491-501 Merchant St

Yangon

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Around 250 workers were trained in new skills for the sensitive restoration in 2016 of this two-storey colonial-era building, home to 80 residents from 12 families spanning the city's multi-ethnic and religious population. Overseen by nonprofit NGO Turquoise Mountain, it is a model for how other similar building restorations could be managed in Yangon.

The video Under One Roof about the project can be viewed at www.vimeo.com/171511836. The building now houses a variety of businesses including a guesthouse and a couple of bars.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • The reflection of Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar

    Shwedagon Paya

    2.06 MILES

    One of Buddhism's most sacred sites, the 326ft zedi (stupa) here is adorned with 27 metric tons of gold leaf, along with thousands of diamonds and other…

  • The statue of Statue of King Anawratha and the exterior of National Museum of Myanmar.

    National Museum (Yangon)

    1.83 MILES

    Even though the museum's collection is poorly labelled and often badly lit, the treasures that lie within this cavernous building deserve a viewing. The…

  • Chaukhtatgyi Paya, reclining Buddha in Yangon, Myanmar.

    Chaukhtatgyi Paya

    2.74 MILES

    Housed in a large metal-roofed shed, this beautiful 215ft-long reclining buddha is larger than a similar and better-known image in Bago. The statue's…

  • Secretariat

    Secretariat

    0.3 MILES

    After many years of being off limits, this spectacular red-brick complex, which takes up a 16-acre block and was once the British seat of government for…

  • The Budda sculpture in Ngahtatgyi Paya, Yangon, Myanmar.

    Ngahtatgyi Paya

    2.62 MILES

    One of Yangon's, if not Myanmar's, most gorgeous buddha images is this 46ft-tall one at the Ngahtatgyi Paya, sitting in calm gold-and-white repose and…

  • Meilamu Paya

    Meilamu Paya

    7.72 MILES

    Situated next to the Nga Moe Yeik creek, this Disneyland-ish pagoda is a hoot. Larger-than-life 3D stucco depictions of the Buddha's life and practice…

  • Myanmar, Burma, Yangon, Rangoon, Kandawgyi Lake, Shwedagon Pagoda

    Kandawgyi Lake

    1.62 MILES

    Also known as Royal Lake, this artificial lake built by the British as a reservoir is most attractive at sunset, when the glittering Shwedagon Paya is…

  • Sule pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar.

    Sule Paya

    0.37 MILES

    Not many cities have a primary traffic circle occupied by a 2200-year-old golden temple. This 46m zedi (stupa), said to be older than Shwedagon Paya, is…

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Nearby Yangon attractions

2. Sofaer's Building

0.12 MILES

In desperate need of love and attention, this crumbling Italianate building, constructed by the Jewish-Baghdadi trader Isaac A Sofaer, still has original…

3. Inland Waterways Department

0.14 MILES

This building was once the headquarters of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company and has weathered the passage of time well. Cross the road to admire its upper…

4. Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank

0.16 MILES

This 1930s building designed by Thomas Oliphant Forster and Basil Ward is one of Pansodan St's grandest buildings. It originally housed the National Bank…

5. Yangon Heritage Trust

0.17 MILES

The small gallery of historic photographs here gives an idea of how downtown Yangon used to look. There's a great view of lower Pansodan St's grand…

6. Myanmar Deitta

0.19 MILES

From the Pali word for 'in front of one's eyes', Deitta is a nonprofit working with local and international documentary photographers, filmmakers and…

7. Myanma Port Authority

0.2 MILES

This grand building is a landmark on the Strand with its striking square corner tower and bas-relief sculptures of ships on the facade. For a brief time…

8. Yangon Divisional Court

0.21 MILES

This ailing, pastel-coloured building is one of the oldest masonry structures in Yangon, dating from around 1900. Its original use was as the Currency…