Shwedagon Pagoda
The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar is an amazing temple rich in history. According to Wikipedia, “the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2,600 years ago, which would make it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world”. The Shwedagon Pagoda has endured several events over the years and still remains the tallest structure in Yangon, Myanmar. It can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
Shwedagon Pagoda is an amazing Buddhist temple and is the number one attraction in Yangon, Myanamr on TripAdvisor, Klook, Viator, and other travel websites. I was lucky enough to be traveling through Yangon on my way to Bagan, Myanmar to take a hot air balloon ride through the Valley of Pagodas and managed to fit a quick tour of the Schwedagon Pagoda into my itinerary.
The Important Stuff…
I departed Bangkok’s Don Mueng Airport at 0730 and arrived in Yangon at 0815. After clearing customs I took a Grab taxi to Shwedagon Pagoda directly from the airport. I needed a SIM card because I didn’t have Google-FI yet which I highly recommend to anyone and everyone (read why here). Shwedagon Pagoda is about half hour away from the airport so very easy to get to on a long layover. I could see the temple from a distance.
Travel Tip: Getting a Grab taxi was super easy, convenient, and reliable to the temple from the airport. Make sure you have the Grab app on your phone and your profile built up with a credit card activated before you go to Asia to save time.
This is what I saw when I arrived
It’s pretty intimidating for me to enter a house of worship in a foreign country for a religion I know very little about. I never know what to expect starting with if I’m even allowed to be there or enter? Shwedagon Pagoda obviously allows tourists or it wouldn’t be on all the tourist sites, but sometimes I encounter problems at smaller more strict places of all kinds (not just religious centers). On occasions when I’m not allowed entry, I just leave with my tail between my legs and find a taxi driver!!!
This was different though. The staff at the Shwedagon Pagoda were very welcoming. There aren’t a lot of western tourists passing through here so I was getting the looks. The looks are from Burmese citizens that live in the countryside who came to the city to see the pagoda as well, but have probably never seen an American before. Either way, I just go with it and smile for pictures when the kids ask.
Hours and Price
The temple is open from 0400-2200 with last admission at 2145 except for two days a year when it’s open for 24 hour. There is a 10,000 Kyats which is $7.35 USD (at time of this writing) fee to enter. You get this awesome little souvenir for your scrap book in return:
Dress Code Important
I was informed that shorts were unacceptable at the entrance. That’s something I should’ve known. I took it for granted that Thailand doesn’t really enforce this with male tourists for the most part. As a result, I had to rent a Lyongi which is the local dress. No shoes are allowed and drones are prohibited:
First Impression
I entered the temple and walked around. The Stupa is amazing up close. There are several Buddhas (many small, giant, reclining, etc.) on display and several small areas for gathering. I wasn’t sure if the gathering areas were open to anyone or if they where reserved for a specific reason like religious classes, gender segregation, or something else. This was one of the few times I missed getting badgered by tour guides at an attraction entrance. As I indicated above, I tread lightly at religious centers in foreign countries because I do not want to be disrespectful. I wasn’t approached by any tour guides when entering so I was on my own.
Travel Tip: Often you can negotiate a very reasonable price that’s worth the cost to keep you from offending anyone or violating the sacred rules. You also get a photographer that knows the best photo spots out of the deal so you can’t lose.
Quick Run Through
Shwegadon Temple is huge and very well maintained. This is clearly an important temple with significant meaning. You’ll notice in the pictures below that several people have umbrellas. The umbrellas are because of the sun. It felt like Las Vegas in August. As a result, I pretty much ran through the temple so I could get out of the sun and the Lyongi which kept falling off, as soon as possible.
Travel Tip: Definitely try to avoid being out in the sun during peak hours. Historic attractions like Shwegadon Temple are not American With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant and there is no air condition. Noon in August is probably the worst time to visit. Use some forethought and plan accordingly. Sunrise and Sunset are probably the best times to visit if time allows.
Wrapping It Up
Shwedagon Pagoda is a pretty big deal for the Myanmar Buddhist community and is a very important site to see. You can literally fly round trip from Bangkok to Yangon in one day and see this temple in the middle. It would not be hard to do at all. With low fare options from AirAsia and NokAir, you can find a very affordable flight that is 45M to 1H in each direction. This is an easy day trip if you are pressed for time. All the essential moving parts (flight, taxi, proximity to airport, etc) are in place to make this happen if you really want to.
Conclusion:
Add Shwedagon Pagoda to your list and make it happen. There’s no reason not to. You are looking at a $150 day trip which includes taxi, airfare, & food. You can get more information about exhibits, handicap accessibility, upcoming festivals, and more from the Shwedagon Pagoda official website.
