MYA - T 04: THE GOLDEN ROCK, 2 days (L)

 

Day 1              Yangon - Bago – Kyaikhtiyo

 

Upon arrival Yangon, transfer by vehicle via Bago to Kyaiktiyo. Stopping at major Pagoda and Museum such as KanbawzaThadi Palace & Museum, Shwemawdaw Paya, Hintha Gon Paya, Shwethal Yaung Buddha, Maha Kalyani Sima, Mahazedi Paya, Shwegogale Paya, Kyaik Pun Paya, if time permit visit ‘Mon’ weaving and handicraft village producing woven bamboo wares before transfer to the hotel in Kyaiktiyo.

Overnight in Kyaiktiyo

 

BAGO: founded in 573 AD by Thamala and Wimala, two Mon brothers of noble birth, as an outpost of the Mon Thaton Kingdom. The site, which was then on the Gulf of Martaban, had already been earmarked as the location of a great city by Gautama, the historic Buddha.

 

KANBAWZATHADI PALACE & MUSEUM: the palace was home to King Bayinnaung from 1553 to 1599 and covered 204 acres. Bayinnaung, the brother-in-law of a Taungoo King, moved to Bago after conquering an older Mon principality called Oktha-myo. A small octagonal-shaped museum displays Mon, Siamese and Bagan-style Buddhas.

 

SHWEMAWDAW PAYA: this is one of the most venerated pagodas in Myanmar. The temple has a 1000-year history and was originally built by 2 merchants, Taphussa and Bhalita, to house some hair relics of the Buddha.

 

HINTHA GON PAYA: this shrine has good views over Bago from the roofed platform on the hilltop. According to legend, this was the one point rising from the sea when the mythical bird (the hintha) landed here.

 

SHWETHALYAUNG BUDDHA: huge reclining Buddha with a sign on the platform in front of the image giving the measurements of each body part. It is reputed to be one of the most lifelike of all reclining Buddhas. The Burmese say the image represents Buddha in a 'relaxing' mode.

 

HINTHA GON PAYA: this shrine has good views over Bago from the roofed platform on the hilltop. According to legend, this was the one point rising from the sea when the mythical bird (the hintha) landed here.

 

MAHA KALYANI SIMA: this 'Sacred Hall of Ordination' was originally constructed in 1476 by Dhammazedi, the famous alchemist king, and son of Queen Shinsawpu. It was the first of 397 similar simas he built around the country.

 

MAHAZEDI PAYA: Originally constructed in 1560 AD by King Bayinnaung, it was destroyed during the 1757 sacking of Bago and the reconstruction was only completed in 1982. Stairways lead up the outside of the stupa, and from the top there are fine views over the surrounding area.

 

SHWEGUGALE PAYA: the monument dates from 1494 and the reign of King Byinnya Yan. Inside are 64-seated Buddha figures.

 

KYAIK PUN PAYA: built in 1476 by King Dhammazedi, it consists of four 30m-high sitting Buddhas placed back-to-back around a huge, square pillar.

 

Day 2              Kyaiktiyo

 

After early breakfast, visit Golden Rock for sunrise. Kyaiktiyo is the location of the incredible balancing boulder stupa. The small stupa sits atop the Golden Rock - a massive, gold leafed boulder delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff at the top of Mount Kyaikto. Kyaiktiyo is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Myanmar.

In the mid afternoon return to Yangon.

 

End of Services    **Note: Itinerary subject to change due to flight schedules.