Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The hotel was built by Turkish-Armenian contractor Tigran Nierces Joseph Catchat-
oor, who is buried around the corner in the cemetery next to the
Armenian Church of St
In 1913 an annex was built next door; this now houses the Australian Embassy. During
WWII, the Japanese took over the running of the Strand, which they renamed the Yamato
Hotel.
Burmese nationals were allegedly not allowed to stay in the hotel until 1945. From
1962 to 1989, in what was quite possibly its darkest period, the Strand was owned and
managed by the Burmese government. In 1979 when Tony Wheeler reviewed the Strand
for the first edition of this guidebook he found a 'tatty and dilapidated' colonial relic
where you were more likely to encounter rats than a soft bed and a hot shower. Having
closed for three years of renovations the Strand reopened to its present luxurious incarna-
tion in 1993 (
Click here
)
.
Yangon Heritage Trust
HISTORIC BUILDING
( 01-240 544;
http://yangonheritagetrust.org
; 22/4 Pansodan St, Kyauktada; 9am-5pm Mon-
Fri)
The small gallery of historic photographs here gives an idea of how downtown
Yangon used to look. There's a great view of lower Pansodan St's grand facades from the
open balcony, particularly of the bomb-damaged Yangon Region Court and the art-deco
Myanmar Economic Bank 2 opposite.
Kheng Hock Keong
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
(426-432 Strand Rd, Latha; 5am-9pm)
Supported by a Hokkien association, Yan-
gon's largest Chinese temple is most lively from around 6am to 9am when it's thronged
with worshippers offering candles, flowers and incense to the Buddhist and Taoist altars
within.
The temple is dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, who occupies the central altar and is
flanked by to the right by Guan Gong, the embodiment of loyalty and bravery, and on the
left by Bao Sheng Da Di, the god of medicine.
The current building dates to 1903 and replaced a wooden temple that was erected
here in 1861.
St Mary's Cathedral
CHURCH
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
