Exploring the diverse religions in downtown Yangon provides insight into the rich tapestry of cultures in Myanmar and unveils a side of the city rarely explored. These beautiful buildings reflect the mix of religions in this city. Yangon has Buddhist pagodas, including the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda; Moslem mosques, Sunni and Shia; Hindu temples; Baptist, Methodist and Catholic churches, as well as the little known Kheng Hock Keong Chinese Temple, and the newly refurbished Moseah Yeshua Synagogue. We recommend to visit early in the morning when the markets are at their most vibrant and the temperatures are cooler. Hindu temples are closed from 11am-3pm. Walk the streets and enjoy!
Sri Kalima Hindu Temple
The temple was built in 1871 by Tamil immigrants. Here, the Hindu goddess Kali is worshipped. Traditionally depicted in black, she is the fierce aspect of Durga, and at the centre, or shrine, of this mandir. The temple underwent major restoration work during 2011-2012. Statues and paintings of Hindu deities adorn its colourful exterior, especially its roof. Burma’s Tamil community is believed to have numbered more than 200,000 before the Second World War, although it has since decreased substantially. Arrive before 10.30am or after 3.00pm. On Friday mornings free meals are provided for devotees and visitors.
Address: 295 Kone Zay Tan Street (Upper Block off Anawratha Road), Latha Township, Yangon
Mesmeah Yeshua Synagogue
Built between 1893 and 1896, the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue on 26th Street today serves the remaining 20 or so Jewish citizens of Yangon. It once was the spiritual center of the mainly Sephardic Jewish community from Baghdad; approximately 2,000 Jews fled Ottoman and Iraqi persecution and settled in colonial Rangoon. Many of them rose to prominence as businessmen (e.g. Isaac Sofaer, who built the Sofaer’s Building department store in Kyauktada), while others served as magistrates, municipal councillors and commissioners. About half of the community left in the wake of the Japanese invasion in 1941, with 1,000 Rangoon Jews settling in Calcutta alone. Arrive before noon as the place is closed in the afternoon. Make a special request to see the two remaining tora in Mynamar.
Address: No. 85, 26th Street, Latha Township, Yangon
Mughal Shia Mosque
On 30th Street in Pabedan township stands Yangon’s main Shiite mosque, Mogul Shia Mosque. It dates back to the mid-nineteenth century, when in 1854, Indo-Persian merchant families built a house of worship here. The current structure was built in 1914 and remains largely intact in its original form today. Female Shia muslims have special day of prayer on the day of Ashura, which is a national holiday held on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar.There are approximately 20,000 Shia muslims in Myanmar. Shia mosques allow entry to both male and female visitors if appropriately dressed. The building contains one of the few architectural domes still standing in Yangon.
Address: No. 91, 30th Street, Latha Township, Yangon
Sunni Jamah Bengali Mosque
On Sule Pagoda Road, this is one of Yangon’s largest mosques and popular with Muslim travellers due to its central location. The mosque was founded by immigrants from East Bengal, today’s Bangladesh, in the nineteenth century. An attached madrasa used to offer a 4-year course in religion, Arabic and other languages. The mosque is built in classical South Asian style, with its facade covered with colourful tiles and its minarets overlooking the central roundabout next to the Sule Pagoda. Many of Yangon’s mosques are in rather good shape and as active places of worship have frequently been renovated.
Address: 93 Sule Pagoda Road, Kyauktada Township, Yangon
Holy Trinity (Anglican) Cathedral
The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the main Anglican church in Yangon. Although work on the redbrick structure began in 1886, it took a long nine years to get it finished as funds were chronically limited. The church was designed by Madras-based architect Robert Chisholm, famous for building in Indo-Saracenic style. And although this church would not look out of place in England, adaptations to the Burmese climate include the roofed entrance area underneath the tower, intended to shelter worshippers from the torrential rains. The building was used as a beer brewery in World War 2 by Japanese troops.
Address: 446 Bogyoke Aung San Road, Latha Township, Yangon
Jain Temple
Jainism is one of India’s smallest but oldest religions. While during the British rule as many as 10,000 Jain lived in Rangoon, most left the country after the Ne Win coup of 1962. Today, Myanmar as a whole is estimated to be home to about 2000 Jain. We don’t know whether this temple on 29th Street is the one inaugurated in 1956.
