iSee Sule Pagoda

Sule pagoda is the undisputed landmark of downtown Yangon. It is said to be over 2,500 years old, older than the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. In fact, legend has it that it was at Sule Pagoda where King Ukkalapa held meetings with well-wishers to build Shwedagon. All Yangon’s town planners since have respected the pagoda’s beauty, strategic location and religious significance. It is the symbolic heart of the historic city and has always been focal point of important political events in Myanmar history, like the 2007 Saffron Revolution.

Around Sule you’ll find the typical small service providers like astrologists and palmists and it’s also the best place in town to have a key replaced or a passport photo taken. ”It’s a good place to do business, always busy and with good karma” says horologist Ko Aung who runs a watch repair shop at the base of Sule.

When you go in, the idea is that you walk along the circular path, stop at your birthday Buddha (day of the week you were born) and pay respect with offerings of flowers, fruits and gold leaves, which can conveniently all be bought from the shops on the ground level.