Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A companion piece to the nearby Kyauk Daw Kyi Pagoda, and offering further subtle propa-
ganda on behalf of the ruling military, the
HsinHpyuDawElephantPark
is home to a trio
ofrarewhiteelephants(plusanormalgreyelephant)discoveredinRakhineStateandbrought
toYangonin2001-02.Whiteelephantsaretraditionallyregardedasasymbolofgoodfortune
and prosperity in Myanmar and the junta has been keen to collect as many as possible - fur-
ther specimens can be found at the
Uppatasanti Pagoda
in Naypyitaw. So-called “white” ele-
phants are actually albinos and not really white at all, but rather a pale reddish-brown (or
pink when wet). This may be regarded as lucky for their military owners, but has proved less
so for the poor elephants themselves, who now find themselves miserably chained up for the
greater part of every day in a small pavilion.
Arlein Ngar Sint Pagoda
Lanthit Rd • Daily 6am-9pm • Free
AshortwalkfromInseinstation,the
ArleinNgarSintPagoda
iswellworthalook,andeas-
ily combined with a visit to the Kyauk Daw Kyi Pagoda. This is without doubt one of Yan-
gon's kookiest temples, particularly the strange central shrine, topped with what looks like a
large pineapple and surrounded by a miniature maze arranged around dozens of little golden
pavilions. A large, green, rather Chinese-looking pagoda-tower stands behind, guarded by
pairs of horses, tigers and elephants.
