Petting a bear at a nat shrine on the way to Kyauktan.

ONE of the best ways to broaden your knowledge of the world is simply to get out and see more of it. Many people also use travel as a means to relax by temporarily leaving the rat race behind and unwinding in a new environment.

However, many travellers are constrained by money and time, but taking a vacation does not necessarily mean planning an extravagant weeks-long journey to the far reaches of the globe. There is plenty to see in and around Yangon that can be accessed with minimal planning, and only modest investments in time and money. These destinations offer proof that sometimes the simplest trips can be the best.

Around Yangon
Inya Lake
The first place that comes to the minds of many Yangon residents when they think of escaping the hustle and bustle of city life is Inya Lake in Hlaing township. Two miles long and 1.5 miles wide, the body of water provides plenty of places to walk, sit or eat, as well as opportunities for boating. It is open daily from 6am to 7pm, but the best times to visit are in the morning and the evening when the air is cool and the water reflects the changing colours of the sky. The effect is enhanced by the fact that there are no manmade structures to interrupt the lake’s calm surface. With the beauty of nature preserved in its original state, the only obstacles that the carp and other fish face are the pink lotuses that grow near the edge of the water.

Shwedagon Pagoda
No visit to Yangon would be complete without at least a few hours spent at Shwedagon Pagoda. Said to have been built more than 2500 years ago, it is the most prominent landmark in Myanmar’s biggest city, and is visible from miles around. For those who live in Yangon, Shwedagon offers an oasis of tranquility that will revive the spirits of those living even the most stressful daily routine. Frequent visits are a part of many residents’ lifestyles.

National Museum
The National Museum – located at 66/74 Pyay Road – showcases various aspects of Myanmar culture, allowing visitors to travel to distant corners of the country and different eras without ever leaving Yangon. Among the exhibits are the Lion Throne of Thibaw Min, the last Myanmar king; royal regalia from the 19th century; musical instruments; paintings; and cultural artifacts from a wide range of ancient periods.

People’s Park
Located between Shwedagon Pagoda to the east and Pyithu Hluttaw (National Assembly building) to the west, this park consists of more than 130 acres of grassy land perfect for strolling or relaxing in the shade of leafy trees. Also on the grounds are People’s Square, a paved promenade where special government functions are held, and a children’s playground.

Kyauktawgyi Pagoda
Located on Mindama Hill in Insein township, 16 kilometres from downtown, this pagoda was completed in 2002. It contains the world’s largest Buddha image carved from marble, weighing 500 tonnes and measuring about 12 metres tall. Visitors can also see the pagoda’s live white elephants, said to symbolise the power of the kingdom in which they are found.

Kandawgyi Lake
One of the best places to take a relaxing walk in Yangon is Kandawgyi Lake, also known as Royal Lake, where green plants are abundant and smell of beautiful lotus flowers fills the air. A fabulous reproduction of a royal barge on the water adds a touch of Myanmar culture to the experience, as does the sublime reflection of the nearby Shwedagon Pagoda in the water.

Chinatown
If you love Chinese food, Yangon’s Chinatown will not disappoint. The sometimes hectic streets are lined with restaurants, as well as shops that sell Chinese silk and clothing. At night the clubs and karaoke lounges open for business, keeping the neighbourhood vibrant with activity well after the sun goes down.

One-Day Trips
Htaukkyant War Cemetery
Located 32 kilometres north of Yangon on the road to Bago, this cemetery encompasses the graves of 27,000 Allied soldiers who died in Myanmar during World War II. The well-kept grounds include stone memorials, flowering plants and wide grassy lawns, making it one of the most tranquil and beautiful plots of land in the Yangon area.

Moeyingyi Wildlife Reserve
Moeyingyi WR in Bago Division is about 110 kilometres northeast of Yangon. The tranquil wetlands provide the ideal environment for observing nature and its inhabitants, including 40 species of birds, many of which are migratory. The best time to visit is November to March, when millions of birds pass through a network of wetlands in Southeast Asia to escape the cold winters of northern Asia. In April they return to their breeding grounds in the north to raise offspring and start the cycle of life anew.

Hlawga Wildlife Reserve
This reserve – about 45 minutes northwest of Yangon by car – covers 1650 acres of land and is home a wide variety of plants, and more than 70 species of herbivorous mammals and 90 species of birds. It is therefore an ideal spot for picnickers, naturalists, botanists and birdwatchers. Like Moeyingyi WR, it provides a stopover for migratory birds. Visitors to the park can also enjoy elephant rides, boating and fishing.

Thanlyin and Kyauktan
Just a short drive outside of Yangon, Thanlyin is a picturesque town that despite its small size has a lot to offer day-trippers. Among the sites of interest is Mwaynon Shin Pagoda, located on a hill that provides a view of the capital across the Bago River. According to legend, a princess named Shin Mwaynon used to wait on the hill for her lover, a prince named Min Nandar, who lived on the other side of the Bago River. The couple was prevented from getting married by their disapproving parents. Other pagodas in Thanlyin include the peaceful Parda Gyi and Kyaik Khauk, and the town is also home to a Christian church built by Portuguese immigrants more than 100 years ago. About 12 miles past Thanlyin is Kyaik Mhmaw Wun Yele Pagoda, located in the middle of a wide river. Reaching it requires a short ride on a ferry boat. Once at the pagoda, visitors can feed popcorn balls to the hordes of pagoda catfish in the muddy water.

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

Two-Day Trips
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda
On the top of Mon State’s Mount Kyaikto, 1102 metres above sea level, is a gold-leafed boulder balanced on the edge of a cliff. This delicate equilibrium is said to result from the power of a hair from the Buddha’s head that is enshrined at the pagoda. Also known as Gold Rock, Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is recognised as one of the ancient wonders of Southeast Asia. The pilgrimage season lasts from October to May, during which Buddhists come from all over Myanmar to make the endurance-testing climb to the summit. It is widely believed that those who reach the pagoda will become prosperous. It takes about six hours to drive to Gold Rock from Yangon, making it a perfect two-day outing. The overnight stay will give visitors the chance to see the pagoda at sundown and at dawn, when it is at its most mysterious and beautiful.

Bago
Bago – about 80 kilometres north of Yangon – is said to have been founded as the town of Hanthawady in 573 CE by two Mon princes from Thaton. By the 13th century it had become the centre of the southern Myanmar kingdom of Ramanadesa. Some of the area’s later history has been revived by the recent rebuilding of Kanbawzathadi Palace – where King Bayinnaung lived during the 16th century – and the accompanying museum, which showcases ancient artifacts unearthed around Bago. The town is also well known for the Shwethalyaung Buddha, a reclining image measuring 55 metres long and 16 metres high, one of the largest in the world. It was built by the Mon in 994 only to be lost when the Burmans destroyed Bago in 1757. It was unearthed and restored in the late 19th century. Among the pagodas worth visiting in the town are Shwemawdaw and Kyaik Pun. Since Bago is on the road to Mon State, it can easily be combined with a trip to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda.