I am describing in great detail how the shwedagon came to. Once you are in the city, there will be plenty of taxis and trishaws available. The first 100 pages are photographs of the shwedagon pagoda itself, the surrounding shrines and images in the pagoda complex, and people worshipping. Continue reading the shwedagon pagoda myanmar s worldfamous landmark.
The shwedagon pagoda, thought today to enshrine 8 hair relics of the buddha, owes its origins to a single passage in the mahavagga vinayapitaka in which two traveling merchantbrothers offered the buddha food at bodh gaya. The history says that in maha sakarit 103 about 600 bc, gautama buddha attained enlightenment and while he journeyed in seven directions. Burma 1 rangoon and the shwedagon pagoda hd duration. Aung thwin and aungthwin 2012, a history of myanmar since. History of the shwedagon pagoda according to archaeologists and scholars, the shwedagon pagoda was built by the mon people, an ethnic group from myanmar. Strands of buddhas hair and other holy relics are enshrined in this pagoda, making it one of the most sacred sites for the people of myanmar. Shwedagon pagoda myanmar travel gandawun shwe bagan. These relics include the staff of kakusandha, the water filter of ko.
The shwedagon pagoda, officially titled shwedagon zedi daw, also known as the golden pagoda, is a 98metre approx. Near heat stroke at stunning shwedagon pagoda yangon, myanmar duration. The golden pagoda was encased in a silver pagoda, then in a pagoda of gold and copper alloy, then in bronze pagoda, then in iron pagoda, then in a marble pagoda, and finally in a brick pagoda. The shwedagon is the most sacred buddhist pagoda in myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous buddhas of the present kalpa. The shwedagon pagoda consists of hundreds colorful temples, stupas, and statues reflecting the architectural era spanning almost 2,500 years.
For hundreds of years the golden stupa of the shwedagon, the pagoda. Shwedagon pagoda the most expensive pagoda on earth. This book has many wonderful elements, but could have used a good editor to pull those elements together into some kind of meaningful whole. Book your tickets online for shwedagon pagoda, yangon rangoon. It was compiled in the early 1830s by a royal commission composed of learned monks, brahmins and lay scholars. The shwedagon pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in the world and it is certainly the main attraction of yangon rangoon, myanmar s capital city.
If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Shwedagon pagoda is a repository of the best in myanmar heritage architecture, sculpture and arts. The shwedagon pagoda is not only the religious center of myanmar itself. Shwedagon pagoda is the most sacred buddhist pagoda in myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous buddhas of the present kalpa. This golden stupa, or pagoda, ranks among the holiest religious sites in myanmar. Locally known as shwedagon zedi daw the, it sits atop of a hill and is 99 meters high. This gemencrusted temple is said to contain some of the buddhas hair which can make the deaf hear and the blind see. The shwedagon pagoda enshrines strands of buddhas hair and other holy relics. The stairway that is most used by the foreign visitors is the southern stairway, which ascends from the direction of the city center. Aungthwin and aungthwin 2012, a history of myanmar since. Shwedagon pagoda, yangon, myanmar asian historical architecture. Shwedagon pagoda is known as the oldest buddhist stupa, having been built 2600 years ago. They then travelled to myanmar and, with the help of king okkalapa, built the shwedagon pagoda on singuttara hill, burying the hairs underneath the structure.
The shwedagon pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in the world and it is certainly the main attraction of yangon, myanmars capital city. The shwedagon pagoda in yangon is a glimpse of glitz and glam. Economics across the myanmar thailand border in international journal of east asian studies 2015, the language book karen phrasebook. Shwedagon pagoda is the most sacred and impressive buddhist site for the people of the union of myanmar.
Yangon and shwedagon pagoda other places travel guide. A guide on how to plan your visit to the shwedagon pagoda in yangon. The shwedagon pagoda myanmars worldfamous landmark. The pagoda situated on singuttara hill in the center of yangon rangoon, is the most sacred buddhist stupa in myanmar and one of the most important religious reliquary monuments in the world. Almost 110 meters in height, covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of stupa coated with diamonds. We also would like to say thanks to all vistors who sent and shared books at our bookshelf. Though, this is according to legend and historians and archaeologists like to maintain it was built between the 6 th and 10 th centuries ad in this legend two brothers, taphussa and bhallika, meet the lord gautama buddha and receive eight of buddhas hairs. Getting into myanmar s largest city is easier than ever before. In this book i am writing extensively and detailed about the shwedagon pagoda including its history. No visit to the union of myanmar is complete without a visit to the 2,500 years old shwedagon pagoda, which enshrines strands of buddhas hair and other holy relics. A stone slab all covered with gold was placed over the relic chamber and on it was erected a golden pagoda 44 cubits high. There are flights from surrounding countries but yangon is easily accessible from bangkok by bus as well. We recommend booking tachileik shwedagon pagoda tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Legends say that theres been a stupa on singuttara hill for 2,500.
The most sacred and impressive destination for travellers, pilgrims, and residents, shwedagon pagoda stands witness to the history and importance of buddhism in myanmar burma. Discover shwedagon pagoda in yangon, myanmar burma. Buddhists come on pilgrimages from all over the country to this historic site, to venerate the buddha and to breathe in the meditative spirit of this sacred shrine, and visitors are enchanted by its shining golden beauty. During recent centuries, shwedagon paya was the scene for much political activity during the myanmar independence movement aung san suu kyi spoke to massive crowds here in 1988, and the temple was also at the centre of the monks protests in 2007. The pagoda contains important buddhist relics including hairs of gautama buddha himself.
