Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shwegugale Paya
BUDDHIST STUPA
A little beyond the Mahazedi Paya, this
zedi
has a dark
gu
(tunnel) around the circumfer-
ence of the cylindrical superstructure. The monument dates to 1494 and the reign of King
Byinnya Yan. Inside are 64 seated buddha figures. In the evening many locals venture
out here.
From the
zedi
, cross a rickety wooden footbridge and you'll arrive at a
nat shrine
with
life-sized statues of Ko Thein and Ko Thant, the
nat
of the temple compound.
Kya Kha Wain Kyaung
MONASTERY
The sight of some 500 monks and novices, filing out in the early morning from one of
largest monasteries in Myanmar to collect alms, is worth getting up early for. Otherwise,
join the tour groups visiting here at 10.30am to see the monks gatheried to eat lunch in a
giant hall.
You're free to wander around; most of the monks think it's hilarious that tourists come
and watch them eat, but the atmosphere is a bit like a zoo. Prior to the protests of 2007
there were supposedly 1500 monks in residence here; now it's more like 500.
On the way to or from the monastery it's worth having a look around Bago's lively
market
.
Kanbawzathadi Palace
PALACE
(admission with Bago Archaeological Zone ticket $10; 9am-6pm)
At the heart of ancient
Hanthawady was the Kanbawzathadi Palace, the remains of which have been excavated
just south of Shwemawdaw Paya. The stumps of the huge teak posts that held up part of
the palace have been left in situ, while the posts themselves occupy a museum that's a
slipshod reconstruction of the Great Audience Hall, originally dating from 1599.
Another reconstructed building in the compound is the Bee Throne Hall.
Snake Monastery
MONASTERY
A story goes that a revered monk had a dream that the python you can see snoozing in
this monastery was the reincarnation of a
nat
; another is that it is the reincarnation of the
monk himself.
Either way, over 125 years later, the self-same python has grown to be at least 17ft
long and a foot wide, making it probably one of the largest snakes in the world. No won-
der locals flock here to pay their respects.
