Page 105 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

Falam Pathein The DelTa anD wesTern MyanMar 103
MIZORAM Thantlang Hakha hIGhlIGhTs Pathein
Pathein
BANGLADESH INDIA Rezua Monywa Ngwe Saung The largest settlement in the Delta, breezy PATHEIN is one of Myanmar’s more
Ngapali
Shittaung Paya
enjoyable provincial capitals. Although most foreign visitors pass straight through,
Htukkanthein Paya
CHIN STATE
Chin State
landmark Shwemokhtaw Pagoda – and the chance to visit the workshops, where the
Mount Victoria it’s well worth an overnight stop for the colourful array of temples – including the
city’s famous brightly coloured cotton and silk umbrellas are made.
Historically, Pathein was part of the Mon kingdom, although the modern city now 2
NAT MA TAUNG
NATIONAL PARK Yebya has few ethnic Mon residents; the majority today are Bamar and Kayin, though there
Segyaung
Pakokku are also sizeable Karen and Rakhine minorities. The city has long been an important
Kanpetlet port, enjoying close links with India – its name is said to derive from the Burmese
Mount
Victoria Ngathayauk word for Parsi, “Pathi”, due to the large number of Arab and Indian traders who once
Buthidaung Kyauktaw (3053m)
Maungdaw Chauk lived here. It was also a major centre of British rule (during which it was known as
Dhanyawadi waithali Kyaukpadaung Meiktila Bassein), when a fort was built and a garrison established in 1826 following the First
Anglo-Burmese War.
Mrauk U
Kaladan River Salin Modern Pathein is the sixth-largest city in Myanmar, with a population of around
Magyichaung Min Bya RAKHINE 286,000, and is still (despite lying slightly inland, up the broad Pathein – or Bassein
Sittwe STATE – River) the most important port in the country after Yangon, serving as the main
Minbu conduit for the Delta’s huge rice exports. Even so, Pathein still feels like a small, slow
Hunters Pyechin Magwe rural town.
Myingun Bay Taungdwingyi
Island Dalet MAGWE STATE
Ann Kamyingan
Combermere NAYPYITAW Shwemokhtaw Pagoda
Bay Ayeyarwady River
Kyaukpyu • Main entrance from Pagoda Rd • Daily 6am–9pm • Free
Letpan A R A K A N Y O M A Thayet Aunglan Pathein’s main sight is the Shwemokhtaw Pagoda, squeezed tightly into the very
centre of town between Pagoda, Merchant and Panchan streets. Local legend
Ramree Island Baungdok claims that it was built at the request of a Muslim princess named Onmadandi,
Ramree
who challenged each of her three Buddhist suitors to build her a stupa in order
Taunggok Taungoo to discover who could furnish her with the most impressive erection. Fables aside,
B A G O Y
Pyay (sri Ketra) dull historical fact suggests that what you see now is largely the work of Bagan’s
Munaung Strait
Munaung Island
Thayekhittaya O M A
King Alaungsithu (in 1115) and the Mon King Samodogossa (in 1263), who
Thandwe raised the stupa to something approaching its current height of 47m. The
Ngapali Pyu crowning hti is said to be made of 6kg of solid gold, set on tiers of silver and
Kyaukalat Kyangin
Myanaung BAGO bronze and encrusted with over 1600 diamonds and rubies – although you can’t
REGION really see any of this from the ground.
Kweintali Ayeyarwady River Inside, you’ll find one of Myanmar’s more architecturally harmonious temple
B A Y OF BENG AL complexes, and while the stupa itself isn’t particularly huge, it compensates with its
elegantly slender outline. Surrounding the stupa you’ll find eight shrines, dedicated
Gwa Hinthada
to the various Burmese days of the week, plus a ninth shrine representing the ruling
astrological sign, Ketu. Each one is equipped with its own Buddha seated on a tiny
Yegyi circular garden plinth, complete with a tap for watering.
Danubyu YANGON Bago On the south side of the pagoda, a shrine houses the revered Thiho-shin
REGION
Nyayngdon Phondawpyi Buddha image, said to have been made in ancient Sri Lanka and then
Chaung Tha
N Thazin Thongwa set adrift on a raft, after which it floated over to Pathein. Make sure you also look
Ngwe Saung AYEYARWADY
Sinma Pathein STATE Ma-Ubin Twante Yangon
Myaungmya
Nathanu TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
Kyonmangay Kyaiklat Most of this region is fully open to foreign visitors (including all towns and cities featured in
0 100 Pyapon this Guide). exceptions include the far north of Rakhine State, close to the border with
kilometres Pathein Labutta Bogale Bangladesh (see p.27), which is now a military area and completely closed to tourism.
although Chin State has opened up considerably in the past couple of years, there are still
The DelTa anD Mawdin Pyanmalot Ayeyarwady MEINMAHLA KYUN ANDAMAN areas here that are closed and/or need permits.
SEA
Point
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
wesTern MyanMar
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