| 08:00 hrs | Bago was founded in 573 AD by Thamala and Wimala, two Mon brothers of noble birth, as an outpost of the Mon Thaton Kingdom. The site, which was then on the Gulf of Martaban, had already been earmarked as the location of a great city by Gautama, the historic Buddha.
SHWEMAWDAW PAYA: this is one of the most venerated pagodas in Myanmar. The temple has a 1000-year history and was originally built by 2 merchants, Taphussa and Bhalita, to house some hair relics of the Buddha.
HINTHA GON PAYA: this shrine has good views over Bago from the roofed platform on the hilltop. According to legend, this was the one point rising from the sea when the mythical bird (the hintha) landed here.
SHWETHALYAUNG BUDDHA: huge reclining Buddha with a sign on the platform in front of the image giving the measurements of each body part. It is reputed to be one of the most lifelike of all reclining Buddhas. The Burmese say the image represents Buddha in a ’relaxing’ mode.
MAHAZEDI PAYA: Originally constructed in 1560 AD by King Bayinnaung, it was destroyed during the 1757 sacking of Bago and the reconstruction was only completed in 1982. Stairways lead up the outside of the stupa, and from the top there are fine views over the surrounding area.
KYAIK PUN PAYA: built in 1476 by King Dhammazedi, it consists of four 30m-high sitting Buddhas placed back-to-back around a huge, square pillar.
KYAT KHAT WINE MONASTERY: Depending on the time of day, thousands of monks gather here to accept food offered by the devout.
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