1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Southeast Asia Travel

Five Sacred Sites in Southeast Asia

By , About.com Guide

3 of 5

Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma

8,688 solid gold plates make up the exterior of the Shwedagon Pagoda’s 320-foot stupa, topped off with more than 5,000 diamonds and about 2,300 rubies, sapphire and topaz. That the treasures remain untouched even in the midst of Yangon’s poverty shows the kind of respect that the Shwedagon Pagoda commands.

The 2,500-year-old Pagoda houses relics from the past four Buddhas, including eight hairs from Gautama Buddha himself. Its unique location in Yangon ensures its domination of the city’s skyline.

Shwedagon also dominates Burma’s history; British bureaucrats’ refusal to remove shoes in its vicinity fed the discontent that eventually led to Burmese independence. More recently, the Pagoda’s monks played a central role in the aborted uprising of September 2007.

Explore Southeast Asia Travel
About.com Special Features

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

Hot Winter Travel Deals

Check out these tips on finding the best airfare, hotel rates and cruise deals. More >

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Southeast Asia Travel
  4. Exploring by Interest
  5. Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.