Text and photos: E Cat
After visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, I set off from the city the next day to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, aiming for another sacred pilgrimage site in Myanmar—the Golden Rock. The Golden Rock is a massive boulder perched atop a 1,100-meter-high mountain. Leaning precariously over the edge of a cliff, it looks as if it might tumble down at any moment, making it a spectacular sight. Locals have woven a mythical story around it.
Related reading
【On-the-Spot Report】New Direct Flight RouteIt’s Much Easier to Pilgrimage to the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
Legend has it that one day, the Buddha passed by the site of the Golden Rock and gave a strand of his hair to a hermit named "Taik Tha." The hermit then tucked the hair into his own and continued his ascetic practice. Later, after attaining enlightenment, Taik Tha met a king and passed the hair on to him, advising that to gain the Buddha’s blessing and ensure national prosperity, the king must find a stone resembling the hermit’s head and enshrine both the hair and the stone together. Eventually, the king found a cliffside rock that matched the shape of Taik Tha’s head. He then gilded the stone with gold leaf and built a stupa to house the Buddha’s hair, creating the now-famous Golden Rock wonder. For years, the Golden Rock has been revered as a must-visit destination for Myanmar’s Buddhists. Despite the arduous uphill journey, devotees continue to flock here due to its immense spiritual power.
The drive from Yangon to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda takes about four hours, followed by a 45-minute ride up the mountain on an open-top truck from the bus stop at the base. The ride on the open truck is worth mentioning—each truck has around ten rows of seats, with six people per row, and only departs when fully loaded, making it quite cramped. Due to the winding mountain roads, the ride feels like a roller coaster, which is incredibly thrilling.
Before long, the truck arrives at the village at the mountaintop. A short walk up the main road of the village soon brings you to the temple complex where the Golden Rock is located.
Photo 5
The little girls in the village have a natural sunscreen paste made from ground Thanaka tree bark applied to their faces, making them look absolutely adorable.
However, guides note that with the increase in tourists in recent years, many people have started pretending to be monks to beg for money. To distinguish real monks from impostors, the simplest way is to observe whether they actively ask for money—genuine monks believe in fate and will never solicit anything from others.
As you walk along, you’ll eventually come face to face with the Golden Rock. The first sight of this massive boulder is truly awe-inspiring—it stands 15 meters tall (including the stupa part) and weighs 611 tons. It’s larger than any other balancing rock the author has seen, and the men applying gold leaf to its surface appear as tiny as ants, which is astonishing.
Guides explain that the most distinctive aspect of Golden Rock worship in Myanmar is the gender-based roles. Traditionally, only men are allowed to touch the Golden Rock, so they are responsible for applying the gold leaf, while women are tasked with burning incense and offerings, as well as singing and chanting prayers around the perimeter of the rock.
In the glow of the setting sun and the bright lights, the Golden Rock shines even more brilliantly. Coupled with the bustling crowd of devoted worshippers, it’s no wonder the Golden Rock is one of Myanmar’s most captivating sights.
More travel information about the Golden Rock: http://www.dcfever.com/travel/attraction.php?id=12354
Acknowledgements: EVA Air, Myanmar National Airlines, Sedona Hotel Yangon, Tourex Asia