Historical Magnificence in Bago
Historical Magnificence
in Bago
To grasp the size of what once was the capital of Burma of old, Bago is surprisingly often left aside.
A religious centre between Yangon and Kyaikhtiyo, the town boasts a few religious
monuments and Buddhist seminaries that simply leave many in awe.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Bago (also known as Pegu) used to be the former capital of southern Myanmar and within a short drive out of Yangon; it is hard to understand that this current town has been left untouched on the tourism path. Its abundance of religious sites and the remains of its former palace make Bago an appealing and simple day trip from the former capital.
The great density of Buddha’s and treasure-filled temples or the ideal first stop when you leave the city behind when searching for centuries-old monuments that have been carefully restored to their former glory.
TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 17:00
You will be picked up in the morning from your hotel for the drive to Bago (85 kilometres – 1½ hours), the former capital of southern Myanmar. Upon arrival, sightseeing in Bago starts with a visit to one of the Buddhist Seminaries, called Thamanay, where about 150 monks live and study. These schools are often seen as the only chance for the less fortunate to gain education and learn more about various subjects aligned with the teachings of Lord Buddha. The tour continues to the Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda. Taller than its almost identical brother in Yangon, Bago’s Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda outshines in height the country’s most revered pagoda – Shwedagon Pagoda. Its 114-metre tall golden stupa can be seen from afar and is one of the most venerated in Myanmar.
After lunch at a simple local restaurant, you will continue sightseeing to the 55-meter long reclining Shwe Tha Lyaung Buddha, which is among one of the country’s most impressive images. Before heading back to Yangon, visit the four giant Buddha images at Kyaik Pun Pagoda, one of the other highlights of Bago and to gain a deeper understanding of the size from bygone eras.
On the way back to Yangon a stop will be made at the Htauk Kyant War Cemetery, the final resting place for over 6000 Allied soldiers who lost their lives during the Burma and Assam campaigns of WWII. Situated in the small town of Htauk Kyant, some 30 kilometres outside Yangon, the cemetery is a serene place where soldiers from the British Commonwealth who died in Burma during the Second World War are laid to rest.
Before we reach your hotel, we make a spiritual stop at a ‘Nat’ tree shrine. Located between Bago and Yangon, Shwenyaungbin Bo Bo Gyi Shrine (Golden Banyan Tree) is the spiritual home of the Burmese guardian spirits, called nats. Worshipped by many, this Buddhist spiritual belief is often connected with the presence of large trees.
We return in the late afternoon back in Yangon.
