Without doubt, one of the most revered pagodas of the Buddhist world - this is the Shwedagon Pagoda, located west of Royal Lake on Singuttara Hill in the largest city of Myanmar, Yangon (formerly Rangoon).

As per archaeologists, the stupa was constructed between the 6th and the 10th century. However, the legend says otherwise. According to it, the stupa was constructed some 2600 years ago to preserve the hairs strands of Buddha which was personally given by him to the two merchant brothers on their journey to India. On their return, the ruler of Okkalapa (Yangon) ordered the construction of the pagoda to preserve the precious relic of Buddha. The Pagoda also preserve the sacred relics of the three other Buddhas of this world. It is because of this that the stupa has gained so much of significance in the Buddhist world.

The Pagoda was merely 66 feet high when it was first constructed. Over the period of time additions were made by various Myanmar rulers like installing new "htees" or umbrellas and great bells, gilding it and building rest-houses and "tazaungs " or prayer halls. The pagoda reached its present height in 14th and 15th century.

For all those of you who are desitous of visiting the temple, it is important to know that it is open every day from 4 in the morning to 10 in the night. Two days in the year - the Waxing Day of Tabang (around March) and the Waxing Day of Wakhang (around June) - the temple is open 24 hours. The entrance fee is $ 5. You need to dress up properly and walk in barefoored. The visitors centre of the Pagoda is open from 8 in the morning to 9 in the evening.

There are four entrances to the pagoda, the one on the eastern and southern sides have vendors selling books, good luck charms, Buddha images, candles, gold leaf, incense sticks, prayer flags, streamers, miniature umbrellas and flowers. The southern entrance is guarded by two giant mythical lions.


Architecture
The beautiful stupa is segregated into three basic elements - the octagonal base, the bell shaped dome and conical spire. The three are in a ratio - 22:33:55.

The base comprises three terraces which recede upward on the square plinth, the octagonal terrace and octagonal dais. The dome comprises circular bolt, bells, girdles, inverted alms bowl and festoon. The spire is seperated into four parts, the lowest one is surrounded by seven concentric rings (hpaung yit), not same in shape while the second part bears resemblance to a double lotus throne - an upturned (kya lan) and an inverted lotus (kya hmauk). The third and the fourth part look like an elongated teardrop (nga-pyaw-bu) and an umbrella (hti) respectively.

The stupa today rises to a height of 326 feet with the base having a perimetre of 1420 feet. The lower stupa is adorned with 8688 solid gold bars while the upper part of the stupa has 13,153 of them. The top of the stupa, which is so high that it is not easy to examine from ground, is brilliantly ornated with 5448 diamond, 2317 rubies, sapphires and other gems. At the very tip of the stupa is a 76 carat diamond. Halls and Structures in the Stupa Complex
The stupa is surrounded by four devotional hall - north, south, east and west. The halls that lie between the western and the southern devotional hall include Chinese Merited Association Hall, Hall of the Golden and Silver Hall, Shrine of the Sun and Moon, Hall of the U Thin & Daw Thet Pyin, Rakhine Hall, Hall of Daw Pint. The halls around the Northern and the Eastern Devotional Hall include Dr Nyo's Hall, Dr. Ngwe Zin's Hall, Umbrella Images, King Thaeyarwady's Bell, Shin Ahagona Hall, Mahabodhi Temple, Hall of Hair - Wasing, Eleven Shrine Clester, Chan Mah Phee's hall, Buddha's Footprint Hall, U Po Thaung's Hall, Hall of Great proseperity, Hall of Singu's Bell and hall of Wizards.

Another Pagoda - Naungdawgyi is also situated closeby and is believed to have preserved the hair strands of Buddha when it first arrived. Another belief goes that the Pagoda actually houses the hair strands of Buddha which the elder merchant brother again got from Buddha. Behind this Pagoda lies the Hall of Shwedagon Inscription.


Yangon
The capital city of Myanmar, Yangon spreads over an area of 576 sqkm. It was founded as Dagon in the 500s by Mon. It was then a small fishing village. In the 18th century, King Alangpaya conquered and renamed it as Yangon. The city gained prominence during the British rule when it became the capital city. The British called it Rangoon and it was only in 1989 that it was renamed Yangon.

