Shwedaung - Burma Travel Information

Photos from Shwedaung

One of the pleasant phenomena that I had during my trip to Burma was Shwedaung village. The village is known for one thing ? a temple with Buddha wearing John Lennon?s style sunglasses. Nevertheless there are other many things to see in the village!

Getting to Shwedaung

The village is situated about 14 km southern to Pyay city, which you can read about separately. To get to the village you need to catch a pickup that leave every few minutes.

Shwe Myet Man Paya

This temple is the reason that the village is famous for. In the center of the temple there is a big Buddha statue with white face. The Buddha is wearing huge sunglasses with golden plated frame on his eyes. Next to the statue there is a spare pair of sunglasses ? for any case.

The sunglasses were added to the statue when a local noble decided to contribute his sunglasses in order to raise the belief of the locals through curiosity. The rumor that the Buddha can cure different disease, especially eyes disease, was spread. The first pair of sunglasses was stolen pretty fast and the second pair was hidden in the statue itself to prevent from being stolen.

A third pair was donated to the temple by a British officer that his wife was suffering from eyes disease. Of course the woman was miraculously cured after the donation?

It takes 9 monks every week to remove the sunglasses for cleaning.

In the next building you can see another Buddha statue that looks as he suffered from anorexia disease.

Colonial Structures in Shwedaung

During touring the village you can see an impressive collection of colonials? houses from the beginning of the century. The houses are not well preserved, but it might be that this is part of their magic. Some of the houses are currently being used as plants and warehouses.

Shwedaung's Colorful Market

In the village you can go and visit a colorful market that contrary to other many markets I visited in, is outstanding with its relatively cleanness, colorful products and friendly sellers. Worthwhile a visit.

Shwedaung's Telephone Switchboard

Don?t miss a visit to the elaborated telephone?s exchange of the village, where things are done as they used to at the beginning of the century.