Ngahtatgyi Pagoda

Ngahtatgyi Pagoda is on Ngar Htat Gyi Pagoda Street in Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar, about a five-minute walk from Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple. Its main attraction is a large seated Buddha image about five storeys high, set inside a hall and framed by an elaborately carved and gilded wooden throne. The throne frame is decorated with mythical creatures, floral scrollwork and tiered ornament in the Burmese style, and the Buddha's face has a calm, slightly stern expression. Smaller shrines, a few trees and a quiet courtyard surround the main hall, and a monastery is nearby. Entry is free, with donations welcome. A visit takes 20 to 30 minutes, which makes it a good addition to a morning on the Bahan side of the city. The site receives far fewer visitors than Shwedagon, and the atmosphere is quiet, with local worshippers making offerings or sitting in prayer. The best photo angle is from the floor in front of the image, where the throne frame and the full height of the Buddha can be seen together, and visitors can also step back toward the entrance to include the hall's interior. Morning light is gentler, and the hall is cooler before midday. Visitors remove footwear at the entrance, cover shoulders and knees, and keep voices low. Taxis from downtown cost about 2,500 to 4,500 MMK, and many visitors pair the pagoda with the reclining Buddha and Kandawgyi Lake. Crowds are rarely a problem, though local holidays bring more families. Photography is generally allowed, but visitors should avoid flash near worshippers and not point feet toward the image.