Bago Myanmar – Top 5 Attractions and Thjings to Do

Bago has a few nice attractions that can be visited in a day. Unfortunately many of the main sights are in different areas around the town so you will need some form of transportation such a renting a motorbike taxi for the day or renting a motorbike without a driver if you have a valid license. Most of the attractions in Bago are in the form of pagodas or reclining Buddha statues, but they are well worth taking the time to see if you are staying over on the way to somewhere else.

1. Shwe Mawdaw Pagoda

The Shwe Mawdaw Pagoda is also known as the Golden God Temple and stands at a height of 375 feet. As such this makes it the tallest pagoda in Myanmar rather than the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon which often incorrectly steals the title. The entrance fee is USD 10 and is valid for three days and also includes entry to three of the surrounding temples. As this is the tallest pagoda in Myanmar is it certainly an impressive sight and not to be missed if you are in town and don’t have time to see everything.

2. Shwethar Iyaung Pagoda

This pagoda is close to the main railway station and is famous for their Buddha statue which is 55 meters long and 16 meters high. This means that it is one of the largest Buddha statues in the world and it is said to date from 994 which means it would have been built during the time King Migadepa. Again, this is a rather unexpected sight in Bago and is a good choice if you can’t decide which attractions you want to visit first.

3. Kyaik Pun Pagoda

The Kyaik Pun Pagoda is famous in the area as it is the home of the Four Seated Buddha Shrine. It is notable for having four depictions of the Buddha which is unusual and each depiction sits in a different position and they are placed in a back-to-back formation so that they can be seen from all sides.

4. Mahazedi Pagoda

One of the big draws at the Mahazedi Pagoda is the chance to climb to the top. From here you will be able to see all over the city and the surrounding countryside. You should note however that the pagoda is closed in the rainy season and only opens again from October onwards, so make sure to plan accordingly so that you don’t waste time making the trip there only to find that it is inaccessible.

5. Kanbawzathadi Palace

A notable change from the various pagodas for which Bago is famous is the Kanbawzathadi Palace which was built in 1556 in the time of King Bayinnaung. It was razed to the ground in a fire in 1599 and was rebuilt in 1990 and is still an excellent example of royal Burmese architecture.

Here you will find a range of reproductions and models of royal possessions such as the golden coach that would have belonged to the king, as well as rooms like the Great Audience Hall which has 167 teak pillars. Other notable areas are the Bhammayarthana Throne Hall which includes the royal bed chamber and the king’s living quarters.

Also of note on the site is the adjoining museum which has a small but interesting collection of items found at the palace when the site was excavated in the 1990s. These include pottery pieces, ceramics like ceremonial vases, ancient coins, and a selection of historic weaponry. As a result the museum and palace makes a great place to visit if you are in Bago and will fill you in on all the history of the area.