Travel

Yangon has many incredible attractions and essential experiences to offer. One of the most renowned offerings is the Yangon Zoological Gardens, which is the oldest zoo in the country, and the second largest.

The zoo’s story begins in 1901 when it was funded purely by public donations. A total land area entailing 61 acres was cleared to make way for the new establishment, and the first group of animals were transferred from Phayre’s Museum. The most notable attraction of the zoo upon opening was the albino elephant that belonged to King Thibaw, who was the last king of Burma.

After the 1960s, the zoo received a serious of expansions and by the 21 st century, the Yangon Zoological Gardens boasted a museum of natural history, an amusement park, and an aquarium that was operated independently by the Department of Fisheries.

The zoo currently boasts almost a 150 species of land animals, featuring elephants, crocodiles and tigers. Additionally, it also has more than 300 species of flora, making it a captivating experience in terms of botany as well. If you visit during the summer season from November to April, there are many animal shows to experience too.

Location
Kan YeikTha Rd, Yangon 11221, Myanmar (Burma)​

Open daily
07.00 - 17.00​

The Bogyoke Aung San Museum was the residence of General Aung San and his family just before his assassination in July 1947. It is a place where his memory is preserved.

The residence was inhabited by the Aung San family for only two years. In 2016, the place was given a makeover and opened as a museum to commemorate Martyrs Day. Although there are no restrictions on entering and exploring the house, you will need a little imagination to picture how life must have been prior to Aung Sans death as the house is sparsely furnished and there are only a few personal possessions located within.

The Bogyoke Aung San Museum has a reputation for bad luck, especially for the Aung Sang family. After the death of General Aung Sang, the family continued living here until 1953, when one of the children sadly drowned in the mansions pond.

Location
25 Bo Gyoke Museum Lane Yangon Myanmar (Burma)​

Tue - Sun
09.30 - 16.30

The Bogyoke Aung San Statue, or the Statue of General Aung San, was unveiled in 2017 in a celebration of the centenary of the former national leader. Bogyoke Aung San is hailed as a pioneer in the struggle for Myanmar independence.

Located in Mandalay’s Tagon Park between 56th and 57th streets, the statue is cast in brass and depicts Bogyoke Aung San sitting and surveying his surroundings. The statue features 2,880 kilograms of brass and is 13 feet tall. The sculptor behind the statue is Dae Nyunt Win, who is the daughter of celebrated Burmese brass sculptor U Win Maung of Mandalay.

If you wish to pay your respects to this national hero of Myanmar, you don’t have to travel all the way to Mandalay though. Yangon’s Kandawgyi Gardens, which is mere minutes away from Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon has a statue of Bogyoke Aung San too.

Accessible to the public ​
Location
Mandalay’s Tagon Park between 56th and 57th streets

Get in touch with your spiritual self at Mogok Vipassana Yeiktha, a much sought-after meditation centre in Yangon renowned for its Vipassana meditation programmes.

The courses offered by the Mogok Vipassana Yeiktha meditation centre feature a range of durations. There are courses that extend for months, or short courses of three to ten days, that teach the basics of meditation. Their courses are also categorised according to age groups, having different delivery methods for kids, teenagers, and adults.

You can simply drop into the Mogok Vipassana Yeiktha meditation centre, just a five-minute walk away from Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon and spend half a day there; learn about everything from Insight Meditation to Cycle of Life concepts. Being a matter of learning and spiritual healing, the experience you gain at Mogok Vipassana Yeiktha is something that you can carry with you for the rest of your life.

Location
82 Natmauk Road. Bahan. Yangon. Myanmar​

Once called the great ‘Royal Lake’, Kandawgyi Lake, was initially created by British colonisers as a reservoir of water. Today, this artificial body of water is among two major lakes in Yangon, Myanmar.

One of the most famous icons of Myanmar, the Karaweik is located on the shores of Kandawgyi Lake. It is a replica of a royal barge, made completely out of concrete. When it is lit up with the setting sun as a backdrop, the lake and its iconic shore make a pretty picture indeed.

