Botahtaung Pagoda

Botahtaung Pagoda stands on Strand Road in Botahtaung Township, close to the Yangon River and the old port in Myanmar. The name means roughly a thousand military officers, referring to the guards said to have escorted Buddha relics to the site more than two thousand years ago. The original pagoda was destroyed by bombing in the Second World War, and the rebuilt version is unusual because the stupa is hollow. Visitors walk through a mirrored, gold-lined inner corridor that winds around the interior of the structure, where glass cases display relics, including strands of hair said to be from the Buddha, along with offerings and old artefacts recovered from the ruins. The corridor is narrow and can feel crowded when tour groups pass. The gilded exterior is smaller than Shwedagon but well proportioned, and the surrounding terrace includes shrines, a prayer hall and a nat shrine. A riverside terrace at the back of the compound offers a quiet view of the Yangon River, ferries and the Botahtaung Jetty. Foreign visitors pay about 6,000 MMK (about $1.40). A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes. The pagoda is located east of the downtown core, about a 25-minute walk along Strand Road or a short taxi ride costing 2,000 to 4,000 MMK. Late afternoon is a good time, because the terrace is cooler, the crowds are thinner than at Shwedagon and the river light is attractive. After the visit, many travellers walk the riverfront promenade at dusk. Mornings are quiet, while weekends and Buddhist holidays bring more local families. Footwear must be removed at the entrance, and visitors should dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. Photography is usually allowed outside, but visitors should check signs inside the mirrored corridor and avoid flash near the relic cases.