The shwedagon pagoda and the zenith passage of the sun. The shwedagon is the most sacred buddhist pagoda in myanmar, as it is. The shwedagon pagoda history is associated to a legendary story about journey of two brothers. Almost 110 meters in height, covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of stupa coated with diamonds, the structure of the pagoda is truly amazing. Terming it as spectacular is an understatement as shwedagon has witnessed the history of myanmar for centuries and has awed millions in myanmar and. The story of shwedagon amrita kundu the glittering golden shwedagon pagoda is the most famous monument of yangon, myanmar s commercial capital.
The shwedagon pagoda is actually maintained with the help of public donations. Spectacular 2,500 years old shwedagon pagoda in myanmar. The pagoda, or stupa, typically forming the nucleus of a temple, is the focal point for making merit, which is customarily done through donations towards its renovation and the maintenance of ritual life in and around. About shwedagon pagoda located in yangon, the spectacular shwedagon pagoda is believed by buddhists to be around 2,500 years old and is the most sacred site for the buddhist population of myanmar. The shwedagon is more than a national iconits a treasureand basking in its magnificence is an absolute must. Undeniably the countrys most stunning buddhist structure, myanmar s shwedagon pagoda enchants all those who tread upon its dazzling 114acre complex in the heart of yangon. Shwedagon s history is also peppered with political turbulence. Shwedagon s trials continued in the 20th century enduring two more earthquakes, a fire in 1931 and cyclone nargis in 2008. The tradition reflects the establishment of the shwedagon, as contained in the hmannan mahayazawindawgyi the great glass palace chronicle. Shwedagon pagoda, dated from about 600 bc, is the highlight and a must stop if you are visiting yangon. Ukkala, in india, but by the ended book for each new generation to leave its the. For the most idyllic first impression of myanmars shwedagon pagoda in all its glory, enter from the northern covered walkway.
To have an exhaustive look at the golden pagoda, visitors will experience an insiders view of this magnificent symbol of buddhism to the lives of the myanmar. Sutherland according to an ancient legend the is 2,500 years old dating back to the lifetime of the buddha, making it the oldest historical pagoda in the world. Here is the collection of books shared by many vistors by online and by post. Basics of sgaw dialect published by white lotus press 2016, and the travel guide yangon and shwedagon pagoda published by other. Apart from being the most important centre of buddhism in myanmar, the shwedagon pagoda has been a focal point for military occupation during colonial times. However, the golden pagoda in myanmar has survived to see our days in its full glory. The growth of the shwedagon myth pali and burmese versions by pe maung.
The shwedagon pagoda is more than 2,500 years old and is one of the wonders of the buddhist world. Here we discuss the orientation of the shwedagon pagoda, the gilded stupa situated on singuttara hill in. Towards the end of colonial rule, students from rangoon universities regularly congregated at the pagoda to demonstrate against british rule. Shwedagon pagoda, like most other pagodas in myanmar, has four stairways or zaungdans, one on each side of the pagoda north, south, east and west.
The central stupa, rising approximately 325 feet above the terrace, is perfectly framed from this angle. Mendut and pawon, described by isaac groneman in his book of 1912. A visit to the shwedagon pagoda in yangon, myanmar is a mustsee for every tourist that plans to visit myanmar. All rooms include a private bathroom equipped with. Several kings and queens of burma had a role to play in raising the height of the pagoda. The 326ft pagoda is situated on singuttara hill, to the west of kandawgyi lake, and dominates the yangon skyline. There are a lot of legends about this pagoda as well as academic history, and visitors can learn more detail within the pagoda compound and photo gallery on the platform. Shwedagon pagoda the shwedagon pagoda is a 98metre gilded stupa located in yangon, myanmar. Set aside the afternoon and ensure that you dont leave before sunset as the evening becomes cooler and the suns rays shimmer on the pagoda as it sets. Shwedagon pagoda history the tradition concerning the founding of the shwedagon, as contained in the hmannan mahayazawindawgyi the great glass palace chronicle which was compiled in the early 1830s by a royal commission composed of learned monks, brahmins and lay scholars, goes thus. Your hotel will most likely arrange a taxi for you to the shwedagon pagoda. We recommend booking shwedagon pagoda tours ahead of time to secure your spot.
The pagodas of myanmar are tangible, physical expressions of the vast accumulations of merit burmese. Yangon, myanmar, and a possible link with the sunrise on the days of the zenith passage of. Finally, when burma was annexed to the british empire, king mindon min added a crown umbrella an ornament typically placed atop burmese pagodas. Legend has it that the shwedagon pagoda is 2,500 years old, but archaeologists estimate it was first built by the mon sometime between the 6th and 10th centuries. The pagoda lies, to the west of the royal lake, on singuttara hill, thus dominating the skyline of the city. Shwedagon pagoda yangon, myanmar burma atlas obscura. The pagoda s layout is intricate, while the complex surrounding it is vast, occupying almost 50 hectares. The shwedagon pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in the world and it is certainly the main attraction of yangon, myanmar s capital city. Journey to shwedagon pagoda along with faithful buddhist practitioners, who visit to honor the relics of previous buddhas. Even when yangon may have seemed to be a city of politics after the third angloburmese war 1886. All rooms come with a flatscreen tv with satellite channels. Everyone who has been to myanmar has a memory of their first visit to the shwedagon.
Visit shwedagon pagoda on your trip to yangon rangoon or. The history of the city of yangon travels on two tracks. Complete your tour of myanmar by visiting this magnificent pagoda that is known to enshrine the hair of the lord buddha along with other precious holy relics. It is an unforgettable vision to see the pagoda across the royal lakes at sunset or as a golden shimmer against the black night sky. Visit shwedagon pagoda in yangon, myanmar adventure. The shwedagon pagoda officially named shwedagon zedi daw and also known as the great dagon pagoda and the golden pagoda, is a gilded stupa located in yangon, myanmar.