Burmese Charm in Quaint Thanlyin
Burmese Charm in
Quaint Thanlyin
While often referred to by the name Syriam, Thanlyin captures the essence of boldly going where
no one has gone before. Following the contours of the Bago River, spending 6 hours outside
Yangon feels like wandering back in time and relive times gone by.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Thanlyin (formerly known as Syriam) is a slow-life village and is a major port city located across the Bago River from the city of Yangon.
With its strategic location along the Yangon River and intertwined with equally charming Kyauk Tan, the town was originally known for its port. A peaceful and quiet atmosphere will come over you as soon as we enter the town borders, and wandering around gives you a sense that there most certainly still is serenity around Yangon.
TRAIL ITINERARY
09:00 - 15:00
We leave in the early morning at your hotel in Yangon. Although the distance between the former capital and Syriam is short, driving times usually take a bit longer than usual. A township in Greater Yangon, Kyauk Tan is mainly putting on travel itineraries because of its two unique pagodas.
Situated 35 kilometres south of downtown Yangon along the banks of a sidearm of the Yangon River (the Bago River), the hilltop Kyaik Khauk Pagoda and the riverside Ye Le Paya are tangible testimonies to its spiritual connection with Buddhism. Together with nearby Thanlyin, Kyauk Tan is an excellent example of a rural region within a short drive from the former Burmese capital. Its merchant past, mainly around the 15th century, continues to play a critical role in the trade history in Myanmar. Outside of falling under the British Empire, also Portuguese and French East Indian influences can be found in Thanlyin.
While slowly discovering the town with its universities, visitors will appreciate the sleepy town atmosphere. Yet this pleasant atmosphere with tree-lined roads and catching glimpse of local life. Our main objective is a visit to the Ye Le Paya Temple, located mid-stream in the river, only accessible by local boat. Located on a small island in the Hmaw Wun Creek, a tributary of Yangon River and close to Yangon, the uniqueness of the Ye Le Pagoda lies not in its design but its location. From afar and even when reaching its spiritual compound, the temple gives visitors the illusion that it feels like floating on water.
It is possible to feed the giant catfish that are swimming around the island and this unique temple. Its distinction compared to the other pagodas is due to its location – right in the middle of the river near the town of Kyauk Tan. Lunch is not included.
Our early afternoon will be reserved to visit the local riverside market and two more pagodas before we drive back to the big city where we will arrive around mid-afternoon.
