 Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon's most famous monument, sits atop Singutara Hill north of the city center |
 One of the four grand entrances to Singutara Hill |
 No footwear - not even socks... |
 First glimpse of the main pagoda at Swedagon emerging from the elevator |
 Massive banyan tree in the southeast corner of Shwedagon Paya |
 Colorful relief of Buddha beneath the Bodhi Tree |
 There are dozens of smaller temples surrounding the main stupa |
 Golden spires of stupas surrounding the main stupa at Shwedagon |
 The main stupa towering above an intricate temple |
 Statue similar to ones in Bangkok |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 The main stupa at Shwedagon is covered in pure gold |
 View of Shwedagon Paya from the southwest with the Konagamara Shrine at the southern entrance |
 Southwest side of Shwedagon Paya |
 "Golden Mount", the main zedi (stupa) of Shwedagon Paya rising above a forest of smaller stupas and shrines |
 Due to restoration work, the lower parts of the main stupa are covered with mats |
 Dennis at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon |
 Dennis at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon |
 Burmese-style roofs of the Konagamana Shrine |
 The crown of the main stupa is encrusted with precious stones |
 Seated Buddha image, Shwedagon |
 Shwedagon Paya, late afternoon |
 The value of gold and precious stones is immense |
 Shwedagon Paya, the spiritual heart of Myanmar |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Reclining Buddha |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Western Adoration Hall, Shwedagon Paya |
 Dozens of smaller stupas, shrines and pavilions surround the main stupa, Shwedagon Paya |
 Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Forest of golden stupas, Shwedagon Paya |
 Gyo-daing - small shrines, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya and the Western Adoration Hall |
 Shwedagon Paya seen from the west, late afternoon |
 Pyat-that - multi-roofed pavilion, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya, Yangon |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Sphinx, Shwedagon Paya |
 Worshipers pouring water, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya dates from the 6th-10th C. |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Elephants holding up a stupa at Shwedagon |
 Golden roofs, Shwedagon Paya |
 Stupa modeled after the Mahabohdi Temple in India |
 Seven-sized white pagoda adjacent to the open area to the northwest of the stupa |
 Shwedagon Paya from the northwest |
 Northern Adoration Hall, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya from the northwest |
 Northwest side of Shwedagon Paya |
 Maha Ganda Bell (1775) |
 The loss of the Maha Ganda Bell as the British try and ship it off to England in 1825 |
 Seated Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Golden stupas, Shwedagon Paya |
 Main stupa, Shwedagon Paya |
 Afternoon prayers at Shwedagon Paya |
 Burmese men praying at Shwedagon Paya |
 9m high Buddha in the northwestern pavilion |
 The largest Buddha image at Shwedagon Paya |
 Pavilion, Shwedagon Paya |
 Open area reserved for prayer to the northwest of the main stupa |
 Museum photo of the jewel encrusted ball on top of the main stupa |
 Over 2000 carats of diamonds cap the main stupa |
 Shwedagon Paya from the northwest |
 Plaza on the northwest side of Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya houses the relics of four past Buddhas - Kakusandha, Konagamana, Kassapa and Gautama, the historical Buddha |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Seated Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Burmese-style temple roof - Pyat-that |
 Pagoda covered with panels depicting the life of the Buddha |
 Scenes from the life of the Buddha |
 Scenes from the life of the Buddha |
 Inside one of the larger pavilions to the north of the main stupa |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 View from the northern entrance, Shwedagon Paya |
 Monk relaxing with a book, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya, Pyat-that, multi-roofed pavilion |
 Nat made of colored mirrors, Shwedagon Paya |
 Main zedi (stupa) of Shwedagon Paya |
 Burmese ladies in one of the pavilions |
 I wasn't too keen on the colored flashing light "halos" |
 Shiny Buddha image |
 King Tharawaddy Min's bell, 1841 |
 Painted figure beneath an umbrella |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Sculpture, Shewdagon Paya |
 Sculpture, Shewdagon Paya |
 Sunset with gilden roofs, Shewdagon Paya |
 Buddhist nun meditating, Shewdagon Paya |
 Buddhist nun (Thilashin) meditating, Shewdagon Paya |
