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Stroll Around Shwedagon Pagoda’s Shining Spires
Published by Dayle Parker, Writer
Country: Myanmar 
The Experience
If you’re planning a trip to Yangon, Myanmar’s former capital, a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda is most likely already on your itinerary. But if you happen to arrive in the city without yet having heard of the ancient and highly important Buddhist temple, the enormous gleaming gold pagoda atop Singuttara Hill in central Yangon is hard to miss. Visible from all parts of the city, Shwedagon Pagoda’s massive gold-covered stupa dominates the skyline, but is even more magnificent up close. Once at Shwedagon you’ll find there is much more to the temple than its immense stupa, which is surrounded by many smaller gold spires and shrines. A leisurely stroll amidst Shwedagon Pagoda’s shining spires is the best way to appreciate the Pagoda’s beauty.
To the Burmese people, Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar (previously known as Burma), housing significant religious relics including eight strands of The Buddha’s hair. But when exactly Shwedagon Pagoda was built has been heavily debated. Some stories place Shwedagon at 2,500 years old, although modern archaeologists believe it was constructed sometime between the 6th and 10th centuries. Over time, Shwedagon has been damaged by earthquakes, war, foreign occupation and pillagers, but rebuilt again and again by devotees.
Today, Shwedagon Pagoda stands proudly over Yangon at 98 metres high, and is covered in pure gold donated by monarchs and Buddhist devotees. Over many years, worshipers have left behind offerings of precious gems and jewellery which have been used to adorn Shwedagon’s stupa. Presently, the pagoda bears 5,448 diamonds, 2,317 rubies, and thousands of gold and silver bells, sapphires and other gemstones—and is topped with a massive 76-carat diamond. Visitors can view close-up photos of these peculiar decorations—which are too high up to be seen with the naked eye—in a museum display inside the temple.
Several entrances lead up to the pagoda, and as per Buddhist custom, all visitors must remove their shoes when stepping inside. Once inside Shwedagon’s walls, hundreds of smaller gold spires, shrines, and statues surround the towering main stupa, making for a great glistening maze to wander—which is customary to do in a clockwise direction. With nearly every surface decorated, there is plenty to take in inside the pagoda: statues of animals and The Buddha, ornate bells large and small, intricately carved spires, not to mention getting lost among the monks and pilgrims wandering and kneeling at the shrines on the cool, tiled floors of the complex. As approximately 89 percent of Burmese are Buddhists, making a visit to Shwedagon at some point during your lifetime is highly important for many of the local population.
Even if you’re not Buddhist, it’s easy to spend a few hours exploring Shwedagon Pagoda, and quietly absorbing its peacefulness. Throughout the day, the changing light transforms the temple’s appearance, and many who visit during the day return to snap photos at night as well, when lit candles around the Pagoda add yet another layer of shining magnificence to Shwedagon.
To the Burmese people, Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar (previously known as Burma), housing significant religious relics including eight strands of The Buddha’s hair. But when exactly Shwedagon Pagoda was built has been heavily debated. Some stories place Shwedagon at 2,500 years old, although modern archaeologists believe it was constructed sometime between the 6th and 10th centuries. Over time, Shwedagon has been damaged by earthquakes, war, foreign occupation and pillagers, but rebuilt again and again by devotees.
Today, Shwedagon Pagoda stands proudly over Yangon at 98 metres high, and is covered in pure gold donated by monarchs and Buddhist devotees. Over many years, worshipers have left behind offerings of precious gems and jewellery which have been used to adorn Shwedagon’s stupa. Presently, the pagoda bears 5,448 diamonds, 2,317 rubies, and thousands of gold and silver bells, sapphires and other gemstones—and is topped with a massive 76-carat diamond. Visitors can view close-up photos of these peculiar decorations—which are too high up to be seen with the naked eye—in a museum display inside the temple.
Several entrances lead up to the pagoda, and as per Buddhist custom, all visitors must remove their shoes when stepping inside. Once inside Shwedagon’s walls, hundreds of smaller gold spires, shrines, and statues surround the towering main stupa, making for a great glistening maze to wander—which is customary to do in a clockwise direction. With nearly every surface decorated, there is plenty to take in inside the pagoda: statues of animals and The Buddha, ornate bells large and small, intricately carved spires, not to mention getting lost among the monks and pilgrims wandering and kneeling at the shrines on the cool, tiled floors of the complex. As approximately 89 percent of Burmese are Buddhists, making a visit to Shwedagon at some point during your lifetime is highly important for many of the local population.
Even if you’re not Buddhist, it’s easy to spend a few hours exploring Shwedagon Pagoda, and quietly absorbing its peacefulness. Throughout the day, the changing light transforms the temple’s appearance, and many who visit during the day return to snap photos at night as well, when lit candles around the Pagoda add yet another layer of shining magnificence to Shwedagon.
When to Go to Shwedagon Pagoda
The best time of year to visit Shwedagon Pagoda is during Yangon’s dry season between November and February, when temperatures are coolest (approximately 70-82 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21-28 degrees Celsius).
Odds n' Ends
Shwedagon Pagoda is open from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day of the year. Entrance fee is US$5. As Shwedagon Pagoda is a religious site, visitors are expected to dress modestly and respectfully. Wear long pants or skirts that go below the knee, and do not wear sleeveless or revealing shirts. If in doubt, err on the conservative side. Visitors must remove shoes and socks when entering Shwedagon Pagoda. It is customary to walk around the temple in a clockwise direction.
Taking taxis—which are plentiful and inexpensive in Yangon—is probably the easiest way to visit Shwedagon Pagoda.
Taking taxis—which are plentiful and inexpensive in Yangon—is probably the easiest way to visit Shwedagon Pagoda.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Motherland Inn
- The staff at Motherland Inn make one feel welcome from the minute you step off the plane in Yangon (where they'll pick you up free of charge), to the end of your stay. Comfortable rooms, excellent included breakfast, and smiling faces are all part of the experience at the Motherland Inn.
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
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More Experiences Nearby
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Books and DVDs
- Global Treasures SHWEDAGON PAGODA
- DVD: For several centuries one of the world's greatest and most splendid sights has towered above the streets of Yangon. A total of four stairways that point toward the four cardinal points lead into Burma's national sanctuary, the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda.
Elsewhere on the Web
Media References
- Profile: Shwedagon Pagoda (newspaper)
- Profile by the BBC.
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Language Guides
Malay 
is one of the languages spoken in Myanmar. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
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