There is a nature park based by the lake, called Kandawgyi Nature Park. You can wander through pathways and the shrubbery here to your heart's content. The Yangon Zoological Gardens is also located on the shores of the Kandawgyi Lake and is worth visiting.

Accessible to the public ​
East of the Shedagon Pagoda

As the evening sets in, and you want to stretch your legs while surrounded by beautiful scenery make your way to the walkway at Kandawgyi Nature Park. It is the nature park adjacent to the Kandawgyi Lake and is the place to be for a relaxed evening.

Locals frequent the park for jogging and working out and there is nothing stopping you from following suit. The walkway extends all around the nature park, moving through lush greenery, landscaped gardens, and wooden bridges built over the lake.

The walkway at Kandawgyi Nature Park is a good place to take your entire family out for a day outing, even, as the views from here are simply breathtaking and leave you in awe of this blend of man-made lake and nature instincts.

Location
Kan Yeik Tha Rd, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)​

Open Daily
06.00 - 19.30

Shwedagon Pagoda is also referred to as the Golden Pagoda and even the Great Dagon Pagoda. It is without a doubt the most famous pagoda in Myanmar and offers rich cultural insights.

The religious importance of the pagoda stems from the fact that it is believed to enshrine relics from four previous Buddhas of the current kalpa. It is believed to have been constructed around the staff of Kakusandha, the device used by Konagamana to filter water, a long thin strip of Kassapa's robe, and a number of strands of hair from Gautama.

Located a mere 15 minutes' walk away from Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon, the pagoda shines under the natural light of the sun through the day and glows under the thousands of artificial lights by night. It is often crowded with devotees as well as tourists throughout the day.

The best time to visit the pagoda would be at sunrise or at sunset when the whole temple is painted in a new radiance.

Location
Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Open daily
04:00 - 22:00

Constructed under the patronage of Sir Po Tha in 1899, the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda is also known as the Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple. This well known temple was made famous due to its massive statue of the reclining Buddha.

Until the 1950s, the face of the reclining Buddha had a rather aggressive expression, which did not juxtapose with the image of the Buddha. Thus, the statue was demolished in the 1950s, and the new statue, which is 66 metres long, was created. The most discerning feature of the new Buddha image is the eyes, which are 1.77 x 0.58 metres.

The soles of the reclining Buddha are worthy of study for any student of the religion; they are divided into 108 segments, each depicting images that showcase the 108 auspicious characteristic features of the Buddha. These are done in red and gold, which add a colourful touch to the whole statue.

Location
Shwe Gon Taing Road Yangon Myanmar (Burma)​

Open Daily
06:00 - 20:00

Gleaming gold on the shores of the Yangon River, Botahtaung Pagoda is a timeless place of worship believed to have been built over 2,500 years ago and to have enshrined within it, a hair of Gautama Buddha.

Botahtaung, in Myanmar, means “1,000 military leaders”. The name is derived from a historical event where the eight hair relics of Gautama Buddha brought to Yangon from India, were given an honorary guard of a thousand military leaders.

Although the pagoda was rebuilt after it was destroyed in World War Two, the design stays true to its original form. The interesting thing about the Botahtaung Pagoda is that it is hollow inside. There is a pathway built into this hollow space lined with mirrored walls. Numerous relics and artefacts are showcased along these walls, giving it a sense of a museum as well.

Location
Botahtaung Pagoda Road Yangon Myanmar (Burma)

Open Daily
06:00 - 20:00

Karaweik Hall is a most striking spectacle located on the eastern bank of Kandawgyi Lake. Also known as Karaweik Palace is features a spectacular design and is a true treat to those who visit this site in Yangon.

The palace resembles a barge, specifically the royal barge of Pyigyimon; it was designed by U Ngwe Hlaing and it is a relatively new construction, being completed only in 1974.The name Karaweik is derived from the Pali language; Pali scripture talks of a mythical bird called karavika, which has an earth-shatteringly beautiful cry. This awe-inspiring structure is named after this creature.

