Bago

Bago city, formerly Pegu, Hanthawaddy, is the capital of Bago region. The city is about 80 km north of Yangon, on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River. On the east bank is the old quarter and on the west bank is the new quarter. Bago city has more than 200,000 inhabitants.

Bago looks like a Disney Land theme park with colorful religious buildings. It can be said that this small and crowded city contains more statues and temples than any other cities in South Myanmar. Shwethalyaung Buddha is 180 ft long and 53ft high, a beautiful structure built by a king with a sense of guilt for killing a married couple of his son. Only the finger of the statue is also 10ft long. The 376-ft-high Shwemawdaw Temple is like a golden pyramid standing between the city. This is also an ideal destination for the annual Bago festival in March and April. Kyaik Pun Temple built in 1476 by King Dhammazedi consists of four statues of 100ft high creating a giant square column. Besides, other interesting places to visit in Bago are the Maha Kalyani Sima Temple, Shwegugale Temple, Kanbawzathadi Palace, Kha Khat Wain Kyaung Monastery and Snake Monastery.