Pagodas, temples and landscape @ Myanmar (off off Tokyo): Dec. 27, 2014-Jan.1, 2015

I spent my year-end and new-year holidays in Myanmar. It was my first visit to the country.

The rapid change of the society and economy was interesting. The pagodas (payas), temples and the nature were impressive.

There are thousands of pagodas and temples (including ruins) in the forests in Bagon, an old religious city in central Myanmar. 

I climbed up the Shwesandaw Paya (Pagoda) as well as the Shwegugyi Temple and enjoyed the scene. It was so beautiful. Hundreds of visitors were there to see the sunset.

There lie hundreds of temples and pagodas in the Sagain Hill in Sagain, near Mandalay, the nation’s second largest city in central Myanmar. 

Many monks and nuns live there. Orphans are raised up in some temples. I saw many monks walking around the town for their morning services.

The Ayeyarwaddy River flows through the nation. Mandalay, Bagan and other cities have developed along the river.

I visited many famous pagodas and temples. They included:

The Shwedagon Paya in Yangon:

It is the largest pagoda in Yangon with 2600 year history.

The Sule Paya in Yangon:

It locates in the center of downtown Yangon.

Shwemawdaw Paya in Bago, near Yangon:

It has 1200 year history.

The Shwethalyaung Buddha in Bago, near Yangon:

The Buddha is 55 meter tall. It was built in 994 bt the Mon tribe king.

The Kyaik Pun Paya in Bago, near Yangon:

It is 30 meter high.

The Shwezigon Paya in Bagan, an old religious city in central Myanmar:

Most temples and pagodas in the area were built between 11th to 13th century by the first Burmese dynasty.

The Ananda Temple in Bagan:

It was built in 1090.

The Dhammayangyi Temple in Bagan

It is the laegest temple in the area.

The Sawn Oo Pon Nya Shin Paya, at the top of the Sagain Hill, Sagain, Near Mandalay:

The scene from here was beautiful.

The Maha Muni Bhddha in Maha Muni Temple in Mandalay:

Gold leaves have been added on the Buddha sculpture for centuries. 

The Kuthodaw Paya in Mandalay:

729 small pagodas are build around a big pagoda. Each small pagoda has a stone plate inside, on which the Buddhism text words were curved.

I also visited many other places.

The story of the "life and society" of Myanmar is posted in other page.