What to do on your first trip in Yangon, Myanmar

Yangon, the former capital city of Myanmar, is the main gateway to this beautiful Southeast Asian country. Pagodas are the main tourist attractions in Yangon, but Myanmar is also well-known for good food, such as Mohinga (rice noodle in fish soup), coconut noodle, and Laphat Thote (tea leaf salad). With your first trip to Yangon, what will you do?

Be captivated by the Chauk Htet Kyi Pagoda

This 65-metre-long reclining Buddha is another popular tourist spot in Yangon. Make sure to pay special attention to Buddha’s feet when you visit this pagoda, as there are 108 unique symbols that represent the former lives of Buddha before attaining the Enlightenment. You can also visit the Ngar Htet Gyi pagoda, which is located across to see the statue of the sitting Buddha.

Take in the grandeur of the Shwedagon Pagoda

The main attraction in Yangon is undeniably the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most well-known pagodas in the world. The colossal gilded structure is 99 metres (325 feet) high and sits on top of a hill overlooking the city. It can be seen from most places in Yangon in the daytime and becomes part of the beautiful skyline at night. Believed to have been built some 2,600 years ago, the Shwedagon Pagoda is thought to be the oldest pagoda in the world.

A dazzling 7,000 diamonds, rubies, sapphires, topaz, and emeralds encrust the stupa, while the main dome is plated with shining gold. A dazzling sight no matter what time of the day, it is no wonder that the Shwedagon Pagoda is also affectionately termed as “The Crown of Burma”. The revered pagoda also enshrines strands of Buddha’s hair and other holy relics, making it a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists.

Admire Taukkyan War Cemetery

This gravesite serves as the final resting place for over 6,000 Commonwealth soldiers who fought for the Allied cause in World War II. The immaculately-manicured memorial park is the largest war cemetery in Myanmar, having received remains previously buried in other, less accessible gravesites.
A memorial on the site bears the names of 27,000 missing Commonwealth soldiers presumed to have died while serving in Burma. Unlike other parks in Yangon, Taukkyan requires no entrance fee; getting here takes a 45-minute drive from Yangon's city center.

Sit at a local tea shop

The most common eatery you will find across Yangon is a teashop. You will also be surprised to find all these teashops filled with Burmese men. Believe it or not, but you can get more than 10 varieties of teas (such as Cho Seint, Cho Pawt, Pawt Seint) depending up your preference level of condensed milk and evaporated milk.

Buy souvenirs at Bogyoke market

Bogyoke market, also known as Scott’s market, is the popular tourist attraction for buying souvenirs in Yangon. The recently-built Junction City shopping mall is located across Bogyoke market, and a bridge connects these two areas. A helpful tip for shopping in Bogyoke market, you may bargain for half the quoted price. So, flex your bargaining powers to stretch your shopping budget.

Read more: Visit the interesting markets in Yangon, Myanmar

Travel around the city on the Yangon Circular Train

Before you fret about not having enough time for the rest of Yangon, hop aboard the Yangon Circular Train for a ride you won’t forget. The local commuter rail network travels around the city in a 45.9-kilometre (28.5-mile) loop with 39 stops bringing you through landscapes of urban concrete, paddy fields, and rural villages.

The cheapest method of transportation in Yangon, the flurry of locals on board will give you plenty of opportunities to interact and share a thing or two. From monks to chicken-sellers, strike up a conversation to add spice to your journey, or just sit by the window and enjoy the diverse views and breeze.

Source Internet