How to Get There
The Shwedagon Pagoda is located on Sanguttara Hill in the Dagon Township of Yangon in Burma/Myanmar. Any taxi driver in Yangon will gladly take you. There’s no need to have the driver wait; plenty of taxis will be waiting around the pagoda when you exit.
Although taxis are very reasonably priced in Yangon, prices are slightly inflated for tourists who are visiting the pagoda. Don’t be afraid to negotiate a little with your driver.
Best Times to Visit
Aside from Buddhist holidays based on the lunisolar calendar, weekdays are often more quiet at the Shwedagon Pagoda. The site is busier during Buddhist Lent (usually in June). Many Buddhist holidays start the day before a full moon.
You’ll get much better light for stunning travel photographs if you visit early in the morning. Temperatures can climb to almost 100 degrees by noon, making the white marble flooring hot on bare feet!
Visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda after dark is an entirely different experience. An ideal scenario would be to visit in the morning when light is good for photos and before the heat of the day, go explore some other interesting sights in Yangon, then return to the pagoda in the evening when everything is lit up.
OPENING HOURS
Opening Hours: 04:00 – 22:00 hrs, except on the following days that Shwedagon Pagoda is open 24 hours:
1.Waxing Day of Tabaung – the day before full moon day of the Myanmar Lunar month Tabaung (around March) and
2.Waxing Day of Wakhaung – the day before full moon day of the Myanmar Lunar month Wakhaung (around June which is the beginning of the Buddhist Lent)
Shwedagon Pagoda is open daily. Last admission is at 21:45 hrs.
EXHIBITS
Shwedagon Pagoda Exhibit: The Shwedagon Pagoda is more than a place of worship. It is a custodian for Myanmar art, history and architecture.
This exhibit, available to visitors depicts its biography. It is a tribute to those who built it, to the Buddhism principles it represents, and to the hopes it inspires.
The Shwedagon Pagoda exhibit, located on the main platform, traces the history and symbolism of the Shwedagon Pagoda through photographs.
GETTING THERE
There are a variety of ways to reach Shwedagon Pagoda by public transportation.
Please contact your hotel concierge for taxi and bus directions to Shwedagon Pagoda
DONATION BOXES
There are donation boxes located around Shwedagon Pagoda to spontaneously attract cash and coins.
These donation boxes are labeled for specific purposes such as for gold plating, electricity, water and maintenance, among others.
For donations with receipts to be made under your name or family name, please contact the Board of Trustees Office.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Temperatures in the Yangon metropolitan area average 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer.
Visitors are advised to drink plenty of fluids and wear light clothing if they plan to visit during the summer months.
The Monsoon season in Myanmar is fairly wet with temperatures ranging from the mid 80s to mid 90s.
VISITOR CENTER
Open: 08:00 – 21:00 hrs.
Location: TBC
ENTRANCE FEE
Fee : 10,000 Kyats (or) 8 USD
ACCESSIBILITY
The main platform of Shwedagon Pagoda, its Information Centers, and concessions are wheelchair accessible.
Those requiring the use of a wheelchair can enter the pagoda through the Southern Stairway.
The Southern Stairway includes the use of two elevators. For assistance, please contact the Board of Trustees Office.
A limited number of wheelchairs are available at the Information Centers (on a first-come, first-served basis).
AVAILABLE FACILITIES
Various facilities are available when visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda. Food and concession services are available.
Dress Code
As a mark of reverence when visiting Shwedagon Pagoda, visitors should dress appropriately and modestly. Please follow the dress code – wear trousers or at least knee length shorts or skirt; t-shirts with elbow length sleeves are also expected and you are expected to be barefooted when entering Shwedagon Pagoda.The pagoda is much more than a tourist attraction, it is the most important religious site in Myanmar. It also functions as a very active place of worship. Scores of monks, pilgrims, and devotees mix among tourists at the monument.
Men and women should wear clothing that covers the knees. Longyi, a traditional, sarong-style garment, are available to borrow at the entrances. Shoulders should not be exposed. Avoid shirts with religious themes or offensive messages (that includes skulls). Tight or revealing clothing should be avoided. Although the official website for the pagoda claims that elbow-length shirts are required, this is rarely enforced.
