Introduction
Myanmar or Burma (as it was called earlier) is a country full of striking images, unusual attractions, sophisticated and friendly people, and is least westernised. Located in the South East Asia bordering India, China, and Thailand, this is a destination for those who want to have something more than the usual and ready to shake off the concerns of life for a while. Yangon or Rangoon being the capital of Myanmar bore the same image (though you will see more familiar western faces and relatively better infrastructure than the countryside). This image and burden of being the capital of a country ruled by a military Junta trying its level best to suppress the democratic movement lead by Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi makes the city very different from other capital cities in the region. It is devoid of tall residential blocks, fuming industrial complexes, and noisy traffic jams. If you look from above, the city presents a view of broad expanses of green woodland and parks interspersed with small white villas.

What to do
There is not much that you can do except going for sightseeing and making quick headway towards the places in the vicinity. Hiking and biking in the hilly regions are some of the good options that you would like to explore. Shopping and dining are some other activities that can be pursued in here.

City at a Glance

Latitude 16° 47' N Longitude 96° 9' E Area 223.217 Population 5,000,000 Language Burmese, Karen, Chin Religion Buddhism, Christianity, Islam Telephone Code 01

History
As an important city, Yangon has a very short history, though it has been in existence for a long time. The city was built by King Alaungpaya in 1755 after he conquered lower Myanmar. The new city was built on the site of Pongon, which at that time was known as Dagon. Yangon means "end of strife" and the king hoped that he would be able to end his struggle after the conquest of lower Myanmar, rather vainly. Shedagon pagoda, the ancient Buddhist shrine was scene of much political activities in the 18th century and latter during the Independence movement of the country. Yangon became the capital of Myanmar only in 1885, when British conquered upper Myanmar and selected Yangon (Rangoon as it was called by them) to be their new capital, ending the long held position of Mandalay.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
There are three distinct seasons in Myanmar, winter from November to February, hot season from March to May, and rainy season from end of May to end of October. Annual rainfall is moderate in the Yangon delta at around 250 cm. Winter is the most pleasant time of the year to visit Yangon. Temperatures can fall to as low as 16ēC and the rain would be most unlikely

Attractions
Shwedagon Pagoda
Yangon's most famous landmark, Shwedagon Pagoda towers over the city with a height of 100 metres above the top of Singuttara Hill. The platform of the pagoda can be reached by walking up the steps or taking a lift. The pagoda was built over 2500 years ago and according to the legends its treasure vault contains the sacred relics of Buddha. Serene tranquillity of this Buddhist shrine has inspired many a great souls and described by some of them as "the great pyramid of fire" and "waking, winking, tinkling wonder".

Sule Pagoda
The pagoda is said to have been built around 2,250 years ago and in its vault is believed to be enshrined the sacred hair of Buddha. It has a height of 48 metres and with its numerous surrounding structures, the pagoda forms a beautiful traffic island.

Kaba Aye
Symbolizing World Peace, this pagoda is situated at a distance of around 11 km from the city centre. The pagoda was built under the orders of the former Prime Minister u Nu as the Sixth Buddhist Synod (1954-56) to celebrated the 2,500 birth anniversary of Buddha. Sacred Cave near the Kaba Aye was specially built by the Burmese engineers to hold the synod.

Mae La Mu Pagoda
Pagoda situated at a distance of around 13 km from the city centre is believed to be built by Mae La Mu who latter became the queen of Myanmar by marrying the king. She built the pagoda in the memory of her grandson who died in childhood. After a long time of neglect, the pagoda was renovated by an old women.

Other Attractions
Located not far away from the Shwedagon Pagoda, the Yangon Zoo houses endangered species of birds, reptiles, apes, crocodiles etc.

The National Museum has on display Mandalay regalia, once belonging to the last two kings of Myanmar. These were returned to Myanmar as a gesture of goodwill by the British in 1964.

The Botanical Garden is situated at a distance of around 16 km from the city centre at Mingaladon. The garden has thousands of native, foreign, and hybrid orchids. It is a part of the National Park in the northern environs of Yangon.

Important Festivals and Exhibitions
Yangon celebrates festivals all around the year and they in some way provide only source of entertainment apart from movies and some other forms. Most of the festivals are celebrated in the Pagodas or related with them with their great romantic legends. The Full Moon of Tabaung Lunar Month (February-March) marks the occasion of the rice harvest and also the enshrinement of eight sacred hair relics of Buddha in the Shwedagon pagoda. Thingyan or Water Festival celebrates the Burmese New Year in the month of April and lasts three to four days. In April and Month, the city celebrates three important festivals marking the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and Nirvana on his death. Waso Festival (June - July) marks the beginning of the three-month period of the Buddhist Lent. In October the city celebrates The Festival of Thandingyut or the Festival of Lights marks the full moon in Thadingyut Lunar Month. The occasion commemorates the Buddha's return from a non-human world when angel-like beings illuminated his way. The Tazaungdaing Festival is celebrated in the month of November with lights on the full moon day. At the Shwedagon pagoda, an all-night robe-weaving competition is held.

After Hours
There is virtually no nightlife in Yangon post dictatorship. All the establishments in the city close down after 9 pm barring one or two nightclubs and special cultural performances organised after taking the military junta in confidence.

SHOPPING
Shopping has not remained the same pleasurable experience as it was earlier, still there are good options. Bogyoke Market or Scott Market is one of the best shopping centres in the country. Look Burmese handcrafts like Mandalay silk longyis (skirt-like pieces of cloth), beautiful Shan woven bags, Burmese slippers, wood and ivory carvings, lacquerware, silverware, Bassien parasols, paintings, cigarettes, and cheroots. You can also look for gems, rubies, sapphires, jade, pearls, etc. from the government run shops. Burmese drums, puppets, papier-mache toys, and masks of all sizes and styles can be purchased from the shopping centre at the gate of Shwedagon Pagoda.

WHERE TO STAY
Though the hotels in Yangon are almost in the same range tariff wise, but they provide a moderate service in comparison. The best hotel in Yangon is The Strand, pre-World War II structure. It was considered as the best hotel in Asia during that time and still has the same homely atmosphere and a hint of aristocratic breeding of old days. There are hundreds of low-cost but clean and comfortable private hotels around the city.

WHERE TO EAT

Boiled rice with dishes of curry, fish, beef, mutton, chicken, or pork, cooked with potatoes or green vegetable is staple diet of most Burmese people. Food stalls scattered throughout the city and specially major markets offer ethnic Burmese food. The food is tasty and inexpensive. Most of the major hotels have multicuisine restaurants with limited Burmese, Chinese, Indian, and Western food.

Travel Information
Air Travel Resources
Most of the time visitors to Myanmar enter the country through air and arrive at Yangon International Airport. With the gradual development in increasing the number of days that one can stay in Myanmar and the number of visa, more and more airlines are extending their service to Yangon. Government run and private taxis are available at the airport to carry the passenger to city.

Local Transport
Government run taxis have a red stripe over a blue-painted body. Most of the taxis that you would encounter in the city are privately run cars of various colours but red number plates. Fare is needed to be settled in advance as taxis are not metered. Trishaws can be found in any part of the city except some extremely busy ones. They are the most inexpensive and most convenient way of travelling around. For shuttle services from Yangon and places in the suburbs, trains are available. Triple-decked catamarans and double-decker motor launches leave every half hour from the jetty to Syriam town.