The sight of some 500 monks and novices, filing out in the early morning from one of largest monasteries in Myanmar to collect alms, is worth getting up early for. Otherwise, join the tour groups visiting here at 10.30am to see the monks gatheried to eat lunch in a giant hall.
You’re free to wander around; most of the monks think it’s hilarious that tourists come and watch them eat, but the atmosphere is a bit like a zoo. Prior to the protests of 2007 there were supposedly 1500 monks in residence here; now it's more like 500.
On the way to or from the monastery it's worth having a look around Bago's lively market .
