Shwedagon Pagoda

Most beautiful pagoda om earth?

Shwedagon Pagoda is Myanmar's national pride. It is not only the most important but also the largest temple in all of Myanmar.

The  Shwedagon Pagoda was built around 2500 years ago and is one of the most important pilgrim’s destinations in the world. The pagoda is 99 metres high and entirely covered in around 50.000 kilo of gold leaf. The pagoda shimmers in the sunlight.


Visiting Shwedagon Pagoda

You can visit the Shwedagon Pagoda all day. If you want there are guides for hire. They will give you all kinds of background information about the temple. Including the stories about eight hairs of the last Buddha that are kept here. Although no one is allowed to see them.

In this temple several relics of three previous Buddhas are kept. Partly for this reason, Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.

Cleaners at work at Shwedagon Pagoda.

Buddhists aim to visit this temple at least once in their lifetime. So if you’re in Myanmar, the Golden Temple of Yangon is a must. You can reach the temple using stairs, but there is also a lift. Sometimes you can be asked to make a payment to use your camera, but this is not always the case.

Sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda

The sunsets here create a gorgeous spectacle of light in orange and gold, which guarantees amazing pictures.

Shwedagon Pagoda in the evening

Shwedagon Pagoda is beautifully lit in the evening.

When it gets dark many lamps go on at the temple. Which gives you a different atmosphere. Even then the temple is more than worth a visit. It is possible that a contribution is requested for the use of your camera. But this is not always.