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| YANGON |
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Lying on the fertile delta of the Ayeyarwady River, Yangon covers 570 sq km and has a population of about five million. Yangon was calles Dagon, established more than 2,500 years ago. In 1755, King Alaungpaya renamed it Yangon, meaning "End of War" After the third Anglo-Burmese war in 1855 the British rebuilt the city, with roads running in a criss-cross pattern.Unlike many Asian cities that are choked with high rises and heavy traffic. Yangon still exudes Old World charm. Many of its wide boulevards are shady and at night, they are lined with stalls selling a wide range of bric-a-brac and delicious local food. " Bogyoke Markets" is the famous shopping center.
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Shwedagon Pagoda
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Built about 2,500 years ago, the Shwedagon Pagoda has a golden dome rising 98 m above its base, and is sited atop Theinguttara Hill overlooking the city. According to legend, the pagodda was built by two brothers who were given eight strands of Buddha's hair. With the assistance of celestial beings and the king of Myanmar, thebrothers discovered the hill where a chamber exsted containing relics of the three previous Buddhas. These relics were dug up, consecrated and re-enshrined with the eight strands of hair. Over the ages, royalty and commoners have embellished the pagoda with countless precious stones. |
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Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda
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A short sidtance from Shwedagon Pagoda and located at Shwe gondine Road, Chaut Htat Gyi Pagoda houses the fouth largest image of the Reclining Buddha in Myanmar, measuring 195 meters lon and 53 metres high.Though originally built in 1907, it suffered climatic damage over the years and was rebuilt in 1996. |
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Sule Pagoda
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In the heart of Yangon amidst bustling traffic is the octagonal Sule Pagoda which rises 46 meters high. Buil more than 2000 years ago, the pagoda is said to enshrine a har of Buddha. Its Mon name is Kyailk Athok, meaning "the pagoda where a sacred relic hair is enshrined". |
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Bothataung Pagoda
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Its name means "pagoda of a thousand military officers", in dedication of the thousand military men who brought back relics of Buddha more than 2000 years ago from India. Constructed in 997A.D. the pagoda has a 40 meters high hollow spire with walls covered with mosaic mirror glass. Inside are glass showcases displaying ancient artefacts and relics. |
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National Museum
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Located at Pyay Road, the National Museum displays antiques,royal regalia, musical instruments, handicrafts, paintings, etc. On the ground floor, the main attraction is the Lion Throne, built in 1816 during the reign of King Bodawpaya. The first and second floors are devoted to opium-smoking utensils, costumes, wood carvings, pre-historic tools, and images of Buddha from the Bagan Dynasty. The museum opens from 10 am to 4 pm. |
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Bogyoke Aung San Market
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Every tourist visit Bogyoke Aung San Market (Formery the Scott Market). Located next to the red-brick Railway Administration Building.You can find under one roof all the consumer goods and variety of interesting souveniors like handicrafts,lacquerware,Shan sholder bags,T-shirts...Gems and jewellery are also on hand. |
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| MANDALAY |
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Sprawled on the eastern banks of the Ayeyarwady River, Mandalay has a population of more than half a million, and is Myanmar's second largest city. Founded in 1857 by King Mindon, it is a fascinating city where the ancient and the new co-exist. In the central sections of the city, modern buildings, shops and restaurants can be found alongside colonial buildings but trishaws and horse carts still outnumber motorised vehicles. Mandalay is famous for its handicraft industries such as silk weaving of gold leaf, and the weaving of gold and silver embroidery.
