Joanna James
Yangon – the former capital and the largest city in Myanmar, still emanates its former glory as an international hub of the country. It is also the centre of business and politics. Here are some of the tourist hotspots in Yangon that you must travel to during a visit to Myanmar.
The Yangon skyline has its own unique character, particularly due to Shwedagon Pagoda, the most popular heritage site in the city. Located close to properties like Pan Pacific Yangon, it runs way back into history and is the most ancient of its kind in the world. It is also known as the Golden Pagoda, due to its gold-plated façade. It is said that these gold plates were donated by people and monarchs across the country. The most iconic thing about Shwedagon Pagoda is probably its golden spire. Around this pagoda, one may able to witness a range of stupas, shrines, and pagodas.
Initially, this market was called Scott Market when the British built in during 1926. However, after Myanmar gained independence, it was the name was changed to Bogyoke Aung San, which is the name of the father of Aung San Suu Kyi. The market has retained its formed colonial design and the cobblestone lanes, but another wing was added across Bogyoke Market Road in the 1990s. Nowadays (and even in the past), Bogyoke Market serves the public as Yangon's Market place where tourists can buy their pick out of an assortment of gems, stamps, coins, and other fascinating souvenirs.
Kandawgyi Lake is a great location to go visit from your Yangon hotel . It is one of the two lakes you can see in the city and it has been created for the purpose of supplying clean water to the city during the British occupation. This man-made marvel is used as a backdrop for many movies and commercials based in Myanmar, particularly due to its eye-candy location overlooking the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda. One may look forward to roaming around the lake's carnival-like setting, complete with modern entertainment such as gaming machines. The jetty here leads to Karaweik, a gold-plated palace that has been built mimicking the former Royal Barge.
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda and Shwedagon Pagoda are two of the main Buddhist pilgrimage sites found close to Yangon. Out of these, the former is a pagoda unrivalled by no other, which is a massive, gold-plated rock that is literally wobbling on a cliff, right on the slopes of Mount Kyaiktiyo. It is believed that this rock is held in place by a strand of hair, which belongs to Lord Buddha. It is a pagoda that has claimed the allegiance of the devout Buddhist in Myanmar.
Taukkyan War Cemetery – the final resting place of thousands of Commonwealth soldiers who died during World War II, having fought for the allied cause. This well-maintained and neatly-manicured memorial park is the largest of its kind in Myanmar. It also exhibits the names of many other missing soldiers who are now assumed to have died while serving in Burma.
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