Myanmar (Burma)
This ‘Sacred Hall of Ordination’ was originally constructed in 1476 by Dhammazedi, the famous alchemist king and son of Queen Shinsawpu. Like almost everything in Bago, it has suffered a tumbledown history and been destroyed and rebuilt many a time. The grounds are peaceful and contain some lovely old wooden buildings.
In a covered shed behind the main hall are 10 large tablets with inscriptions in Pali and Mon describing the history of Buddhism in Myanmar.
0.32 MILES
Following the destruction of Bago in 1757, this huge reclining buddha was overgrown by jungle and not rediscovered until 1881, when a contractor unearthed…
2.21 MILES
A zedi (stupa) of washed-out gold in the midday haze and glittering perfection in the evening, the 374ft-high Shwemawdaw Paya lords it over Bago. At the…
2.81 MILES
Myanmar has several temples where real live snakes are worshipped – the humongous Burmese python at Bago's is reputed to be over 125 years old. At least…
0.76 MILES
The design of this 'Great Stupa', with its stairways leading high up the structure, is unusual for southern Myanmar and certainly one of Bago's more…
2.75 MILES
This temple stands atop what was once the only place in this vast area that rose above sea level, so it was the natural spot for the hamsa of legend to…
29.96 MILES
Twelve miles north of Yangon’s airport is this beautifully maintained cemetery, containing the graves of 6374 Allied soldiers who died in the Burma and…
2.01 MILES
Built in 1476 by King Dhammazedi, this impressive temple consists of four 100ft-high sitting buddhas (Gautama Buddha and his three predecessors) placed…
0.14 MILES
This serene reclining buddha with chiselled facial features, sprawled out over 250ft, was built in 2002 with public donations. They're still raising money…
0.09 MILES
If you can’t get enough of buddha statues, check out these four buddha figures standing back to back. An adjacent open hallway has a small reclining…
2. Naung Daw Gyi Mya Tha Lyaung
0.14 MILES
This serene reclining buddha with chiselled facial features, sprawled out over 250ft, was built in 2002 with public donations. They're still raising money…
0.32 MILES
Following the destruction of Bago in 1757, this huge reclining buddha was overgrown by jungle and not rediscovered until 1881, when a contractor unearthed…
0.54 MILES
Surrounded by a moat and undergoing extensive restoration at the time of writing, this is Bago's principal Hindu temple.
0.69 MILES
This zedi (stupa) has a dark gu (tunnel) around the circumference of the cylindrical superstructure. The monument dates from 1494 and the reign of King…
0.76 MILES
The design of this 'Great Stupa', with its stairways leading high up the structure, is unusual for southern Myanmar and certainly one of Bago's more…
1.22 MILES
The sight of some 500 monks and novices filing out in the early morning from one of largest monasteries in Myanmar to collect alms is worth getting up…