Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda – Where Hiding the Enormous Buddha Statue

» About Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda

Situated on Shwegondine Road, Yangon, the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda (or the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda) is famous for the enormous 65 meter long sleeping Buddha statue, which is one of the largest Buddhist statues in Myanmar.

The Huge Reclining Buddha Statue in Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda

» History of Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda

Built in 1907, the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda was then destroyed before being rebuilt in 1957 and completed in 1966. During renovations, paid for entirely with donations from Buddhists and foreign tourists, the image was added with 5 meters. About 70,000 USD is attributable to contributions. On the beams of the building, visitors can see the names of the contributors.

The Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda Nowadays

» The Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda Reclining Buddha image

The impressive 65 meters long and 16 meters high Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha image wears a golden robe; the right arm of its supports the back of the head. It was decorated with impressive colors: white face, red lips, blue eye shadow, golden robe and red finger nails. All of them makes an impression on travelers in their Yangon Tours.

The Unique Structure of Huge Statue in Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda

The statue’s feet soles contain 108 segments in red and gold colours showing images of 108 lakshanas or auspicious characteristics of the Buddha.

Devotees of Buddhism in Burma (Myanmar) usually pay their respect to the Reclining Buddha by burning incense sticks and offering flowers. Around the Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha image, you can see a number of shrines, one for each of the eight days of the week in Asian astrology (Wednesday is devided into two days) and the local people pray to the shrine belonging to the day of their birth.

A few plaques inscribed in English and Burmese offer information about Buddhism and the teachings of the Buddha. There is also another similar Reclining Buddha, but in a slightly different pose, the Shwethalyaung Buddha, in the Bago town, North of Yangon.

The Lion Dragon Statue at the Entrance of Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda

Visiting around the pagoda, you will see several monasteries, one of which is the Ashay Tawya monastery where hundreds of monks study the Buddha’s teachings.

» How to Get to the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda

The Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda is situated in the Tamwe township of central Yangon on Shwe Gon Taing street, about 3 kilometers North East of the Shwedagon Pagoda. If you wish, taxi from downtown is available with a cost of around 3-5$ to get to the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda in Yangon.

» Entrance Fee & Opening Hours of Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda

The Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda opens daily from 6.00 to 20.00. Entrance fee is 5$/pax. The entrance fee is used for the upkeep of the temple groundsm the Reclining Buddha image and for education of local monks of the Ashay Tawya monastery.