【On-the-Spot Report】New Direct Flight from Yangon to Great Golden Pagoda Makes Pilgrimage Much Easier

Text and Photos: E Cat

At the end of last year, coinciding withMyanmarNational Airlines addingHong Kongdirect flightsto Yangon,a new route,departing onMondays, Wednesdays, and FridaysandSundays fromHong Kongand arriving inYangonon the same afternoon,with the return flight departing fromYangonin the morning and arriving inHong Kongby noon the same day. Related reading:【New Route】Heading toMyanmaras Direct Flights Are Launched One After Another

I also took the opportunity to visitMyanmar. I remember on the first day at the airport, I immediately asked our local guideYangonWhich attraction is the most worthwhile to visit? He immediately replied that it wasYangonShwedagon Pagoda.

This grand golden stupa stands 98 meters tall and dominates theYangonskyline. Legend has it that it houses eight strands of hair from the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. George joked that if you haven’t been to Shwedagon Pagoda, then you haven’t truly been toMyanmar, so I immediately followed his lead and soon arrived at the sacred Mount Singuttara where the pagoda is located.

Whether one is Buddhist or not, there are rules to follow when visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda—remove shoes and socks, enter barefoot, and ensure your lower legs are more than halfway covered by clothing in order to gain entry. Traditionally, entering the temple via the eastern staircase is considered an act of devotion, but on that day, in order to make it before sunset, I had no choice but to use the more convenient southern entrance and take the elevator for a quick ascent.

The octagonal plaza is filled with resplendent stupas that are truly a feast for the eyes.

After exiting the elevator, you still need to walk along a long corridor before reaching the octagonal plaza where the Shwedagon Pagoda stands. This large octagonal plaza takes roughly half an hour to walk around clockwise. At the center is the Shwedagon Pagoda, undoubtedly both “grand” and “golden.” The stupa is constructed from over 7 tons of gold, and just the gold plates on the midsection of the Buddha’s body are worth $600 each. On top sits a massive diamond known as sein bu, weighing 76 carats, making it an epitome of luxury.

The octagonal plaza of the Shwedagon Pagoda represents theMyanmarzodiac’s eight signs, divided according to the seven days of the week (with Wednesday morning and afternoon considered as two separate zodiac signs). Devotees at the pagoda look for the Buddha corresponding to their day of birth to make offerings and pour water over the statue as a gesture of sincerity.

Within one of the temples on the octagonal plaza, a variety of Buddha statues in different sizes are displayed. George explained that approximately 2,600 years ago, twoMyanmarmerchants visited India to listen to the Buddha’s teachings and were enlightened. They asked the Buddha for eight strands of his hair and brought them back to their country. Later, theMyanmarking, upon learning of this, built a stupa to enshrine the hairs, and that stupa is theYangonShwedagon Pagoda. All furnishings and decorations in the pagoda have been donated collectively by people from all walks of life inMyanmar. Even though the country is still developing and not particularly wealthy, the people still offer their best to the Buddha, showing how deeply faith weighs in the hearts of theMyanmarpeople.

Related reading:[New Air Routes] Head toMyanmaras Direct Flights Begin Operating

Acknowledgement: Wing On Travel,MyanmarNational carrier, Sedona Hotel Yangon, Tourex Asia

?/p>

Travel Tips

Shwedagon Pagoda entrance fee: MMK8000
Address: Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar
MyanmarVisa: Both BNO and SAR passports require a visa, with a fee of HKD$150
Exchange rate: 1 Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) ≈ 167 MyanmarKyat (MMK)