Address: No. 76-78, 29th Street, Latha Township, Yangon
St Mary’s Cathedral
The Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin is Yangon’s main Roman Catholic church. Its signature neo-Gothic style is reminiscent of similar cathedrals built around the same time in northern Europe. It is perhaps the interior where St Mary sets itself apart most from its European peers though. The colourful bricks together with the stained glass windows give the church a more lively feel than its often sombre contemporaries. Architecture: The cornerstone was laid in 1899, and the church was consecrated twelve years later, in 1911. Make sure you look at the beautiful plaster friezes of the ‘Stations of the Cross’ brough by ship all the way from Paris.
Address: 372 Bo Aung Kyaw Road, Botataung Township, Yangon
Botataung Pagoda
Botataung Pagoda was almost completely destroyed in a British Allied bombing raid in 1943. During the clearance work five years later, several sacred artefacts were discovered, which, amazingly, appeared to corroborate the ancient legends. Botataung Pagoda was rebuilt in its original shape and at a height of 131 feet, covering a square of 96 by 96 feet. Untypical of a pagoda of its kind, however, its main stupa was left hollow, made possible by the extensive use of reinforced concrete. A walkway leads through several of the inside chambers, including one entirely clad in gold. It is here that the Buddha’s relics are kept.
Address: Strand Road, Botataung Township, Yangon
All entries above courtesy of Yangon Architecture [http://yangonarchitecture.tumblr.com]. If you’d like to buy the book you can purchase at The Rough Cut bar and selected Yangon book stores.
Immanuel Baptist Church
Immanuel Baptist Church is located in the center of Yangon just next to the Mahabandoola Garden near city hall. Founded in 1885 but destroyed during the World War II; the present Church was rebuilt in 1952The church is one of the oldest Baptist churches in Yangon. There are wonderful celbratory service held here on Sunday in a number of ethnic languages, complete with their own band and choir.
Address: 411 Maha Bandula Garden Street (and Maha Bandula Road), Kyauktada Township, Yangon
Kheng Hock Keong Temple
Located on the corner of Sintodan St and Strand Rd in Latha Township is the largest and oldest Chinese folk religion’s temple dedicated to the goddess Mazu in Yangon. It was originally built as a wooden temple in 1861 and completed in 1863. A new brick building was completed in 1903, costing over 153,000 rupees. Kheng Hock Keong is maintained by a Hokkien Chinese clan association. The temple attracts mostly Hokkien and Hakka worshipers, while the other temple in Latha Township, called the Guanyin Gumiao Temple, attracts Cantonese worshipers.
Address: 426-432 Strand Road (Corner of Sinodhan Road), Latha Township, Yangon
Guanyin Gumiao Temple
Also known as the Guangdong Guanyin Temple it is one of two major Chinese temples located within Latha Township in Yangon’s Chinatown. It was founded by the Cantonese community of Yangon in 1823, but was destroyed by a fire in December 1855, and subsequently rebuilt in 1864, with two additional brick buildings to the side built in 1872. The temple is located on Maha Bandula Road and is dedicated to Guanyin.
Address: 668 Maha Bandula Road (Corner of Latha Road), Latha Township, Yangon
Shwedagon Pagoda
Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. These relics include the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, and eight strands of hair from the head of Gautama. Historians and archaeologists maintain that the pagoda was built by the Mon people between the 6th and 10th centuries. However, according to legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2,600 years ago, making it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. Make sure you visit at sunset with the setting sun striking the gold lining, its truly a beautiful sight. Entrance fee is US$8 for foreigners.
Address: Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Dagon Township, Yangon
Sule Pagoda
Located in the heart of downtown Yangon, occupying the centre of the city and an important space in contemporary Burmese politics, ideology and geography. According to legend, it was built before the Shwedagon Pagoda during the time of the Buddha, making it more than 2,500 years old. Burmese legend states that the site for the Shwedagon Pagoda was asked to be revealed from an old nat who resided at the place where the Sule Pagoda now stands. The Sule Pagoda has been the focal point of both Yangon and Burmese politics. It has served as a rallying point in both the 1988 uprisings and 2007 Saffron Revolution. Entrance fee is US$2 for foreigners.
Address: Sule Pagoda Road, Kyauktada Township, Yangon
All entries above courtesy of Wikipedia.
