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Yankin Hill
Staring distantly towards Mandalay Palace, merrily temple-topped Yankin Hill is mostly worth climbing for views of greater Mandalays rice-field setting and of the Shan foothills behind. After a 10-minute climb via the obvious covered stairway youre likely to encounter a couple of d
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Chaukhtatgyi Buddha
Fifty years ago there was a giant standing buddha poking his head above the temples and monasteries here, but one day he got tired and collapsed into a heap on the floor, whereupon he was replaced with the monster-sized lazy reclining buddha you see today. One of Myanmar’
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Pahtothamya
On the dirt road 500 feet east towards the dominating Thatbyinnyu, the Pahtothamya (or Thamya Pahto) was probably built during the reign of Kyanzittha, around the turn of the 12th century, although it is popularly held to be one of five temples built by the little-known king Taungh
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Thanbyuzayat
Thanbyuzayat (Tin Shelter), 40 miles south of Mawlamyine, was the western terminus of the infamous Burma–Siam Railway, dubbed the ‘Death Railway’ by the thousands of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and Asian coolies who were forced by the Japanese military to build it. Half a mile w
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Abeyadana Pahto
About 1300ft south of Manuha Paya, this 11th-century temple with a Sinhalese-style stupa was supposedly built by Kyanzittha’s Bengali wife Abeyadana, who waited for him here as he hid for his life from his predecessor King Sawlu. It’s famed for its original frescoes, which were cle
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Zoological Garden & Safari Park
A good 45-minute drive northeast of the hotel zone (and closer to Pyinmana) are these animal-focused attractions, both run by the government. As zoos go, it’s not a badly kept place and most of its inhabitants were shifted here from Yangon’s decrepit colonial-era zoo. Spread across
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Thatbyinnyu Pahto
Named for ‘omniscience’, Bagan’s highest temple is built of two white-coloured boxy storeys, each with three diminishing terraces rimmed with spires and leading to a gold-tipped sikhara, 207ft in height. Its monumental size and looming height make it a classic example of Bagan’s mi
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Peik Chin Myaung
About 5 miles east of Myaing Gyi is this Buddhist cave complex. Many Buddhist caves are little more than rocky niches or overhangs but Peik Chin is much more extensive. It takes around 15 minutes to walk to the cave’s end, following an underground stream past a series of colourful
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Maha Kalyani Sima (Maha Kalyani Thein)
This ‘Sacred Hall of Ordination’ was originally constructed in 1476 by Dhammazedi, the famous alchemist king and son of Queen Shinsawpu. Like almost everything in Bago it has suffered a tumbledown history and has been destroyed and rebuilt many a time. Next to the hall are 10 large
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Manuha Paya
In Myinkaba village, stands this active and rather modern-looking pagoda, even though it dates back to 1059. It is named after Manuha, the Mon king from Thaton, who was held captive here by King Anawrahta. In the front of the building are three seated buddhas; in the back is a huge
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Sanda Muhni Phara Gri Kyaung Taik
The highlight at this hilltop monastery, and the temples namesake, is the Sanda Muhni , a buddha statue said to have been cast from the precious metal leftover from making the Mahamuni buddha. Legend has it that this 4ft image was encased in cement in the 1850s to protect it from p
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Mahazedi Paya
The design of the Mahazedi Paya (Great Stupa), with its whitewashed stairways leading almost to the stupa’s summit, is unusual for southern Myanmar and certainly one of the more attractive religious buildings in Bago. Originally constructed in 1560 by King Bayinnaung, it was destro
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Popa Taung Kalat Temple
From the nat shrine start up the steps under a covered walkway and past the usual rows of trinket and souvenir shops and shrines to a revered local medicine man, Pomin Gawng. At a steady pace it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes to reach the summit of this impressive rocky cr
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Uppatasanti Paya
An act of merit-making by General Than Shwe and his wife, this 321ft tall golden pagoda – 1ft smaller than Yangon’s Shwedagon Paya – is impressive from afar (especially when illuminated at night), but close up betrays its hasty construction with poor finishing. Nevertheless, the va
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Mandalay Palace
The 1990s reconstruction of Mandalays royal palace features over 40 timber buildings built to resemble the 1850s originals. Climb the curious spiral, timber-walled watchtower for a good general view. The palaces most striking structure is a soaring multi-layered pyramid of gilt fil
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Win Sein Taw Ya
If you thought you’d seen some big old buddhas, just wait till you get a load of this one. Draped across a couple of green hillsides at Yadana Taung, and surrounded by a forest of other pagodas and shrines, is this recently constructed, 560ft-long reclining buddha. It’s easily one
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Soon U Pon Nya Shin Paya
This ‘early offering shrine’ is the most important of the temples on Sagaing Hill’s southern crown and the first you’ll come to on climbing the One Lion stairway. Notice the bronze frogs that serve as a collection box in the rather gaudy Buddha hall – the hill was originally though
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Kyaikmaraw
This small, charming town, 15 miles southeast of Mawlamyine, is the site of Kyaikmaraw Paya , a temple of serene, white-faced buddhas built by Queen Shin Saw Pu in 1455. Among the temple’s many outstanding features are multicoloured glass windows set in the outside walls, an inner
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Nandamannya Pahto
Dating from the mid-13th century, this small, single-chambered temple has very fine frescoes and a ruined seated buddha image. It’s about 650ft north of Thambula; a sign leads down a short dirt road. The murals’ similarity with those at Payathonzu has led some art historians to sug
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Kawgun Cave & Yathaypyan Cave
The 7th-century artwork of the Kawgun Cave (admission K3000, camera K500) consists of thousands of tiny clay buddhas and carvings plastered all over the walls and roof of this open cavern.Just over a mile away, and built by the same exiled king, is the Yathaypyan Cave (admission fr
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