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Mandalay Hill
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Giving visitors a panoramic view of the Ayeyarwady rice country, the Shan Plateau, and the Sagaing and Mingun hills, Mandalay Hill is accessed either by road followed by an escalator up to the top or by any of four staircases each of which consists of about 1729 steps. Halfway up to the hill along the southwest staircase is the venerated Peshawar Relics, a large temple containing three bones of Buddha. They were discovered in Peshawar in 1908 and donated to the Burmese Buddhist society. At the foot of the hill near the south-eastern stairway stands the Kuthodaw Pagoda, bult by king Mindon anddubbed the "World'sLargest Book". In the ground of the pagoda are 729 marble slabs on which are recorded the Tripitaka, or Buddhist canons. The inscriptions were created by 2400 monks after the fifth Buddhist Sympd held in 1871. Other pagodas located near the foot of Mandalay hill. Mandalay hill are Sandamuni Pagoda, the Kyauk-tawgyi Pagoda, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda. |
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Maha Muni Pagoda
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About three KM south of the city on the road leading to Amarapura is the fabled Maha Muni Pagoda. Also known as the Rakhine Pagoda, it was built in 1784 by King Bodawpaya. It contains the country's largest bronze image of Buddha, the Maha Muni Buddha. |
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Royal Palace
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Built of teak by King Mindon in 1857, the original Royal Palace measured two kilometres square and was surrounded by a moat. During the Japanese invasion in 1945, it was totally destroyed except for the walls, the moat, and King Mindon's mausoleum.In recent years, a number of buildings have been reconstructed. They include the Nan-Myit Watch Tower, the Lay Thein Gate, and U Htake Gate. |
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Sagaing
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Just north of Mandalay; Provide plennty of syupas and a very picturesque spectacle from across the Ayeyarwady river. |
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| PYIN OO LWIN (Maymyo) |
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Located 60 Km North-East of Mandalay and 1,100 meters above sea levels faving a pleasantly cool weather all years around eventhough hot season. Therefore it is known as a summer resort for Burmese It is also called the Floral City of Myanmar.
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| BAGAN |
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Bagan is 193km south of Mandalay, and covers an area of 42sq.km. One of the ancient capitals of Myanmar, it was founded by King Anawrahta in 1044 AD who started the Bagan Dynasty. He also introduced Theravada Buddhism into the "City of Four Million Pgodas", Bagan flourished from the 11th to 13th centuries during which more than 2000 pagodas and monasteries were built. In 1287, it was destroyed by Kubilai Khan.
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Ananda Pagoda
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Based on a plan drawn up by Indian Buddhist monks, this fabulous pagoda was constructed by King Kyanzittha in 1090A.D. to symbolise the wisdom of Buddha. The base of the pagoda forms a square with each side measuring about 53 metres. Terraces, each smaller than the one below, rise from the baseto a height of 51 metres above the ground. The last terrace is topped with a bellshaped spire. More than 1500 pieces of glazed terracota tiles adorn the base and the terraces. Each tile depicts a scene from the Jakata. The interior of the pagoda house images of the four Buddha who have attained Nirvana. Each image is about 10 metres high. |
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Shwezigon Pagoda
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The Swezigon pagoda is one of the holiest in the country as it is believed to contain a frontal tooth and a collar-bone of the Buddha. Its construction was begun by King Anawrahta and completed by King Kyanzittha. Its base and terraces are gilded with enamelled plaques depicting scenes from previous lives of the Buddha. |
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Shwesandaw Pagoda
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A circular structure with five teraces, the Shwesandaw Pagoda was built by King Anawrahta in 1057. Some strands of the Buddha's hair are enshrined inside. This pagoda is also known as the Ganesha Pagoda as four Hindu gods each guards the corners of its lowest terrace. |
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Dhamayangyi Temple
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Boasting of the finest brickwork in Myanmar, this temple is similar to the Ananda Pagoda. Its construction was started by King Narathu (1160-70) but never completed. For unknown reasons, the access to its interior is blocked by brickwork. |
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Thatbyinnyut Temple |
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Its name means "omniscience" and it is the highest temple in Bagan. Modelled after north Indian temples, it was built in 1144 by King Alaungsithu. It consists of five storeys and its history is recorded on its walls. |
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Mount Popa |
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Situated about 50 kilometeres from Bagan and rising 1518 metres high, Mt.Popa was formed by a great earthquake in 442 B.C. The summit of this volcanic cone can be reached by a path that leads upward from its foot. At the top, the visitor is rewarded with a panoramic view of the surrounding dry plains. Mount Popa is also believed to be the home of the Mahagiri ngats(spirits) consisting of the blacksmith Nga Tin De and his sister Shwemyet-hma. Situated halfway to the summit of the mountain is a shrine dedicated to them. From the 4th to the 11th centuries, every king of Myanmar had to consult the ngats regarding their reign. From May to Jun every year, Mount Popa is the scene of the annual Festival of Spirits during which offerings are made to the ngats. |
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| TAUNGGYI |
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Sited 1400 metres above sea level, Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, is about 140km south-east of Mandalay. Its cool climate, ranging from 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, makes it a popular resort. Complementing the cool crisp air are the lushpine forests in the vicinity of the town. The population of 150000 consists mainly of the Shans with their own unique culture. Attractions in Taunggyi include the colourful night market, the cheroot factories, and the Taunggyi Museum. |
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| INLE LAKE |
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Located 25km south of Taunggyi, Inle Lake is the most scenic spot in Shan State. Averaging in depth from four to five metres, it measures about 22km long and 11km wide. Inhabited by the Inthas, the lake is home to four big villages and almost 200 smaller ones. The Inthas are famous for their floating farms, their unique method of leg-rowing and the trapping of fish in conical cages. Their floating farms are actually reeds woven into mats and covered with mud upon which all kinds of crops are grown. It is not uncommon to see some Inthas towing a piece of floating farm behind their boat. Apart from fishing, the Inthas are also skilled weavers of cloth and silk, silversmiths, blacksmiths and carpenters. The vollage of Thala has a clothweaving center and at Ywama, a floating market is held every five days. In October, a religious festival is held for two weeks at the Phaung-Daw-U Pagoda.