There are two stories to the palace, which comes with a conference room and two reception halls. You can visit for a meal as well, as it now houses a restaurant that serves buffet style spreads, while at night one can witness the mesmerising Royal Culture Show.

Location
Eastern bank of Kandawgyi Lake​

Open daily
11.00 - 15.00 and 18.00 - 21.00​

Placed at the heart of Yangon, Sule Pagoda plays an important part in the modern day politics, ideology, and geography of Myanmar. It was built almost 2,500 years ago and is a significant landmark in Yangon.

The structure of Sule Pagoda has strong connections to the Indian pagoda or stupa structure. According to legend, the stupa is supposed to enshrine within it a strand of hair of Lord Buddha, given by Buddha himself. Two merchant brothers, Trapusa and Bahalika, are considered responsible for procuring the strand of hair.

The pagoda has played a significant role in many of the key political movements in Myanmar. Prominent among them are the 8,888 uprising, where the pagoda served as an organizing point. During the Saffron Revolution of 2007, the site was also the home base for pro-democracy groups.

Location
Junction of Sule Pagoda Road, Maha Bandula Road, Yangon 11141, Myanmar (Burma)​
Open daily
04.00 - 22.00

“Kaba Aye” in Myanmar translates to mean “World Peace”. It is to this - world peace - that the Kabar Aye Pagoda has been dedicated to. It is a more modern pagoda, whose significance comes not from its history but from its functionality.

The pagoda was built in 1952 and is where the Sixth World Buddhist Synod took place. This site plays an important part in the lives of the people of Myanmar who are devoted followers of Theravada Buddhism. The atmosphere at the pagoda is one that offers a sense calmness and serenity while creating a peaceful environment for monks as well as devotees who come to visit.

Towering to a height of nearly 36 metres, the main pagoda is encircled by a circular platform where one will find five porches with traditional style designs and intricate craftsmanship. Apart from monasteries, the Kabar Aye Pagoda compound is also home to the Maha Pasana Cave and the Buddhist Art Museum.

Location
Kabar Aye Pagoda Road Yangon Myanmar (Burma)​

Open daily
06.00 - 20.00 ​

Commonly referred to as Mingaladon Airport, the Yangon International Airport is the nation’s largest international airport and is situated just 15 km away from the capital city, in the township of Mingaladon.

The airport started off as a military airbase for fighter aircraft and was known as RAF Mingaladon. Some of the most notable military aircraft from around the world were stationed at this airport while it was utilised by various militaries from other countries.

After the conclusion of the Second World War, an international airport was built on this site. It was handled by the Calcutta Metropolitan Airports Authority. Soon after, it became the primary airport to serve South-East Asia and was regarded as one of the best in the entire region. After the emergence of major international airports in nations such as Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok, the popularity of Yangon International Airport did wane however.

Ever since the international airport was built, it has undergone numerous modifications and extensions. The most recent one was completed in 2016 and increased the capacity of the airport to six million visitors annually. This resulted in the airport growing by a significant 40% of its original .

Location
B B, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Open daily
24 hours

By visiting the Yangon Central Railway Station, you can experience one of the city’s most renowned heritage sites while also setting foot inside the biggest railway hub in the nation.

The station was built sometime during the late 1800s by the British in order to support the nation’s first railway line between Yangon and Pyay. The design of the station was faithful to the Victorian style Britain was famous for and mesmerised the locals to such an extent that they referred to it as the “Fairy Station”.

Unfortunately, this was the first incarnation of the station, and after suffering significant damage at the hands of Japanese bombers, the station was destroyed as the British retreated to India. In 1954, the new station was built, with a whole new design based on traditional Burmese architectural styles. The structure is included in the Yangon City Heritage List.

Due to the beauty and significance of the structure, the Yangon Central Railway Station has become one of the most sought-after photography locales in Myanmar and is a renowned tourist attraction. Many even choose to travel the loop around Yangon upon a visit to the station.

Location
Kun Chan Road Yangon Myanmar (Burma)​
Open daily
24 hours