Rangoon (Yangon), Former Capital of Burma (Myanmar) – It's the New Exotic Tourist Destination
The former capital of Myanmar (Burma), Yangon (Rangoon), "End of strife", is the main gateway to Myanmar. Yangon has green tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes, earning it the moniker 'Garden City'. Yangon is famous for the world-renowned, magnificent, gold-encrusted Shwedagon Pagoda. This charming landmark appears in the distance before the eyes of travelers approaching the city. It is the most venerated place of worship for Buddhists throughout the world. There are many other magnificent Pagodas also to be found in Yangon. You can take day trips from Yangon to Bago, an ancient city of the 15th Century; to Thanlyin, a 17th Century capital; and to the Portuguese Cemetery & Yele Pagoda on a small island at Kyauktan. Visitors can also reach Twante by taking a boat ride along the Yangon river.
Twante is renowned as the historic center of pottery in Myanmar and the industry still operates there today. Downtown Yangon also has some amazing British colonial architectural gems, well worth visiting. The famous Chinatown district, again in downtown Yangon is a magnet for tourists, coming alive especially in the evenings.
The Sule Pagoda is beautifully placed in the centre of the city of Yangon. At 157 feet high, it remains the tallest building Satta matka in the downtown area. It was built about 2200 years ago. It can be called an oasis of peace in the heart of the busy modern Yangon.
The Maha Pasana Guha (Great Cave). It was specially built to hold the sixth Buddhist Great Synod. It is supposed to resemble India's Satta Panni Cave where the First Buddhist Synod took place shortly after the Buddha's death. It is 455 feet long and 370 feet broad and it has an assembly hall which can contain up to 10000 people. This artificially built cave lies in the vicinity of Kaba Aye.
Chauk Htat Kyee Reclining Buddha Image. A reclining Buddha, Chaukhtatkyee Pagoda was built in 1907 but it suffered damage due to the climate over the years and at 72 m is nearly as large as Bago's reclining Shwethalyaung. It is housed under a metal-roofed shelter on Shwegondaing Lan in Yangon.
The Nga Htat Kyee Pagoda. This Buddha image is the second largest seating buddha image in Yangon. It is located at the most ancient buddhist place, very close to the Chauk Htat Kyee reclining buddha image.
The Mahawizaya Pagoda is situated about 500 yards away from Shwedagon Pagoda, at the corner of Shwedagon Pagoda Road and Oo Htaung Bo Street, Maha Wizaya Zedi was built on the hill of DamaraKhita. The surface area is 11.099 acres. It was founded on 25 July, 1980. Its total height is 134 ft and is built on the base of 165E8E. It is not a solid structure but it has a hollow (cave pagoda) of 60ft diameter and 46ft height.
Maelamu Pagoda is to be found in North Okkalapa, a suburb of Yangon. Mae La Mu means a girl born from the fruit of La Mu tree. According to legend, she was the mother of king Okkalapa founder of Yangon.
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