Bagan & Central Myanmar - Myanmar (Burma) - page 294

Shwesandaw Paya BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Taungoo's grandest pilgrimage spot is situated in the centre of town, around 500m west
of the main road. The central stupa, a standard-issue bell shape, is gilded and dates back
to 1597; local legend says an earlier stupa on the site was built centuries before and con-
tains sacred-hair relics. Entering from the north, to your right is a display of Taungoo
kings (and a rather busty queen), and a round building housing a reclining buddha sur-
rounded by devas (celestial beings) and monastic disciples.
Nearby, on the western side of the stupa, there's a 12ft (3.5m) bronze, Mandalay-style
sitting buddha, given to the paya in 1912 by a retired civil servant who donated his body
weight in bronze and silver for the casting of the image. He died three years after the
casting at age 72; his ashes are interred behind the image.
On the east side, there's a shrine to Thurathati - a goddess borrowed by Buddhists
from Hindus - atop a mythical hintha bird. Fine-arts students come to pray to her before
exams.
Myasigon Paya BUDDHIST TEMPLE
About 820 ft (250m) south of Shwesandaw, off Pagoda St, this lovely modern pagoda
features a gold zedi and many glass mosaics. On the north side, an open building has a
faded mural of Taungoo kings. A nearby squat white building is actually a museum (to
have it opened, ask in the pagoda; it usually costs K1000). The museum has bronze im-
ages of Erawan (the three-headed elephant who serves as Indra's mount) and assorted
buddha images, but is more interesting for its random secular collection of British
colonial-era memorabilia, including an ancient Kodak camera, 80-year-old plates and a
cream soda bottle.
Kandawgyi Lake LAKE, PARK
(swimming pool for 2hr K500; swimming pool 7am-6pm) This pretty ornamental lake dates
from the days when Taungoo (then known as Katumadi) was capital and Bayin Naung
ruled. Strolling or cycling around its perimeter, lined with shady trees, is a pleasant way
to pass an hour or so.
While nobody swims in the lake itself, on its eastern (town) side, you'll find a small
swimming pool at the Evergreen Cafe, which also has friendly owners.
On the lake's western flank, sandwiched between the old palace walls and moat, is the
Kyet Minn Nyi Naung Amusement Park , built by the firm responsible for the neigh-
bouring Royal Katumadi Hotel. Apart from various places to eat and drink here, you can
play snooker (K1000 per hour) and tennis (K3000 per hour) or hire the karaoke room.