 Buddhist nun meditating, Shewdagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya seen from the northwest |
 Pilgrims circle the main zedi (stupa) in a clockwise direction |
 Find Dennis...I had lost both him and the guide by this point |
 Shewdagon Paya - the "Golden Pagoda" - 98m |
 Shewdagon Paya |
 The stupa is covered in real gold |
 Busy area to the north of the main stupa |
 Northwest plaza, Shewdagon Paya |
 The north side of Shwedagon Paya |
 There must be hundreds of these at Shewdagon Paya |
 Walk clockwise around the stupa |
 Shewdagon Paya was occupied by the British military 1824-1825 and 1852-1929 |
 Sunset from the top of Singutara Hill, Yangon |
 Sunset from the top of Singutara Hill, Yangon |
 Buddhist nuns praying in a mirrored pavilion |
 Reclining Buddha and seated Buddha images, Shwedagon Paya |
 Golden pavilion, Shwedagon Paya |
 Large reclining Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Seated Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya at sunset |
 Jade Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 After sunset, the lights come on |
 Shwedagon Paya at dusk |
 Shwedagon Paya at dusk |
 Buddha image in need of some paint |
 Are the flashing lights really necessary? |
 Figure holding offerings of flowers |
 The main stupa of Shwedagon Paya as the lights come on |
 "Hti" - decorated umbrellas at the top of Burmese zedi (stupas) |
 Candle-covered railing encircling the main stupa |
 Blending of candles |
 Sphinx, Shwedagon Paya |
 It's worth seeing Shwedagon Paya with all the lights on |
 The main stupa (zedi) of Shwedagon at dusk |
 Shwedagon Paya at dusk |
 Shwedagon Paya at dusk |
 Shwedagon Paya at dusk |
 Planetary posts with the main stupa |
 Glistening Buddha images, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Pink clouds over Shewdagon Paya at sunset, Yangon |
 Pink clouds over Shewdagon Paya at sunset, Yangon |
 Pink clouds with the main stupa, Shewdagon Paya |
 Pink clouds over Shewdagon Pagoda at sunset, Yangon |
 Seated Buddha in a mirrored pavilion, Pink clouds over Shewdagon Paya |
 Gilded roof of the Konagamana Shrine, Shwedagon Paya |
 Large cloth-covered seated Buddhas |
 The lights come on at Shwedagon Pagoda |
 Gilded Burmese-style temple roof, pyat-that |
 Changing colors, Shwedagon Paya |
 Arrive in the late afternoon and stay until after dark |
 Evening at Shwedagon Paya |
 Evening at Shwedagon Paya |
 Illumination of the main zedi of Shwedagon Paya |
 Pavilion housing King Tharawaddy Min's bell |
 King Tharawaddy Min's bell, 1841 |
 Golden temples of Shwedagon Paya illuminated at night |
 Intricate Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Beautiful Buddha sculpture, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya as night falls |
 Pavilion with Buddha attended by statues of monks |
 Woman praying in a small temple |
 Golden Buddhas, Shwedagon Paya |
 Nat - Burmese spirit, Shwedagon Paya |
 Main zedi illumination, Shwedagon Paya |
 Buddhas at Shwedagon Paya |
 Pavilion crowded with Buddhas |
 Gold of the main stupa of Shwedagon Paya standing out against a deep blue evening sky |
 Zedi and pyat-that, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Main zedi, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 My feet are in such pain after walking around for so long with no shoes on |
 Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 The giant 9m seated Buddha image |
 The giant 9m seated Buddha image |
 Colossal seated Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Colossal seated Buddha at night, Shwedagon Paya |
 There is a punkah (a type of fan) over the Buddha that the faithful operate by rope to keep him cool in the heat |
 Giant seated Buddha, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 The main stupa of Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 The northwest plaza |
 Full moon over the gilded roofs and stupas of Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Southeast corner of Shwedagon Paya at night |
 Temple in the southeast corner of Shwedagon Paya |
 Multi-tiered gilded roof common in Burmese temples |
 Low candle covered wall encircling the main stupa, Shwedagon Paya |
 Low candle covered wall encircling the main stupa, Shwedagon Paya |
 Shwedagon Paya sculptures by candlelight |
 The rooftops of the southern walkway leading down Singutara Hill towards the center of Yangon |
 The Cinthe, a lion-like creature that guards the entrances to Burmese temples |
 Chinthe guarding the southern entrance to Shwedagon Paya |
 Chinthe guarding the southern entrance to Shwedagon Paya |
 Chinthe guarding the southern entrance to Shwedagon Paya |
 A pair of Cinthe flanking the southern entrance to Shwedagon Paya, Yangon |
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