Five sacred places you must visit when in Myanmar

The five most important travel destinations for tourists visiting Myanmar include worship shrines comprising of four pagodas or stupas and one Buddha statue – all worship shrines are considered sacred by Buddhists, both local and foreign. Common belief states that if all five places of worship are visited, then one will be blessed with merits of the highest order. That said, all five worship shrines are exquisitely beautiful and carry unrivaled artistic value when compared to their sanctity.

Shwedagon Pagoda (Shwedagon Zedi Daw)

Yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda of Myanmar is believed to have been built 2,500 years ago and said to contain the sacred relics of the past four previous Buddhas of the present Kalpa. The golden gilded pagoda stands 367 feet tall with an illuminating presence of religious sanctity. The top of the pagoda contains eight hair strands of the Lord Buddha together with 5,448 diamonds, 2,317 emeralds and 1,100 kilograms of gold. Shwedagon is open for worship throughout the day, but most visitors like to go in the early hours or in the evening before sunset to admire the beauty of the pagoda during twilight.

How to go: Shwedagon Pagoda is located in the heart of Yangon and is easily accessed by public and private transportation.

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock Pagoda)

Mon State

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is a small golden pagoda that sits on a golden rock above a mountain peak. The golden rock appears to be barely hanging on a cliff. This pagoda is a sacred place for Buddhists; it is believed that if you come to worship this relic, you will receive merit comparable to worshiping the Chulamanee Pagoda which exists in heaven as the abode of deities. If you visit this pagoda three times, you will receive even greater merit, as all of your wishes will be granted. The outside area of the pagoda is open all night and serves as a meditation place for visitors.

How to go: Travel from Yangon Airport by car for about four hours, then take a cable car up to the mountain where the pagoda is located.

Shwezigon Pagoda (Shwezigon Paya)

Bagan

Bagan, formerly known as Pagan, was founded by its first sovereign, King Anawrahta, after he defeated the Mons and established the city as the capital of Myanmar. The Shwezigon Pagoda was built as a symbol of King Anawrahta’s victory and a symbol of faith in Theravada Buddhism. The Shwezigon Pagoda is believed to enshrine three sacred relics of the Buddha: a tooth, a collarbone and a frontal bone. Paying respect to this pagoda is considered very auspicious to one’s life.

How to go: There are no direct flights from Bangkok to Bagan but travelers can connect domestic airlines from Yangon or Mandalay to Bagan.

Shwemawdaw Pagoda (Golden God Temple)

Hanthawaddy or Bago

Shwemawdaw Pagoda is located in Bago or Hanthawaddy city and is estimated to have been built about 1,000 years ago – a period when the Mon nation flourished and was in power. The pagoda was built to enshrine hair and tooth relics of the Buddha. Earthquakes ravaged the pagoda and caused the top to break and fall off. Authorities built a replacement for the top section of the pagoda in early 20th century while keeping the original on the spot where it fell down to the ground. Visitors are recommended to place their hands and forehead on the broken section for good fortune.

How to go: Bago or Hanthawaddy is 64 kilometers from Yangon or about a 90-minute drive.

Mahamuni Pagoda

Mandalay

The Mahamuni Buddha Temple is a Buddha temple which enshrines the Mahamuni Image or The Great Sage. The Mahamuni Buddha Image is housed in a small gandhakuti chamber and seated on a throne in the divine posture known as Bhumisparsa Mudra, symbolizing Buddha’s vanquishing of Mara. The image is cast in bronze and weighs 6.5 tons, erected on a 6-foot pedestal with a total height of 3.82 meters, with shoulders and waist measuring 6 feet and 9 feet respectively. The Mahamuni Buddha Image is supposedly a living deity because he was granted the breath of life by the Lord Buddha. Every morning at 4am, a face washing ceremony with water mixed with thanaka is performed; along with a gold brush used to brush the teeth as an offering to the Lord Buddha. Participating in this sacred ceremony is considered as one of the highest forms of receiving merit.

How to go: Mahamuni Pagoda is located in the middle of Mandalay city and can be reached by either private vehicle or public transport.

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