Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda is Home to a 66-Meter Long Reclining Buddha

Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda in Yangon is home to a 66-meter-long reclining Buddha. It’s a massive structure of its kind – the largest one I’ve seen in Myanmar and Southeast Asia. It is worth noting that this statue was built entirely from donations.

The temple doesn’t really look like a conventional Buddhist temple. It doesn’t even resemble a pagoda. Without the sacred statue, it looks like an enormous shed or warehouse.

As soon as you enter, the gigantic face of Buddha greets you.

The statue is 16 meters high, so you have to look up to admire the shiny figure.

Buddha’s right arm supports his head.

If you notice, the reclining Buddha is embellished with bold, captivating colors! His face and body are super white. His lips are red, and his eye shadows are blue.

The golden robe covers his body.

And his fingernails are painted red.

And the soles of his feet are red and embellished with 108 sections with images representing the propitious attributes of the Holy Deity.

Don’t forget to read the descriptions on display if you want to know the meaning of these symbols.

As you walk around, you will also find a mural showing Buddha’s life.

There are also interesting displays of cultural symbols.

At the back of the statue, you will see more tiny statues. The good thing is that they have descriptions that you can read.

Surrounding the reclining statue are a number of small shrines. Each chapel is named after the days of the week. I was told that devotees go to the shrine based on the day they were born.

Below the huge statue is a space for worship and a makeshift altar where devotees can leave their offerings.

There are monasteries surrounding the pagoda. If you have time to go around, you might be able to see monks studying Buddhist scriptures.

Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda is open daily from 6:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening.

Related Post: All the Things I did in Yangon

Cheap Stay in Old Yangon

I stayed in two places: a hotel and a hostel. Hotel G Yangon has views of the city you’ll love if you book the right room! It’s close to Sule Pagoda, a downtown market, and a train station. Backpacker Bed and Breakfast is your budget-friendly hostel near Sule Pagoda in the old district. Their rooftop is a good place to chill in the afternoon and eat breakfast.