Yangon

Fascinating Facts

The local people in the city are very friendly and hospitable. They will understand you even if you don’t have a common language to communicate.
The streets of Yangon are dotted with street food vendors selling fresh and yummy local cuisine. Don’t miss trying everything!
Don’t be surprised if you see locals roaming around the city with a face masque on. It is Thanaka, an organic substance that protects the skin from the sun. You should try it too!

Formerly known as Rangoon, Yangon is a historical city and one of the most well-known cities in the country. Yangon was Myanmar’s administrative capital before Nay Pyi Taw was named as the capital city. Yangon is the country’s most prominent commercial centre as well as the largest city of the country with a population of more than 7 million people. The name ‘Yangon’ is a combination of the Burmese words ‘Yan’ meaning ‘enemies’ and ‘Koun’ meaning ‘run out of’. The combination of words commonly translates as ‘End of Strife’. During the colonial era, Yangon was called ‘Rangoon’. Till the mid-1990s, Yangon mostly had a traditional setting. As people started moving in, a necessity to expand the area of the city was felt. The city grew rapidly towards the north where the Yangon International Airport is located now.

Bustling and exciting, a visit to the city will take you to colonial structures prominently dotting the landscape in downtown Yangon. However, the architecture of the northern part is more modern. Yangon is also the country’s hub for film, music, newspaper, advertising and book publishing industries. There are a variety of things to see for tourists – from beautiful colonial-era buildings in Southeast Asia to bustling markets and beautiful pagodas. Take a walk down historic lanes, explore the local life, speak to the locals, taste the amazing street food – Yangon offers the best of Myanmar to you. Visitors to the country often spend their nights on 19th Street – the centre of barbecued meats and delicious local beer.

History

Yangon has a rich history behind it which dates back to the 11th century when the Mons who lived in Lower Burma the city and named it Dagon. It was a small fishing village centred around the Shwedagon Pagoda. When King Alaungpaya took over Dagon in 1755, he changed the name to Yangon. The British conquered Yangon after the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) but returned Yangon back to Burmese administration as the war ended. They seized Yangon and lower Burma moved to after the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. Yangon was the epicentre of Myanmar’s struggle for independence. When Myanmar gained independence in 1948, Yangon was made the capital of the country.

HOW TO GET THERE

Yangon has a large international airport which is well-connected with the rest of the world. You can fly to Yangon from almost all domestic airports in the country. The flight time from Mandalay is around two and a half hours, Bagan is around an hour and fifteen minutes and Nay Pyi Taw is fifty five minutes.
Taxis are available in abundance in Yangon with service companies offering competitive deals and drivers who speak in English. You can take a bus to reach to roam around in Yangon. You can also opt for the environmental-friendly trishaw service.
Train services are available from Mandalay (14 hours), Bagan (17 hours) and Inle (more than a day) to Yangon. The Yangon Circular Train takes you through Yangon’s rural landscape in just three hours.

Top Attractions

Yangon is a multi-faceted city with a lot to explore. We strongly suggest keeping some time in enjoy the beauty of this historic city. Visit the gardens, wildlife parks, lakes filled with various flora and fauna, colonial-era buildings and much more when you are here. Yangon is famous for its colonial-era buildings which are best explored by foot or on trishaws. Yangon has some of the most beautiful churches in the country which you cannot miss.

Yangon also houses some of the most famous pagodas of the country. In fact, you will find one pagoda in almost every corner of the city. Myanmar’s most sacred and popular pagoda, Shwedagon Pagoda is located here and is a must visit in any itinerary of Yangon. Be mesmerised by this landmark and also spend some time immersed in the peaceful culture of the pagoda. Yangon also has a number of museums and historical sites where you can witness traditional artefacts and understand the rich culture of Myanmar.

Bogyoke Aung San Market,Yangon

St. Mary’s Cathedral,Yangon

Sule Pagoda,Yangon

Taukkyan War Cemetry,Yangon

Yangon Walls,Yangon

ENJOY UNPARALLELED NATURAL BEAUTY

Be intrigued by the natural attractions of Yangon. Visit People’s Square and People’s Park, Zoological Garden, Kandawgyi Garden and Lake, Innya Lake and Hlawga Wildlife Park to enjoy the pristine nature while remaining in and around a bustling city.

ADMIRE COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE

Yangon is famous for buildings and churches exposing the best of colonial architecture. These buildings are well-maintained to ensure that we preserve our history. Explore these historic buildings while exploring the rich cultural heritage of the city.

VISIT THE SHWEDAGON PAGODA

A visit to Yangon is incomplete without visiting this pagoda. Adorned with gold plates and enriched with a diamond encrusted stupa, the pagoda shines under the sun, creating a stunning view that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

VISIT MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL SITES

Discover the rich ancient history of Yangon as well as the country when you visit the wide-variety of museums located in Yangon. You can take the help of local guides to know the scintillating stories regarding the historical sites.