Top 10 Places in Yangon

1. Shwedagon Pagoda

No visit to the Union of Myanmar is complete without a visit to the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda, which enshrines strands of Buddha's hair and other holy relics. Located west of the Royal Lake on 114 -acre Singuttara Hill in Yangon, Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred and impressive Buddhist site for the people of the Union of Myanmar.

From a humble beginning of 8.2 meters, the Shwedagon Pagoda today stands close to 110 meters. Shwedagon Pagoda is covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of the stupa is encrusted with 4531 diamonds; the largest of which is a 72 carat diamond. It is clearly one of the wonders of the religious world. Shwedagon Pagoda is a repository of the best in Myanmar heritage – architecture, sculpture and arts.

The Shwedagon Pagoda consists hundreds colorful temples, stupas, and statues that reflects the architectural era spanning almost a 2,500 years. To understand this monumental work of art and architecture, visitors will experience an insider's view of this magnificent symbol of Buddhism to the lives of the Myanmar people. Shwedagon Pagoda forms the focus of religious as well as community activities – the bustling of devotees and monks washing the statues, offering flowers, worshiping, and meditating. Shwedagon Pagoda is administered by the Board of Trustees of Shwedagon Pagoda.

2. KanDawGyi Garden

Kandawgyi Garden or Kandawgyi Nature Park is one of the tourist attractions of Yangon. Kandawgyi meaning "the great lake" in Myanmar is a popular recreation centre in Yangon.Kandawgyi Park is 260 acres wide (the garden area is 110 acres and water area is 150 acres).You can see the natural sight of the lake water, large shady trees and variety of beautiful flowers. Moreover, there are also an orchid garden, the children play-ground, Mini Zoo, the souvenir shops and many restaurants in the park. Kandawgyi Park is one of the best Picnic area in Yangon.The beauty of Karaweik Palace also shows a unique work of art to be explored in the heart of Kandawgyi Lake.

3. Waterboom

The Yangon Waterboom is Myanmar's first modern water park and home to an array of exciting entertainment and attractions. Located in Shu Khin Thar, Thar Kay Ta Township, Yangon, this family recreational destination offers 10 world-class rides, slides, and facilities that will take FUN to a whole new level. It also features multiple open-air and under-cover function areas available for children’s parties, team building events or just a simple gathering. It is the first of its kind in Myanmar, which offers a full action-packed entertainment for the entire family, child and teens alike.

4. National Races Village

National Races Village is located near Thanlyin Bridge. Thaketa Township. Yangon. National races village was constructed by Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs is situated in Tharketa Township. on the left of Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge.

If you visit the village. you will not only enjoy fresh breeze blowing across Bago River but also get the sense of Union Spirit from the village of our national brethern. Kachin. Kayah. Kayin. Chin. Bamar. Mon. Rakhine and Shan. You can see buildings with significant symbols denoting various national races residing in the country.

5. People’s Park

People’s Park is located near the western stairways of Shwedagon Pagoda. It is an area of a total of 135.72 acres bounded by the main thoroughfares of Pyay Road to its west, U Wisara Road to its east, Dhammazedi Road to its north and Ahlone Road to its south. It was first opened in 1990.

The Park is well known for its large concrete water fountain. A fountain, composed of two receding tiers of white elephants spewing water out of their raised trunks and is topped by a single lotus bud, forms the centrepiece of a flower-lined marble esplanade. Over a thousand trees and plants from 52 species are to be found in the Park.

A little over half of the complex is the 70.3-acre People’s Square. A flower- and tree-lined marble esplanade starting from Pyithu Hluttaw towards the Shwedagon Pagoda is the center piece of the square. Pyidaungsu Ayeyeik Nyein or the Union Nationalities’ Haven of Peace occupies a corner of the Square. Many National Events such as ceremonies of Independence Day, Union Day, National Day are held in this place. There is a Museum housing life-size models of nationalities in their colourful dresses.

In 2011, People’s Park and Square is renovated by private company and now there are amusement park including swimming pools, water slides, joy rides and water fountain garden. Families, groups, couples and individuals who want rest and relaxation are seen at the People’s Park and People’ s Square. The People’s Square and People’s Park remains open daily from 7AM to 7PM.