Today, Yangon is a city divided into 4 district with a total of 32 townships. There are plenty of worthvisiting attractions in the city, specially the religious sites and parks. Plenty of accommodation along with eating out options, too, are available in Yangon for tourists.


Other Attractions

• Sule Pagoda : Sule Pagoda is located in the heart of Yangon city at a distance of about 9275 feet away from Shwedagon Pagoda and 5102 feet apart from Botataung Pagoda. The Pagoda was originally situated on an island on the Hlaing River, however, later, during the British occupation, downtown Yangon was restructured, with Sule Pagoda in its centre. The ocatagonal Pagoda, 145 feet in height, is around 2000 years old and believed to enshrine the hair of Guatam Buddha. The Pagoda is gold-gilded, and is surrounded by an array of smaller zedis and Buddhas.
  
  
• Mailamu Paya : The Paya is situated at the edge of Yangon city. Gigantic and colourful statues depicting Buddha's lives can be seen here on a large piece of land. Also to be seen here are several zedis.
  
• Botahtaung Pagoda : Situated downtown besides the Yahgon river, the Botataung Pagoda derives its name from the thousand military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha from India to Myanmar over two thousand years ago. The Pagoda, being hollow inside, allows you to walk through it. As in the other Buddhist Pagodas, the entrance of the Botahtaung Pagoda, too, is guarded by Lions. However, even dtagons are found protecting the stupa entrance. Images of Buddha and His tooth relic are the highlight of the Pagoda.
  
  
• Kaba Aye Pagoda : Located on the Kaba Aye Pagoda Road in Yangon, this Pagoda aims to bring about global peace. It was constructed in 1952 and has the main stupa rising to a height of 117 feet 6 inches. Subsidiary stupas, each 8 feet high, lie on the five porches. North of the stupa is the great man-made cave 455 feet in length, 375 feet wide and having an internal dimension of 220 feet x 140 feet. This cave draws its inspiration from the "Sattapani Grotto" near Rajagaha city of India.
  
  
• The Ngar Htat Gyi Pagoda : Located on the Shwegondaing Road, this Pagoda can be reached from the road encircling the Royal Lakes by turning into a lane having its name. The name 'Ngar Htat Gyi' means pagoda with five-layered roof and accordingly, the huge seated Buddha image here can be seen in a pavilion of iron structure with a five-tiered CGI roof of Ashay Tawya Monastery above. The great image was originally covered in monastic robes, however, today, it is seen with the regalia of kings like a diadem, ear ornaments and jeweled sashes.
  
  
• Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha Image : Quiet closeby the Ngar Htat Gyi Pagoda is another six storey Pagoda housing a reclining image of Buddha. The construction of the image was initiated by U Hpo Thar in 1899. He aspired to amke it one of the most outstanding images of Buddha in the entire world. In the beginning, the image had the length of 195 feet and a height of 100 feet from the surface of the couch to the halo round the head. The height of the couch itself was 5 feet 6 inches above the platform. However, after the reconstruction work was carried out in 1973, the image became 216 feet in length. The height of the couch was lessened from 5 to 4 feet. 195 feet (59.28m) and a height of 100 feet (30.4m) from the surface of the couch to the halo round the head with the height of the couch itself 5 feet 6 inches above the platform.
  
  
• Koe Htat Gyi Pagoda : A nine storey Buddha image is the highlight of this pagoda, situated on the Bargayar Road, Sanchaung Township, Yangon. The giant sitting Buddha image was erected in Augut 1905 and scales to a height of 72 feet from foot to the head. The entrance to the prayer hall is guarded by a frog and a snake images.
  
  
• Maha Wizaya Pagoda : This Pagoda was erected in 1980 on the Dhammarakkhita Hill facing the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. It marked the first successful convening of all sects of the Buddhist monastic order, under one supervisory body. The image of the Buddha enshrined in the this Pagoda was a royal gift from the King and Queen of Nepal. The fund required to construct this pagoda was collected from all over the country.