The former national capital of Myanmar exerts a gravitational pull all its own, with the Shwedagon Pagoda and Bogyoke Market attracting the lion’s share of tourists to the area. But there’s more to be found just a stone’s throw away from the bustling city, as these day-trip excursions can demonstrate.
Don’t limit yourselves to Yangon: visit these detours that provide an authentic glimpse into the heart and soul of Myanmar.
Seikgyi Island: Rural Bicycle Loop
Separated from Yangon by the Twante Canal, the island township known as “Seikgyikanaungto” provides a relaxing rural bubble best seen through the Seikgyi bicycle loop. Tourists can start at the eastern dock, following a path that unwinds alongside the river and passes through rural villages and verdant rice fields, before circling back via the town center.
To get here, hop onto a longtail boat at Yangon’s Wardan Jetty to reach Seikgyi, where a bike rental awaits just a step away from the dock.
Image courtesy of Jacques Beaulieu (CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED)
Twantay: Snakes and Ceramics Scene
Located a ferry ride from Pansodan Jetty and a short drive away from Yangon, Twantay Township has a considerable reputation as a ceramics hub – it’s well worth a visit to just browse through the Oh-Bo pottery sheds, looking through their wares and watching the potters at work. Twantay’s potters turn out terracotta products for everyday use, from flower vases to incense stick holders.
It’s also worth seeing the ancient Shwesandaw Paya while you’re here: it’s a gold-covered stupa that recalls Shwedagon’s spire, with relics of Buddha’s hair stored within. A more thrilling temple experience can be found some 8km west of Twantay: the Baung Daw Gyoke Pagoda, nestled in the center of a lake, is populated by dozens of free-roaming pythons. Visitors make offerings to these revered snakes, believed to bring good luck.
Thanlyin: Ancient Places of Worship
Thanlyin combines history from both east and west in its ancient structures – a relic of its brief history as a Portuguese colony known as Syriam. The Yele Pagoda, a serene complex on a small island; and the ruins of a Portuguese church (the oldest European structure in Myanmar), are both open for visitors who want to put local Burmese history in context.
The National Races Village is also located here: it’s a compound that presents Myanmar’s many ethnic communities through interactive displays of ethnic diversity. To see local life up close and in the flesh, visit Thanlyin market to see locals going about on their day-to-day activities.
Image courtesy of Anagoria (CC BY 4.0 DEED)
Bago: Palatial Splendor
Bago, once the capital of lower Burma, is dotted with magnificent religious sites. Among these, the giant reclining Buddhas of Naung Daw Gyi and Shwethalyaung stand out, with the latter known as the second largest of its kind in the world with a length of 55 meters and height of 16 meters.
The reconstructed Kanbawzathadi Palace, alongside the towering Shwemawdaw Paya, the tallest stupa in Myanmar, offers a glimpse into the grandeur of Burma’s second empire.
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda: Gravity-Defying Stupa
Located in Mon State a few hours’ drive from Yangon, the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda seems to defy gravity with its massive gold-covered rock perched precariously on a cliff edge. This site, believed to be held in place by a strand of Buddha’s hair, remains a centerpiece of faith and devotion for locals.
The journey to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda begins in Kinpun, the base village, where locals ride buses or walk a dirt path to the very top. The journey and the end point provide tourists with a pilgrimage experience intertwined with breathtaking views.
