Shwesandaw Pagoda & Sunrise Viewpoints
ရွှေဆံတော်ဘုရား
A stepped white pagoda built by King Anawrahta, surrounded by classic viewpoints for sunrise and sunset over the temple plain and for hot-air balloon flights.
Shwesandaw Pagoda was built around 1057, after King Anawrahta conquered Thaton, and is said to enshrine a strand of the Buddha's hair relics. A five-tiered stepped base supports a bell-shaped stupa, which was once the most popular spot for tourists to climb for sunrise and sunset. To protect the monuments and ensure safety, authorities have banned climbing most pagodas since around 2018, and Shwesandaw is no longer open for climbing (check on-site rules). Alternatives include several man-made viewing mounds and observation platforms built by the authorities on the plain. Early in the morning, take an e-bike to nearby viewpoints to see the pagoda clusters in morning mist alongside hot-air balloons. Hot-air balloon flights (roughly several hundred US dollars per person) were suspended for a long time due to the pandemic and the political situation. Check with the operator in advance whether flights are running, and confirm insurance and safety records. Before dawn, ride carefully given road conditions and stray dogs, and bring a headlamp.
Opening hours
All day (climbing the stupa is not allowed)
Nearby sights
- Thatbyinnyu Temple
- Nathlaung Kyaung Temple
- Dhammayangyi Temple
- Ananda Temple
- Pahtothamya Temple
- Shwegugyi Temple
- Gubyaukgyi Temple & Myazedi Inscription (Myinkaba)
- Tharabha Gate