Visit the beautiful Yangon in Myanmar

Yangon is full of color, chaos, hustle and heat, and home to some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet. It’s a city with many sides; from the frenetic stalls and cafés of downtown to more laid back and leafy neighbourhoods with upmarket houses and boutique shops.

Bathe in gold at the Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda (or Shwedagon Paya, as it’s also known) is the iconic symbol of the city — if not Burma – and for good reason. Sitting over 100 metres tall, with roots dating back more than 2,500 years, it is said to hold strands of Buddha’s hair deep inside, which makes it a hugely important site for Buddhists far and wide. Gold plated and diamond topped, the stunning structure is visible from around Yangon, and no visit is complete without spending some time there. It is truly beautiful and captivating and you might just surprise yourself with how long you stay, peering into the seemingly endless temples, shrines and more that encircle the gilded stupa. It’s also a fabulous people-watching spot — from tourists and worshippers to monks and wedding parties making their way around; and not to mention it’s truly magnificent at both sunrise and sunset.

Get to grips with the Nation’s past

National Museum of Myanmar

Two places worth your time if you want to try and get your head around Burma’s complex history are the Bogyoke Aung San Museum and the National Museum of Myanmar. Aung San is hailed as the father of modern Myanmar, not to mention the father of the leader of the National League for Democracy and famed activist, Aung San Suu Kyi. The museum pays tribute to the late general’s life with collections of speeches, papers, photos and personal items and is situated in what was his home prior to his assassination in 1947. The National Museum of Myanmar, meanwhile, looks at the country’s history and evolution as a whole with one of the largest collections of artifacts and relics relating to the development of civilisation, art and culture. Walk through time and see how Burma grew into the country it is today.

Take a minute at the Taukkyan War Cemetery

Burma played no small part in World War Two, as the more than 6,000 Allied graves at Taukkyan (also known as Htauk Kyant) War Cemetery quickly demonstrate. A Commonwealth War Graves Commission site, the cemetery is located about an hour north of downtown Yangon, but is absolutely worth the journey. Well kept and peaceful, it a lasting tribute to those who lost their lives, many fighting far from home, in the jungles of Burma. There are three memorials to look out for which, among other things, also commemorate the near 27,000 soldiers who died in during campaigns in Burma with no known grave.

Tread the boards over Kandawgyi Lake

Kandawgyi Lake sits not far from the Shwedagon Pagoda and is home to the slightly surreal Karaweik Palace (a large, seemingly floating gold structure that is now a restaurant), as well as a nature park popular with local families. It is also where you will find the rickety boardwalk around the lakes’ edge. You’re not quite taking your life into your own hands, but every step is a small leap of faith as many of the boards are loose and old. It is however, worth the careful stroll, taking you past the exceedingly posh Kandawgyi Palace Hotel and over countless lily-pads. Just make sure you have water and some sun protection with you, as once you get out into the middle, there is no shade, and no going back.

Lose yourself in Downtown Yangon

A true highlight of any visit to Yangon has to be just throwing yourself in amongst downtown Yangon’s surprisingly leafy, grid-like network of streets, most of which are handily named by number (New York style) and surprisingly spread out when you put your perfectly laid out map route into action on the street. You won’t know where to look, from the crumbling European style architecture and many market stalls that pop up late afternoon, to the gridlocked traffic at rush hour, and countless street vendors selling bowl after bowl of piping hot noodles. All this happens under a haze of construction as the city grows and develops with new tower blocks and malls swinging into place above your head. It’s the crazy, chaotic side to Yangon that quietens down very quickly from 10PM onwards, and is home to some real gems for eating, sleeping and shopping.

Read more: 7 reasons why you should visit Myanmar

Source Internet

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