THE GOLDEN PAGODA IN YANGON

Certainly the Golden Pagoda in Yangon Myanmar is well worth the burnt feet that you can suffer if you visit in the summer months.

With searing temperatures in June July and August it is quite a challenge for us Westerners who are not used to walking in bare feet and definitely not when the sun is blazing down on marble and sandstone paving stones surrounding such beautiful Buddhist monuments.

The city and capital of Myanmar was known under British rule as Rangoon but that all changed when the country gained its independence.

Situated high on a hill over looking the city it can be reached by a lift or elevator that whisks you to the top in double quick time.

Although on the acutual day I made my visit it was tropical rain that made the visit just as tricky as the rain does cool down the the walkways and pavements but walking off the plastic matting placed to reduce wear and you are into a situation more akin to Bambi trying to walk on ice for the first time in the famous Disney film.

Monk at the Golden Pagoda Temple in Yangon Myanmar.

The white marble does help to make the walk more pleasant and cooler in the dry but add just a small amount of water and before you know it you are staggering and sliding and head back to the plastic carpet!

However the Golden Pagoda is a stunning site and well worth in hot, wet or any weather to visit whilst you are in Yangon.

The Golden Pagoda Temple in Yangon.

No visit to Myanmar is really complete without a visit to the over 2,000 years old Shwedagon Pagoda, which contains strands of Buddha’s hair. Located  on Singuttara Hill in Yangon thePagoda is a very sacred and important Buddhist site.

The Shwedagon Pagoda 110 metres tall and covered in hundreds of gold plates and the top of the stupa is encrusted with 4531 diamonds the largest of which is a said to be a 72 carat diamond.

I was hosted by the Sendona Hotel in Yangon for my two day visit to the city and did make a peferct base for touring many of the other toursit sites and temples around the city.

Bookings can be made direct via : http://www.sedonahotels.com.sg/