BOTATAUNG PAGODA – A FAMOUS HISTORIC SITE IN YANGON

1. History of Botataung Pagoda

Botataung Temple is located by the river in downtown Yangon, capturing both the city’s vibrant and cultural beauty. The Mon built the Botataung temple around 2,500 years ago, making it the oldest Buddhist architectural temple in Myanmar. It was destroyed during WWII as a result of bombings at a nearby port. However, the government began rebuilding the temple from its original structure in 1948. Botataung translates to 1,000 military leaders. This name comes from an event that occurred over 2,000 years ago, when thousands of military leaders escorted the first hair relics of Buddha all the way from India to be kept in the pagoda.
The most sacred Buddha relics are kept in the main hall. Among them is the image of the Bronze Royal Buddha, which was cast in 1859 during King Mindon’s reign.

Botataung Pagoda by night

2. Visiting Botataung Pagoda

Visiting Botataung, tourists will firstly be overwhelmed by the gold laminated shimmering of the temple. The stupas are the most distinctive feature of Botataung Pagoda. While most stupas in Myanmar are dense and inaccessible, the stupas in Botataung are hollow, allowing tourists to walk through and discover the cultural treasures hidden within. Visitors will slowly explore a number of recesses that contain ancient artifacts, including some very old Buddha images discovered in the pagoda after it was destroyed in 1943, as they walk through the towers with mosaic glass walls.

Botataung Lake

The entire ceiling of the tower is covered in gold, as is the wall, so tourists may be dazzled but amazed when they step inside the stupas. Botataung is situated along the city’s riverbank at an elevation of 40 meters above sea level. Because of its incredible location, the pagoda attracts tourists and pilgrims who stop by at dusk to enjoy the panoramic view of Yangon as well as the beauty of the pagoda itself.

Ancient Buddha Statue

In addition to the main stupa, there are dozens of smaller towers around. Each of these small towers also houses extremely sacred Buddha treasures.

Buddha’s sacred hair relic

3. When should we go to visit Botataung Pagoda?

Yangon city in particular and Myanmar in general have quite hot weather, mainly in the dry season with very little annual rainfall. Therefore, you can visit Botataung Temple at any time you want. The period from October to February is considered the peak tourist season in Myanmar. This is also the time when many special festivals take place at Botataung Temple, in which you can participate.

4. How to get to Botataung Pagoda?

Botataung Pagoda is located on the Strand in Botataung town. Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, Yangon does not have a metro system. But in return, the taxi price here is very cheap, so most visitors choose this vehicle to move to Botataung Pagoda. A trip from downtown Yangon to Botataung by taxi costs only about US$3 to US$5.

5. Opening hours and fee

Opening hours: from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week. Ticket price to visit Botataung Pagoda, Myanmar: 2 USD per person. If you want to take photos in the temple, you will have to pay an additional fee of 1 USD per person.

6. Some things to keep in mind when visiting Botataung Pagoda

There are somethings you should to keep in mind when visiting Botataung Pagoda:
– When visiting Botataung Pagoda or any temple in Myanmar, you also need to pay attention to the issue of clothing. Dress modestly and politely, avoid wearing shorts below the knee.
– When entering the temple, you need to go barefoot. So don’t forget to bring a nylon bag to store your shoes.
– Because the weather in Yangon is quite hot, you should visit the temple in the early morning or evening.
– Every temple in Myanmar has a strange charm, and so does Botataung Pagoda.
Hopefully, with the information shared above, you will have an interesting trip to Myanmar and explore Botataung Pagoda.