For most Yangon will be the starting point of any Burmese holiday and in many ways will be totally different to any other part of the country you visit. Don’t think you’re coming to a sleepy backwater; Yangon is developing fast as modernity pushes against the ancient and Colonial to create a vibrant welcome to those entering Myanmar. When visiting stay clear of the modern suburbs and head for the Colonial centre as this is where city life lives and breathes and you experience the burgeoning cosmopolitan populace who have come from every corner of the country. The main sights of the old city are contained within a fairly small area that is easily explored on foot with your guide.

2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda

The highlight is the magnificent gold-encrusted 2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda, the most important religious site in Myanmar. Some religious sites around the world almost have a museum like quality to them, but not here (on indeed others with the country) as it’s busy with Buddhists throughout the day allowing us as visitors a window into their world. The pagoda enshrines strands of Buddha’s hair and other holy relics and from humble beginnings of 8.2 metres it stands close to 110 metres and it totally covered with gold.

The Shwedagon Pagoda complex consists of hundreds of colourful temples, stupas, and statues that reflect the development of architecture, beliefs, sculpture and art over the last 2,500 years. It’s a great introduction the Myanmar’s rich history. The best time to visit is late afternoon as the low sun picks out the pagoda’s details and then at sunset the whole complex is lit up.

City Highlights

Other city centre highlights include Chaukhtatkyi (the Reclining Buddha), the Secretariat, colourful markets of Little India and Chinatown, Sule Pagoda, Botataung Pagoda, Kalewa Monastery and the Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market. Further afield the Taukkyan War Cemetery is worth visiting, containing over 6,000 graves of Allied soldiers from the British Commonwealth. Away from the more formal touring the Yangon circular train is a great way to spend half an hour so seeing the city from the tracks and enjoying the efforts of local traders to sell everything that’s in season, or perhaps take the ferry to Dalah for a cheap and slight anarchic sun set cruise.

Whatever you choose to do, it’s a great introduction to Myanmar.