About This Place
Dominating the Yangon skyline, Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist stupa in Myanmar. Believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas, the 99-meter-tall main stupa is plated with solid gold bars and tipped with a diamond-encrusted vane that sparkles in the sun.
Why Visit?
- ✓Witness the breathtaking sight of the 99-meter gold-plated stupa during sunset
- ✓Walk the marble plinth to observe local devotees in prayer and meditation
- ✓See the 76-carat diamond at the very top through telescopes on the platform
- ✓Participate in the ritual of pouring water over your planetary post (birth day of the week)
- ✓Marvel at the hundreds of smaller temples, statues, and bells within the complex
Highlights & Must-Sees
Best Time to Visit
Early morning (before 8:00 AM) or late afternoon (after 4:30 PM). Visiting at sunset allows you to see the pagoda transition from golden sunlight to a brilliant floodlit glow.
How to Get There
Located on Singuttara Hill in Dagon Township. Accessible by taxi or bus from anywhere in Yangon. There are four main entrances (North, South, East, West) with elevators and escalators.
Visitor Tip
Strict dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered (longyis are available for rent). You must walk barefoot on the platform, so avoid visiting midday when the marble gets extremely hot. Entrance fee for foreigners is ~20,000 MMK.