This 165ft white obelisk inside Mahabandoola Garden is surrounded by two concentric circles of chinthe (half-lion/half-dragon deities). Designed by Sithu U Tin, one of the architects of nearby City Hall, it was erected in 1948 replacing a statue of Queen Victoria.
Independence Monument
Yangon
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.85 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…
1.56 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…
2.65 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…
0.45 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…
2.53 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…
7.61 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…
1.56 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…
0.1 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…
Nearby Yangon attractions
0.05 MILES
A green breathing space in the heart of downtown Yangon, this park provides lovely views of surrounding heritage buildings, including City Hall, the High…
0.07 MILES
In late 2019, following a major heritage-restoration project overseen by the nonprofit Turquoise Mountain, this stately colonial building reopened. Much…
0.08 MILES
Lording it over the east side of Mahabandoola Garden, the 1911 Queen Anne–style former High Court with its bell clock tower and rooftop lion statues was…
0.09 MILES
One of Yangon's oldest Baptist churches, this one was originally built in 1830 though the present structure dates from 1885.
0.1 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…
0.11 MILES
This 1910 heritage building was once Rowe & Co department store, dubbed the 'Harrods of the East'. After independence it was used to house the Ministry of…
0.12 MILES
Looking like a giant vault, this monumental neoclassical structure was originally built in 1937 to house the Reserve Bank of India. In December 2015 it…
0.12 MILES
This colossal colonial building, which today houses the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), was constructed between 1925 and 1940. It's adorned with…