Kanbawzathadi Palace – A Golden Palace in ancient land of Bago

» About Kanbawzathadi Palace

Kanbawzathadi Palace is located in Bago, Burma. Built under the order of King Bayinnaung in 1556, the original palace consisted of 76 apartments and halls. However in 1599, it was burned down before being reconstructed in 1990 and finished in 1992. Now, as one of the most impressive palaces in the world, it attracts million visitors annually.

» The reconstructed Kanbawzathadi Palace

Only several buildings in the palace have been reconstructed. The largest one is the Great Audience Hall where the King received his ministers and officials. It is also known as the Royal Lion Throne Hall because it contained the Thihathana Throne or Lion Throne.

Royal Lion Throne Hall in Kanbawzathadi Palace

About 167 teak pillars were found during excavations and 135 of which are inscribed in Mon language with the names of towns, regions and people who donated them in the 16^th century. The mentioned Great Audience Hall, completely covered in gold paint, is a huge hall with rows of large pillars supporting the roof. Now, a copy of one of the Royal Thrones and a number of the 16^th-century teak logs are exhibited, which is worth learning once travelling to Bago in Myanmar.

The Great Audience Hall of Kanbawzathadi Palace

Another rebuilt construction is Bhammayarthana Throne Hall or Bee Throne Hall which contains the private quarters for the King such as the Royal bedchamber and living chamber. Topped with a Pyatthat, a seven tiered Burmese style roof, this Myanmar Royal palace has multiple roof sections and false floors. In other buildings, visitors can see the chambers of members of the Royal family.

Kanbawzathadi Golden Palace used to have 9 Royal Thrones which was decorated with a different motif and used for different occasions. Most of them were destroyed by fire except the Thihathana Throne (also called Lion Throne) because of the lion figures carved on it. Currently, the gilded, hard wood throne is displayed in the National Museum in Yangon.

» Kanbawzathadi Palace Museum

The Nandawya research museum on the grounds of Kanbawzathadi Palce exhibits items and artifacts found during the excavations. If you should have a Bago travel, this is also a good place to learn about information of the second empire’s history. Accurately, the displace shows you a number of the original 16^th-century teak pillars and items like pottery, scales and weighs used for commerce, ancient coins, glazed jars, swords and other weapons. Besides, the museum also offers a collection of 16^th-century Buddha images in Mon, Siamese and Burmese styles.

A palankeen displayed in the Kanbawzathadi Palace

» How to get to Kanbawzathadi Golden Palace

Located at South of the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, East of NH1 National Highway. You can get to there by trishaw from downtown area with a cost of about 1000 Kyats. Highly recomendation is to connect this attraction with a tour in Yangon first, which can enrich your trip in Myanmar.

In front of Kanbawzathadi Palace

» Entrance Fee & Opening Hours of Kanbawzathadi Palace

• Opening hours: Daily from 9.00 to 17.00, except on Burmese national holidays and important Buddhist holidays.

It is one of the few historical sites in Bago for which the Bago archeological zone ticket is not valid. But the price to get in is 4$/pax.