Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Myanma Gems Museum
Third floor, 66 Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd • Tues-Sun 9.30am-4pm • K5000 • No photography
If you want to fully understand Myanmar's incredible mineral wealth, the government-run
MyanmaGemsMuseum
offersagoodintroduction(shameabouttherip-offentryfee).Start
off with the fun illuminated map which helps you locate where everything comes from at the
press of a button, then explore the miniature royal regalia (modelled after that in the Nation-
al Museum, complete with a tiny replica of the Lion Throne). There are also plenty of oth-
er gems and artefacts, some of considerable beauty, others veering into tat. Myanmar's ubi-
quitous jade is very much in evidence, with exhibits including assorted jade teapots, dinner
services, various animals, a diminutive General Aung San and a pair of similarly minuscule
golfers. You'll also see huge pearls, rubies, sapphires, lots of cut and uncut stones and intric-
ate jewellery - look out for the lovely sapphire peacock, a miniature harp made of jade and
jewels, and a chintzy “flowering gem tree”.
Ifyoufancyshoppingforsomepreciousstonesofyourown,thethreefloorsofshopsbelow
the museum, comprising the
Myanma Gems Mart
,
are a good place to start.
Kaba Aye Pagoda
Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd • 9km north of downtown (roughly $5 by taxi) • Daily 6am-9pm • Free
The cartoonish
Kabe Aye Pagoda
(meaning “World Peace Pagoda” and pronounced
k'bah
AY
with the stress on the last syllable, pronounced like the letter “A”) is one of the first great
landmarks of independent Myanmar, commissioned by U Nu and completed in 1952 in time
fortheSixthBuddhistSynodof1954-56(celebratingthe2500thanniversaryoftheBuddha's
enlightenment). The first prime minister of independent Myanmar, U Nu was also a devout
Buddhist who succeeded in having Buddhism declared the official state religion of Myanmar
in 1961, complete with a ban on the slaughtering of cows - although just a year later Ne Win
reversed the ruling and, despite the country's militant Buddhist leanings, there is still no offi-
cial state religion.
Shop-lined stairs (including a number of palmists) lead up to the unusual stupa (measuring
precisely 34m high and 34m around the base). The odd, chintzy-looking pagoda comprises a
relativelysmallstupa-spireaboveandacircularshrinebelow,with(unusually)fiveentrances
rather than the customary four in order to accommodate an additional shrine to the future
Buddha Maitreya
.
Inside, five large seated Buddhas face each of the five doors, with statues
of the 28 previous Buddhas seated around the huge central column. At the very centre of the
pagoda, a small shrine, protected by bank-vault-style doors, houses a further, splendidly cos-
tumed, silver Buddha and numerous other precious artefacts donated to the temple.
Mahapasana Guha
Kaba Aye Pagoda Rd • Daily 6am-9pm • Free
