Yangon is Myanmar’s largest and most vibrant city. For centuries, Yangon was a trading post and it still holds a great historical significance as such. It was and still is a melting pot of ethnicities and religions, with thriving cultural and social scenes. In 2005, the government moved to a new capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Still, Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon) remains the cultural and commercial heart of Myanmar, and most visitors begin and end their journey to the country here. When the British conquered northern Myanmar and moved the seat of government from Mandalay in 1885, Yangoon became the capital. The colonial-era buildings, speak to the history of the region as a former trading post. The largest concentration of these historic structures are on the riverfront Strand Road, around the bottom of Pansodan Street and Sule Pagoda Road.

Buildings in Yangon are awash with color and speak to the city’s history of ethnic and religious diversity. The most striking of all is Shwedagon Pagoda, the monumental golden Buddhist shrine which many consider to be one of the most sacred sites in Myanmar. There is also an impressive collection of museums, art galleries and markets where visitors can haggle to their heart’s content and take in the culture of Myanmar. Yangon is quite intriguing architecturally, but also has great diversity in its cuisine. Many restaurants serve plenty of native treats, but their offerings are also heavily influenced by the neighboring countries of Thailand, China and India.

Dominating Yangon’s skyline with its hunge spires, the Shwedagon Pagoda is one of Myanmar’s most sacred religious sites. ‘Shwe’ means gold in Burmese and ‘Dagon’ is the historical area where the pagoda stands. Said to be more than 2,500 years old, it is a truly awe-inspiring structure to behold. Over the years, the pagoda has been destroyed by earthquakes and pillaged by treasure hunters, but still stands in its current form, as it has since 1769. The pagoda contains four relics of the Buddha. It is surrounded by four covered walkways leading to the entrance. It’s surrounded by collection of smaller shrines, statues and temples. The eastern entrance is the most interesting, leading out onto the busy markets on Gyar Tawya Street, full of fascinating mansions from the colonial-era.

The Shwedagon Pagoda Festival takes place In late February or early March. One of the largest festivals of the year, it celebrates the enshrinement of the sacred hair of the Buddha inside the pagoda. At the heart of downtown Yangon, Sule Pagoda is said to be even older than the Shwedagon Pagoda. It sits in the middle of a large roundabout. While the structure itself is stunning, it holds great historical significance for Buddhists because it’s believed to also contain hairs of the Buddha. The Sule Pagoda it was the focal point for the 1988 uprising.