Shwedagon Pagoda Impressions

See the location on Yangon Pagodas Google Map


Picture by marhas
On the way to Shwedagon Pagoda Eastern entrance: from Bahan market along Gyar Tawya Street.


Picture by marhas
Where Buddha images are crafted

Picture by marhas
Fruits for the visitors

Picture by calflier001

Picture by Antoine 49
Up the stairway


"At last we reached the great terrace. All about, shrines and pagodas were jumbled pell-mell with the confusion with which trees grow in the jungle. They had been built without design or symmetry, but in the darkness, their gold and marble faintly gleaming, they had a fantastic richness. And then, emerging from among them like a great ship surrounded by lighters, rose dim, severe and splendid, the Shwe Dagon." W. Somerset Maugham, The Gentleman in the Parlour (1930)

Picture by marhas
The middle terrace with a big variety of shrines and pagodas. The whole terrace is inlaid with marble slabs. The terrace was built during the 15th century by Mon kings after the top of the Singuttara Hill had been leveled. The terrace is 275 meters wide from north to south and 215 meters wide from east to west.
Above this terrace lies another level, the upper terrace. Only males are allowed to enter and they need a permission from the security. This terrace is open from 6 an to 6 pm.



Picture by Travel Aficionado

Shwedagon Pagoda is a massive gold covered stupa, 99 meters high. Its circumference is 433 meters. The stupa structure is octagonal. It is surrounded by 64 small stupas – 8 on each side. There are four large stupas across each stairway (north, south, east and west). At each corner of these small stupas is Manoksiha (also Manokthiha), the Burmese version of sphinx with the head of a guardian spirit (dewada) and two conjoint bodies of chinthe (lion).

Picture by marhas
Walking clockwise around the pagoda for merits

Picture by trevphotos
After sunset

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The eastern devotional hall

Picture by thaths
Gambling scene

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas
King Tharyarwady's Bell

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas
On the way to Naungdawgyi Pagoda

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas


Picture by marhas
The hall of Singu Min Bell

Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas
Hall of Singu Min Bell

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Picture by marhas
Close look of Singu Min Bell


Picture by gforbes

Picture by Jeremy Weate

Picture by gabriella_levine

Picture by marhas

Picture by romsrini

A tipp: Go to Shwedagon pagoda just before sunset. The floor is a lot cooler then and you have to walk around bare foot. Most of the locals turn up at this time.


Read: Shwedagon Pagoda Guide
Read: Nine Wonders of Shwedagon Pagida
See: Floor plan of Shwedagon Pagoda


Near Shwedagon Pagoda is Maha Wizaya Stupa. There is a hole in the roof through which the sun will shine onto the Buddha images in the middle of the pagoda. This on Myanmar New Year Day.


Kandawgyi Lake:

Picture by Antoine 49


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