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Bago, 50 miles north of Yangon, in recent
years is fast recovering its once ancient splendour. It was the
capital city of the Tamsavati Kingdom for many centuries under
the Mon and Myanmar kings, when Yangon or Dagon as it was then
known, was little more than a small pilgrimage town near the
great Shwedagon Pagoda. Bago to the north was the only
noteworthy town to visit from Yangon on a day's trip.
Sights:
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Shwemawdaw Pagoda: The height of this pagoda is actually a little higher than the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in
Yangon, though Sudana Hill on which Shwemawdaw is built, is lower than in height than Theinguttara Hill on which Shwedagon is constructed, the actual pagoda with a height of 373 feet is taller than Shwedagon Pagoda, whose height is only 326 feet. The Shwemawdaw Pagoda is
one of architectural interest as it has an octangonal base with elaborate multi-plane projections in the lower portion which is quite old.
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Shwemawdaw Pagoda
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Shwethalyaung Pagoda: Shwetharlyaung,
the large reclining Image of Buddha, is 180
feet in length and 52.5 feet in height. This is one of the
largest reclining Buddha Images in the world, but believe it or
not, it was "lost" for many years as it became covered
with earth in the scrub jungle, until an Indian contractor
digging the huge mound of earth, found the ancient bricks. The
Image was restore in 1881. It was originally built in 944 A.D by
King Migadipa(jr.), and its official name is Shinbin Tharlyaung
but it is popularly known as Shwetharlyaung" the golden
reçlining Image".
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Shwethalyaung Pagoda
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Mahazedi (the Great Stupa): Mahazedi, one of the famous pagodas in
Bago, built by King Bayintnaung in 1560 A. D.
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Kanbawza Thadi Palace: Kanbawza Thadi the famous palace of King
Bayintnaung(1551-1581 A.D) is being extensively excavated and some buildings are being rebuilt.King Bayintnaung was the founder of the second Myanmar Empire. In 1566 A.D,
he built a new capital city called Hanthawady on what is now
Bago. To the south of the Shwemawdaw Pagoda he built a grand palace which he named Kanbawza
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Kanbawza Thadi Palace
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There is also a famous teaching monastery, a Pariyatti University called Kya Khat
Waing, on 7 acres of land with about 600 monks and monks student, which is well worth visiting. A famous sacred ordination hall Kalayani
Sima, which in the 15th century had connections with Sri Lanka.Other worth a visit is handicraft industry, cheroot making factory and local market. |
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