Myanmar, formerly Burma, is a country
in Southeast Asia. It is the largest country in Mainland Southeast Asia, and
has a population of about 54 million as of 2017. Myanmar is bordered by
Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and
Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal
to its south and southwest. The country's capital city is Naypyidaw, and its
largest city is Yangon (Rangoon).
The Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, also called
the Golden Rock is one of Burma’s most sacred Buddhist sites. A massive boulder
on the edge of a cliff with a pagoda on top of it enshrining a hair of the
Buddha is an important pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists.
The huge Golden Rock in the mountains
North East of Yangon hanging over a steep cliff provides for an amazing sight.
The rock that appears to be gold is actually a granite boulder that is covered
with gold leaf applied to the rock by Buddhist devotees.
The boulder is about 7½ meters high
and has a golden pagoda called the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda or Kyaik Hti Yo Pagoda on
top of it where the Buddha’s hair relic is enshrined. The rock balances on the
edge of a cliff and it appears like it can fall down in the valley below it at
any moment. The boulder seems to hover over the ground, the contact area is
very small.
Around the pagoda is an atmosphere of
devotion with the burning candles, the chanting of devotees, the smell of
incense sticks and the offerings being made to the shrine. It is said that this
place has been a Buddhist place of worship for 2,600 years.
The Golden Rock with the Kyaikhtiyo
Pagoda is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for Buddhists in
Burma. Every day many people come to the rock and pay their respect. Devotee
pilgrims apply gold leaf to the rock. Only men can do this, as women are not
allowed to touch the rock.
Since this is a sacred place, at the
main entrance you have to take off your shoes and socks and walk barefoot to
the Golden Rock. Two large lions or Chinthes guard the entrance to the temple
grounds.
After dark the Golden Rock is a place
with a mystical atmosphere with all the candle lights and the small of burning
incense sticks. The complex consists of several viewing platforms, a number of
pagodas, shrines containing Buddha images and shrines for Nats, the Burmese
spirits. There are also a few restaurants and guest houses.
Legend tells that when the Buddha
visited the area he gave a hair relic to a hermit. The hermit went to see the
King and requested him to enshrine the relic on a boulder in the shape of the
hermits head. The King who possessed magical powers, found a suitable stone on
the bottom of the sea and brought it over to Kyaikto where it was placed in its
current location. It is said that the Buddha’s hair, enshrined in the pagoda on
top of the boulder, prevents the Golden Rock from crashing down.
According to the legend the boat that
was used to transport the boulder turned into stone. A large boulder close the
Golden Rock somewhat resembling the shape of a boat has another stupa on top of
it named the Kyaukthanban Pagoda.
The Golden Rock with the Kyaikhtiyo
Pagoda is located close to Kyaikto town, some 80 kilometers East of Bago and
160 kilometers North East of Yangon. Getting there requires quite a bit of
effort. Although the trip is an adventure in itself, it takes considerable time
and part of the journey can be uncomfortable.
The first leg of the journey is
taking a bus or private taxi from either Yangon or Bago to Kinpun village at
the base of the mountain where the Golden Rock is on. From the base camp in
Kinpun travellers make a ride in the back of an open truck that is fitted with
benches. The ride up on the winding roads on the forested mountains over 1,000
meters above sea level takes around 30 minutes to Ya Thay Taung. From here it
is about one hour walk to the Golden Rock along a road with souvenir shops.
Bring plenty of water for the climb. At the entrance gate of the temple complex
you have to take off your shoes and socks and continue the walk barefoot. Bring
a bag to carry them with you. If you don’t feel like walking you care hire
porters to carry you up to the Kyaikhtiyo Golden Pagoda in a kind of bamboo
sedan chair. Negotiate a price before leaving and pay at the end of the return
trip.
Asian Destinations Readers can go to The
Golden Rock grounds 24 hours per day. Entrance fee is US$ 6 per person.
The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda Festival (also
known as the Nine Thousand Lights Festival) takes place at Mount Kyaiktiyo late
in the year and features food offerings at dawn and candle lighting after dark,
illuminating the mountaintop. For exact dates and full Myanmar festival
listings, go to our festival calendar.
Sources :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar
https://www.renown-travel.com/burma/goldenrock.html
https://www.go-myanmar.com/mount-kyaiktiyo-kyite-htee-yoe-the-golden-rock
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