Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in the shrine on the west side of the stupa, gifted to the temple in 1912 by a retired civil ser-
vant who donated his own body weight in silver and bronze. On the opposite (eastern) side
of the stupa, a large reclining Buddha is under construction.
Myasigon Pagoda
Daily 7am-8pm • Free • The museum is usually locked, although you can ask someone to unlock it for you
(around K1000)
Close to the southern edge of the walled city centre, the glitzy
Myasigon
(or Mizagon)
Pa-
goda
offers a complete contrast to the traditional Shwesandaw. The temple's small stupa
seems almost an afterthought to the adjacent shrine, with its huge gilded Buddha ensconced
inashiny-brightpavilioncoveredindazzlingglassmosaics.Outside,theterracesurrounding
and shrines rising out of sculpted forest, plus a couple of tiny, doe-eyed elephants.
In the northwest corner of the terrace a cream-coloured building houses a small
museum
containing various Buddhas and other religious artefacts, a statue of the three-headed ele-
phant Erawan (the mount of Indra), plus a few old colonial-era notes and coins and a very
dusty old soda bottle. Though the museum's usually kept locked, you can get a decent look
through the window slats if you don't fancy finding someone with a key.
Kaunghmudaw Pagoda
1.5km west of town (follow the road out of the west gate)
SetinbeautifulcountrysidewestofTaungoocentre,theprettyrural
KaunghmudawPagoda
makesagoodtargetforaleisurelyout-of-townbikeride.Flamboyantlyroofedstairwayslead
from the north and east up to the terrace and the small but elaborately sculpted gold stupa,
with leering chinthe standing guard at each corner, surrounded by the usual impressive bo
tree, bell, prayer pole and inevitable model of the Kyaiktiyo.
