Kyaiktiyo Golden Rock
★ 4.7🇲🇲 KyaiktiyoSuggested visit 1 dayBest season November to February, dry and clear
Religious siteNatural wonderPilgrimage
A gold-covered boulder balanced on the edge of a cliff, apparently about to fall yet stable for centuries.
Overview
About 160 kilometres north-east of Yangon on Mount Kyaiktiyo, a boulder roughly 7.6 metres high is covered in gold leaf and balances on the very edge of a cliff on a tiny contact point. Tradition holds that a hair of the Buddha keeps it from falling. Open trucks climb the steep road, with a walk at the end. Early morning and dusk, when cloud fills the valleys, are the most dramatic.
History
Legend holds that a hair of the Buddha keeps the rock in place, pilgrimage has continued for centuries, and it is now among the most important sites in Myanmar.
Highlights
- •The gold boulder on the cliff edge
- •Morning cloud seas
- •Pilgrims applying gold leaf
- •The hilltop shrine and views
Practical tips
- •The truck ride up is rough — hold on
- •Remove shoes at the rock and dress modestly
Practical information
- Best time
- November-February
- Tickets
- About MMK 10,000 for foreign visitors
- Opening hours
- Open all day; trucks roughly 5:00-18:00
- Local food
- Mohinga, Shan noodles, palm sugar
- Getting around
- About four hours by road from Yangon to the base, then the truck.
- Visa
- A visa is required and an e-visa is available; confirm the latest entry rules in advance.
Traveller reviews
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