The Shwezigon pagoda in Bagan

Temples & pagodas in other areas of Burma

Bago, Inle Lake, Monywa and other places across Burma

Although Burma’s most famous temples and pagodas are found in Yangon and Mandalay, there are numerous monuments across the country that are worth a visit. Among the most interesting sites are the town of Bago and the remains of the ancient Kingdoms Bagan and Mrauk U.

Temples & pagodas in Bago

The history of Bago goes back well over a thousand years. The town near Yangon houses some of Burma’s oldest monuments.

The Shwethalyaung reclining Buddha measuring 55 meters long is believed to be over one thousand years old. Colorful murals tell the history of the image. After Bago had largely been destroyed in the second half of the 18th century the image was forgotten and became overgrown by jungle. In the late 19th century the image was rediscovered during clearing works for the construction of the railway.

Bago houses the country’s tallest pagoda, the 114 meter tall Shwemawdaw. The towering pagoda guarded by two large Chinthe is an important pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists, since it enshrines several Buddha relics. It was constructed over a thousand years ago by a Mon King.

The Kyaik Pun pagoda was founded in the late 15th century by a Mon King. It features four towering 27 meter tall images of the four Buddhas that have reached Nirvana. The images wearing golden robes are sitting back to back, each facing one of the four cardinal directions.

The Mahazedi pagoda, a pyramidal shaped structure topped with a golden stupa, was built by a Burmese King in 1560 to enshrine a sacred Buddha tooth relic the King had acquired from Sri Lanka.

Temples & pagodas in Monywa

Monywa is a largely rural town in central Burma. Although little visited, the area possesses two unique sites.

On top of a hill and visible from miles away are two towering images of the Buddha, that are along the largest in the world. The 90 meter long reclining Buddha and the 116 meter tall standing Buddha, both wearing a golden robe are known as “the Monywa Buddhas”.

A unique temple, the Thanboddhay pagoda is one of the most ornate and colorful temples in Burma housing over 580,000 Buddha images. The temple was founded in the 14th century, the current structures date from halfway the 20th century.

Temples & pagodas around Inle Lake

Inle Lake is a large huge freshwater lake in central Burma. Around it are several sites with thousands of ancient pagodas.

Near the village of Indein are two groups of ancient pagodas. The first group known as the Nyaung Ohak pagodas is located near the boat landing. Most of the pagodas have been restored. A second group of pagodas on top of a hill known as the Shwe Inn Thein pagodas is believed to date back more than 2000 years.

The Kakku pagodas in the hills South West of Inle Lake is a remote site recently opened to foreign visitors. Although most stupas were built in the 17th and 18th century, the site may date back more than 2000 years. Due to its remote location it takes considerable effort to reach the site.

The Phaung Daw Oo pagoda is the most important temple in the Inle Lake area. Enshrined are five over 800 years old Buddha images completely covered with gold leaf. During the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda festival the images are carried around the lake in a procession of Karaweik barges.

Not far from Inle Lake is the Pindaya cave, an important pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists. Cramped in every nook and every corner of the limestone cave are thousands of Buddha images from different eras and in various styles.

Temples & pagodas in Mrauk U

Mrauk U is a little visited archaeological site in the Rakhine state of West Burma. The hilly landscape is dotted with hundreds of ancient temples and pagodas built by the rulers of the Mrauk U Kingdom, a once powerful empire that existed from 1430 until 1785.

Temples & pagodas in Bagan

On the plains of Bagan in central Burma is one of Asia’s most important historical sites. Between the 11th and 13th century the Bagan Kingdom constructed over 10,000 temples and pagodas, of which today about 2,200 remain in various states of preservation.

Other famous temples & pagodas

Not far from Bagan in central Burma is Mount Popa, known as the “home of the Nats”. The monastery on top of an extinct volcano is Burma’s most important site of Nat pilgrimage. Nat spirits have been worshipped here for thousands of years. The monastery contains statues of the 37 most important Nats.

One of Burma’s most sacred sites, the Golden Rock or Kyaikhtiyo pagoda is found near Bago. The pagoda sits on top of a massive boulder, that balances on the edge of a cliff. According to legend, a hair from the Buddha enshrined in the pagoda prevents the Golden Rock from crashing down.


Temples & pagodas in Bago

Temples & pagodas in Monywa

Temples & pagodas around Inle Lake

Temples & pagodas Mrauk U & Bagan

Other famous temples & pagodas across Burma

Temples & pagodas in Burma