Myanmar is known for its Buddhist temples and the Chauk-htat-gyi Buddha Temple is one of them. It houses a huge 65-meter reclining Buddha. This is one of the best places to visit in Myanmar especially if you’re on a tour of the country’s temples. Even if you’ve seen many reclining Buddhas, the relaxed pose and peaceful expression of this image are extremely calming.
The very impressive 65 meters long and 16 meters high Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha image is wearing a golden robe; the right arm of the Buddha is supporting the back of the head. The Reclining Buddha image is decorated with very expressive colors, white face, red lips, blue eye shadow, golden robe and red finger nails.
The soles of the feet contain 108 segments in red and gold colors that show images representing the 108 lakshanas or auspicious characteristics of the Buddha.
Buddhist people pay their respect to the Reclining Buddha burning incense sticks and offering flowers. Around the Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha image is a number of shrines, one for each of the eight days of the week in Asian astrology (Wednesday is split in two days). Local people pray to the shrine belonging to the day of their birth.
The pagoda is located in the Tamwe township of central Yangon on Shwe Gon Taing street, about 3 kilometers North East of the Shwedagon pagoda. A taxi from downtown Yangon to the pagoda. The Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda opens daily from 6 am until 8 pm. Entrance fee is US$ 5 (price may change) per person. The entrance fee is used for the upkeep of the temple grounds and the Reclining Buddha image as well as for the education of local monks of the Ashay Tawya monastery.
