Gps Coordinates / 17.4815694,97.0983562
Golden Rock Pilgrimage Temple Myanmar Burma Photosphere Locations
F3JX+J8H Ka Dai Dutt, Myanmar (Burma)
Yaiktiyo Pagoda also known as Golden Rock) is a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State, Burma. It is a small pagoda (24 ft) built on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold leaves pasted on by its male devotees.
Gps Coordinates / 17.4819455,97.0980601
In the Mon language, the word 'kyaik' means "pagoda" and 'yo' means "to carry on the hermit's head". The word 'ithi' in Mon from Pali, risi means "hermit". Thus, 'Kyaik-htiyo' means "pagoda upon a hermit's head".
Link Location Gps / Gps Link 17.48148 / Gps Link 17.4814243 / Gps Link 17.481312
Gps Coordinates / 17.48148,97.0981417 / 17.4814243,97.0983276 / 17.481312,97.0983879
The paved mountain track, built in 1999, from the bus terminal at Yatetaung, is along a dusty section with kiosks on both sides and the climb of 0.75 miles up to the Golden Rock is stiff and takes about one hour to reach. From the base camp at Kinpun, the hiking trek to the pagoda is about 6.8 miles and many devotees do this trek as part of the pilgrimage rites. There are also many temples and pagodas, which have been built recently on other hills in the vicinity of the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda that are visited by pilgrims and tourists by trekking along foot tracks.
Link Location Gps / Gps Link -10.4650225 / Gps Link 17.4817482 / Gps Link 17.4817661
Gps Coordinates / 17.481305,97.0983833 / 17.4817482,97.09826 / 17.4817661,97.0982419
The boulder, which gleams golden and is popularly known as the Golden Rock, and on which the small Kyaiktiyo Pagoda has been built, is about 25 feet in height and has a circumference of 50 feet. The Pagoda above the rock is about 24 ft in height. The boulder sits on a natural rock platform that appears to have been naturally formed to act as the base to build the pagoda. This granite boulder lies on an inclined plane and the area of contact is extremely small.
Link Location Gps / Gps Link 17.4817258 / Gps Link 17.4818916
Gps Coordinates / 17.4817258,97.0982633 / 17.4818916,97.0986023
The golden rock or boulder and the rock table on which it is resting are independent of each other; the golden rock has an overhang of half its length and is perched at the extreme end of the sloping surface of the rock. There is a sheer vertical drop in the rock face, into the valley below. A lotus shape is painted in gold leaf, encircling the base of the rock. It appears as though the boulder will crash down at any moment. A staircase leads to the pagoda complex that houses several viewing platforms, pagodas, Buddha shrines, and nats, spirits worshipped in Burma in conjunction with Buddhism shrines.
Gps Coordinates / 17.4817552,97.0980561
The Legend The legend associated with the pagoda is that the Buddha, on one of his many visits, gave a strand of his hair to Taik Tha, a hermit. The hermit, who had tucked it in the tuft of his hair safely, in turn gave the strand to the king, with the wish that the hair be enshrined in a boulder shaped like the hermit's head. The king had inherited supernatural powers from his father Zawgyi, a proficient alchemist), and his mother, a naga serpent dragon princess.
Link Gps Coordinates 17.4816126
Link Location Gps / 17.4816126,97.0981507
The pagoda is located near Kyaikto in Mon State in the northern part of the Tenasserim coast. The Golden Rock is situated at an elevation of 3,609 ft above mean sea level, on top of the Kyaiktiyo hill (also known as Kelasa hills or Eastern Yoma mountains) it is on the Paung-laung ridge of the Eastern Yoma mountains.
Link Gps Coordinates 17.4816618
Link Location Gps / 17.4816618,97.0981346
It is at a distance of 130 mi from Yangon and 460 ft north of Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State. The Kinpun village 9.9 miles is at the base of Mt. Kyaiktiyo. It is the closest to the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. From Kyaiktiyo, the foot trail or road starts for the Golden rock. On this approach, there are numerous granite boulders on the mountain, perched in precarious condition. Near the top of the mountain, there are two large lions guarding the entrance to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. From this location, known as Yatetaung (the last point for vehicular traffic), pilgrims and visitors have to climb to the Golden Rock barefoot, after leaving their footwear behind, as per Burmese custom.
Link Gps Coordinates 17.4819756
Link Location Gps / 17.4819756,97.0986252
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda or Golden Rock has become a popular pilgrimage and also tourist attraction. At the peak of the pilgrimage season, during November to March, an atmosphere of devotion is witnessed at Kyaikhtiyo pagoda. As the golden rock gleams in different shades from dawn to dusk, the sight at dawn and at sunset are unique. Pilgrims' chants reverberate in the precincts of the shrine.
Aerial View Of Golden Rock Temple
Aerial View Of The Trail Mountain Pilgrimage
Lighting of candles, meditation and offerings to the Buddha continues throughout the night. Men cross over a bridge across an abyss to affix golden leaves (square in shape) on the face of the Golden Rock, in deep veneration. However, women are not allowed to touch the rock so cannot cross the bridge. Pilgrims visit the pagoda, from all regions of Myanmar; a few foreign tourists also visit the pagoda. Even disabled persons who are staunch devotees of Buddha visit the pagoda, walking up the track on crutches. Old people, who can not climb, are carried on stretchers by porters to the Pagoda to offer prayers to Buddha. The Full Moon day of Tabaung in March, is a special occasion for pilgrims who visit the shrine. On this day, the platform of the pagoda is lit with ninety thousand candles as a reverential offering to the Buddha. The devotees visiting the pagoda also offer fruits, food and incense to the Buddha.