6. Inya Kan Baung

Inya Lake is the largest lake in Yangon and is a popular recreational area for Yangonites and a famous location for romance.

Known as Inya Kan Baung (Inya Lake embankment), it is one of the famous places in Yangon and is said to be a place not to miss visiting as teenagers tease each other that they are not modern youths if they have never been there.

Many composers mention of Inya Lake in their songs as the lake has pleasant surroundings, while quite a number of Myanmar movies have scenes of Inya Lake and its surrounding environment.

Inya Lake is surrounded by Pyay road, Parami road, Kabar Aye pagoda road and Inya road, the famous Yangon University and Yangon Institute of Economics. So, the lake is always crowded with people and a popular rendezvous for student couples from Yangon University.

The appeal of Inya Lake is that people can walk on its embankment feeling the gentle breeze of the lake and also relax on the green grass of the embankment. There are also huge shady trees along the bank of the lake where families can have picnics under these trees.

If we go to Inya Lake early in the morning, we can see people exercising individually or in groups. The place is more crowded in the evening than in the morning.

7. National Museum

National Museum of Myanmar is located at No. 66/74. Pyay Road. Dagon Township. Yangon. Myanmar. The National Museum of Myanmar was founded in 1952 with its premises at what was once the Jubilee Hall. In 1970 the museum was moved to a more spacious building on Pansodan Street. But these premises were not originally constructed to house a museum.

The present National Museum is located on Pyay Road in a splendid five-storey building constructed for the purpose in spacious and specially landscaped grounds. Priceless ancient artifacts. works of art and historic memorabilia are on display in 14 halls on four storeys. Three halls on the ground floor hold exhibits on the evolution the Myanmar script and alphabet. the Lion Throne Room and Yatanabon Period pieces.

8. Bogyoke Aung San Museum

Bogyoke Aung San Museum is located on No 15. Bogyoke Museum Lane. Bahan Township. Yangon. The Bogyoke Aung San Museum was established in 1962. 15 years after the assassination of Bogyoke. Bogyoke in Myanmar is a term used for General. The museum was the home of the General before he was assassinated.

Bogyoke Aung San lived in peace and harmony with his family. His wife was Daw Khin Kyi and he had three children.

The building is a 2 storey-building where Bogyoke Aung San stayed until he was assassinated. displayed as he was alive for memorial. furniture. dresses. books. the car used by Bogyoke Aung San. and his family photos.

9. War Memorial

The Allies had established the Allied War Memorial Cemeteries all over the world. There were 3 Allied War Memorial Cemeteries in Myanmar. Htauk Kyant. Thanbyuzayat and Yangon.

The Htauk Kyant War Memorial Cemetery. beautifully kept ground. had 27.000 stone-graves of Commonwealth and Allied Forces Fallen Soldiers in the Myanmar Campaign were honourably kept. It is located in Mingaladon Township. Yangon Division about 32 km from Yangon. on the road to Bago.

The relatives of the Allied Forces Fallen Soldiers throughout the world used to visit the said War Memorial Cemeteries in Myanmar to pay homage to their respective Allied Forces Fatten Soldiers' Graves. The peoples of Myanmar never destroyed the graves of the Japanese Imperial Fallen Soldiers with hatred throughout the Country.

Myanmars kept very well not only the graves of Japanese Imperial Fallen Soldiers but also all the Fallen Soldiers from all over the World from heartfelt humanitarian ground. Some relatives from Japan used to visit to pay homage yearly at their respective Japanese Imperial Fallen Soldiers' graves throughout the Myanmar.

10. Ye Le Pagoda

Ye Le Paya at Kyauk Tan means the pagoda in mid-stream built on a laterite reef. It was built by King Zeyasana. the seventh king of the Pada Dynasty in the third century BC. The first pagoda was only 11 feet high. The pagoda complex comprises several buildings including a monastery. Pilgrims and visitors are ferried across to the pagoda. One can feed shoals of long river catfish. which surface to snatch tit-bits of food thrown at them. When food is thrown. they reach out to snap at it. revealing their size. which can reach up to one meter in length.