Yangon
Yangon, the capital city is the main gateway to Myanmar. In 1755 King Alaungpaya (the founder of Kon Baung Dynasty) accomplished his military campaign following his conquest of Dagon. At that time, Dagon was a small village. The King realized that the conquest of Dagon implied a total victory over lower Myanmar because of its strategic location. Accordingly, he renamed the town Yangon which literally means “End of Strife”. In 1851, however, the British annexation of Yangon resulted in getting the town refound. And the name also was changed to Rangoon. The city was laid out on a chessboard pattern and cool with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes, Yangon has earned the name of the Garden City of the East. The present day Yangon covers over 350 sq. km. and has a population of over 5 million.

Yangon Tour Highlights
Shwedagon Pagoda
Towering almost 100 meters above the green cityscape of Yangon, the Shwedagon Pagoda is the landmark visible from miles around. One of the wonders of the world it was believed to have built over 2500 years ago where the Buddha’s were enshrined.

Sule Pagoda
Situated right in the centre of Yangon. The Sule Pagoda is an excellent landmark. It is said to be over 2,000 years old. The golden pagoda is unusual in that its octagonal shape continues right up to the bell and inverted bowl. It stands 46 meters (152 feet) high and is surrounded by small shops and all the familiar non-religious services such as astrologists, palmists and so on.

Botahtaung Pagoda
Bo means “Leader” and tahtaung means “a thousand” The Botahtaung Pagoda was named after the thousand military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India over two thousand years ago. The Botahtaung is hollow inside and you can walk through it.

Kaba Aye Pagoda
The name Kaba Aye in Myanmar means “world peace” to which this pagoda is dedicated. This pagoda was built 1952 for the 1954-56 sixth Buddhist Synod. The Buddhist Art Museum and Maha Pasana Cave are also located in the same compound.

Maha Pasana Guha
The “great cave” is an artificial “cave” built close to the Kaba Aye Pagoda. It was here that the sixth Buddhist synod was held to coincide with the 2500th anniversary of the Buddha’s enlightenment. The cave measures 139 by 113 meters (455 by 370 feet).

Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda
The reclining Buddha image here is one of the largest images in Myanmar. The original image was built in 1907. In 1957 it was demolished and rebuilt to this structure in 1966.

Allied War Memorial Cemetery
Located at Htaukkyant, about 32 km from Yangon. It is a memorial cemetery of Allied soldiers who died in the Myanmar Campaign during the Second World War. The cemetery is beautifully kept grounds has 27,000 stone-grave of commonwealth and Allied soldiers.

Hlawga Wildlife Park
This Park is about 45 minutes drive from the city. It is an ideal place for picnickers, naturalists, botanists and birdwatchers. Visitors can also enjoy elephant rides, boating and fishing in the park.

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