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| PINDAYA CAVES |
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About 110 km northwest of Taunggyi, Pindaya, which is sited beside the beautiful Nat-thami-kan(Angels' Lake) is famous for its caves: namely the Shwe-umin (or Golden Cave) and the Padah-Lin Caves. Formed more than 200,000 million years ago and featuring many stalactites and stalagmites, Shweumin is filled with more than 8,000 Buddha images. Many of the images are more than 100 years old and are covered with gold leaves. The Padahlin Caves, northwest of Pindaya, is an important archaeological site where prehistoric tools and wall paintings have been found.
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| BAGO |
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Having a population of about 50,000, Bago is about 83km northwest of Yangon. When Byinnya U became king of the Mon empire in 1365, he established Bago as his capital. The golden Age of Bago lasted until 1635 when King Thalun moved his capital from Bago to Innwa. There are manyinteresting sights in and around the city.
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Shwemawdaw Pagoda
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Rising114m highfrom an octagonal base, the Shwemawdaw Pagoda can be seen even 10km frim the city. Each side of its octagonal base measures 49m. The octagonal base stands on two terraces, each about three metres high. Four stairways lead up to the terraces. The Shwemawdaw Pagoda was shaken by earthquakes in 1912 and 1917, and was partially destroyed by a third earthquake in 1930. It was rebuilt in 1952 and 1954 it got a diamond-studed hti. |
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Shwethalyang Buddha
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Measuring 55m long and 16m high, the Shwethalyang Buddha was built in 994 A.D. by King Mingadippa I . When Bago was overrum by invaders in 1757, the massive reclining image was neglected and left to decay. In 1881, engineers working on a railway discovered it amongst dense vegetation. It was restored in 1906 and 1948. |
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| KYAIKTIYO PAGODA |
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Located in the town of Kyaiktiyo, 70km away from Bago, it the famous Golden Rock Pagoda which stands on a huge boulder that protrudes from a cliff 200 m high. The 12km trek from the base of the hill up to the pagoda takes about 4 hours but it is also possible to travel up by a hired jeep. Kyaiktiyo means "pagoda shouldered on the head of a hermit" and according to legend, a hermit who had been given a hair of Buddha only agree to part with it upon one condition. A rock resembling the shape of his head must be found and a pagoda built on it to enshrine the hair
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| NGAPALI |
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Ngapali, known as the "Naples of the East'' is an unspoilt beach with blue sea, white sand and the swaying of plams and fragrant of flora. It is only 40 minutes by plane from Yangon and a 18-hole golf course is for golf tourism.
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| MRAUK U |
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Mrauk U, another ancient capital of the Rakhine Kingdom (15th to 18th century ) is only a 5 hour boat trip along the Kaladan River from Sittwe. |
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| MYITKYINA |
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Myitkyina, in Kachin hills; the northern most trip of map of Myanmar. Visit the Myitsone, the confluence of Maikha & Malikha, the source of River Ayeyarwady. Myitkyina is the gateway of Jadeland.
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