.

Angkor night market

The Angkor night market in Siem Reap is a good place to try your bargaining skills, pick up some souvenirs, try local food or enjoy a Cambodian massage.

Apsara dance performance

Several of the more upmarket hotels in Siem Reap organise dinner and Apsara dance shows. They are named after the Apsaras, female celestial beings depicted on many of the Angkor temples. In Khmer mythology they entertain the Gods and are usually seen dancing. During the Khmer era these dances were performed for the rulers of the Khmer empire.

Sihanoukville beaches

Around the town of Sihanoukville are a number of sandy beaches. While some of them are very quiet, most beaches have facilities like beach chairs, bars and restaurants as well as accommodation options. For a gamble, try one of the Sihanoukville casinos.

Phnom Penh

Being the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has many sites worth a visit, a few of them being the Royal Palace, the Independence Monument, the National Museum and the colonial houses of the old French quarter.

The city houses countless Buddhist temples like the Wat Phnom, a beautiful temple dating back to the 14^th century and the Wat Botum, a 15^th century temple. The central market Phsar Thmey is an enormous market in the center of town with countless stalls where almost everything seems to be for sale.

The Killing Fields Choeung Ek South of town is one of the sites where huge numbers of people were executed during the Khmer Rouge regime. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh was a prison where the prisoner cells can be viewed and where photos and other items of the Khmer Rouge era are on display.

 

Phnom Bakheng First temple with 5 towers representing Mount Meru

The Phnom Bakheng temple was build around the year 900 in Yasodharapura by King Yasovarman I, also known as the leper King, as he suffered from leprosy.

Yasovarman I moved the capital of the Khmer empire from Hariharalaya to Yasodharapura, near current day Siem Reap where Angkor Wat was to be build more than 200 years later.

Mountain temple dedicated to Shiva

The Phnom Bakheng is a mountain temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. King Yasovarman I made this the state temple, the most important temple of the Kingdom. It harbored the most sacred linga in Angkor.

The temple is located on top of a 70 meter high hill. From the top there are great views of the surrounding area including Angkor Wat and and two other temples build on hill tops, the Phnom Krom and the Phnom Bok. It is a popular place to view the sunset, which can make the temple very crowded at times.

Representation of the mythological Mount Meru

The Phnom Bakheng is the first Angkor temple that has five prang towers on top of the pyramid to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru. In comparison, the Bakong temple, build around 2 decades earlier, has just one prasat. Many of the Angkor temples were build to be a representation of Mount Meru, the sacred mountain with five mountain peaks from Hindu mythology.

Layout of the temple

The temple area was surrounded by a moat. In front of the stairway leading to the hilltop temple are two 2½ meter high lion statues standing guard. A path leads to the main entrance, that faces East.

Just before the remains of the laterite wall with the gopura entrance gate are a few pillars that remain of a building, and a structure of a later date that contains a footprint of the Buddha. In front of the Eastern side of the stepped pyramid are two sandstone library buildings with entrances to the East and West.

Five stepped pyramid

The pyramid of the Phnom Bakheng consists of five receding tiers measuring 76 meters at its base and 47 meters at the top level. On the platform of the fifth tier are the large central sanctuary, surrounded by four smaller sanctuaries. The towers enshrined lingas, some of which are still there. The large central tower had four doors, whereas usually there is just one entrance (usually East), while the others are false doors. The North side of the central prang contains an inscription dating from the reign of King Jayavarman V (968 - 1001).

On the towers are finely carved statues of devatas (guardian spirits) and apsaras (a divine female usually depicted dancing). The lintels and pediments on the prasats show several depictions, like naga snakes and warrior figures.

109 Sanctuary towers

A total of 109 sanctuary towers were build at the site, 44 around the base of the pyramid, 60 on the five tiers of the pyramid and the 5 large prasats on top. Today only part of the central prang still exists, while very little remains of the four surrounding smaller towers. Most of the 60 around the base have not survived.

At the center of each side of the pyramid is a stairway leading to the platform on top. The very steep stairway is guarded by lions. Opposite each of the stairs was a Nandi bull (the mount of Shiva), of which fragments remain.