Top 4 beautiful temples of Yangon – Discovering the best of Buddhist architecture

The oldest of temples in the entire country, the Shwedagon Paya pagoda is one of the most hallowed locations for Buddhists. Decorated by twenty seven tons of golden leaves, it is further flecked with precious stones such as diamonds and rubies. The major reason this pagoda is so revered is due to the fact that it is home to eight hair relics of the Buddha while the ninety nine meter tall stupa is absolutely captivating too. In the event that you are looking to view the serenity of this temple at its peak, visit the Shwedagon Paya during the evenings. If you do wish to learn a bit more about the temple and its history, it is an easy task to find a guide to do so at the pagoda. Your other option is to just ask for a guide at your hotel in Yangon.

Said to be built around two thousand five hundred years ago, it too houses a hair relic of the Buddha. It is located right by the river and is unlike most other temples in one aspect. At the Botataung Paya, the main stupa, which stands at forty metres, and the sacred hair relic can be accessed by the public. Moreover, the temple houses a bronze statue of the Buddha and a pond which contains numerous turtles of different species. Further inside, you will come across a hall that displays a range of other artefacts and ancient relics. It is a popular destination and is easy to access from hotels like Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.

Housed in a metal shed, this temple is largely overlooked, which is quite sad as what it hides under its roof is beyond spectacular. You can find a diamond studded statue of a reclining Buddha that is sixty five metres long. The crown is scattered with diamonds and many other precious stones while the glass eyes give a placid expression to the statue. At the bottom of the statue is a small shrine that gives respect to Ma Thay, a divine individual who had the authority to halt rain. There are a number of monasteries surrounding the temple that are worth exploring. You can also find the Shweminwon Sasana Yeiktha Meditation Centre, which is frequented by locals who wish to mediate.

Safe to say, the Ngahtatgyi Paya holds the most breathtaking Buddha statue you will ever lay your eyes on. Well famed for the statue's calm expression, it stands at fourteen metres and yes, it has plenty of precious stones that further heighten the beauty. A wooden background with intricate carvings rise up as the background is itself enough of a reason to warrant a visit. The road leading to the temple winds through Bogyoke Aung San Museum Lane which has multiple monasteries, giving visitors a first hand look at the life of a Buddhist temple.