Shwedagon (Yangon)

SHWEDAGON, YANGON, MYANMAR
Shwedagon is a pagoda which was originally built around year 600 BC and is in modern-day Yangon. Shwedagon has had various states of building and, at times, damage, thoughout its history. It has been at its present height of 326 feet since 1774. There are many smaller pagodas and temples in the complex with Shwedagon.

First, a view from the west (about 1/4 mile away) from the People's Park...

Some views of the stupa...

Note some repairs being done on the stupa...and if you look closely, you can see the workers...

A couple of the entrances to the complex (with lion-like figures called chinthes)...

With the second chinthe, there is a bird in the mouth (with the view of the stupa in the background and two of the many coconut palms in Myanmar)...

Pictures within the complex of numerous temples...

Many people (mostly locals) were praying here as this is considered to be the most sacred site in Myanmar...

A woman praying (note the face paint--this is thanaka, which comes from the bark of a tree and is fairly unique to Myanmar--it's supposed to keep the skin clear and cool).

There were "corners" based on the day of the week you were born. You can wash the Buddha there if you were born on that day of the week. Here is the Saturday corner...