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The Golden Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon, Myanmar
The pride of Myanmar's capital Yangon is naturally a Buddhist temple, the Shwedagon Pagoda with a golden dome. Built 2,500 years ago, the surface of the 98-meter-high pagoda is covered with pure gold, and at its top there are 5,448 diamond and 2,317 rubies, which glitter brightly in the sunlight from dawn till dusk. The Shwedagon can be said to be one of the world's miracles and the legend goes that two merchant brothers met Buddha 2,500 years ago and built the pagoda using articles and eight hair strands from the Buddha.
The temple still receives contributions of gold from the believers and it is plated on the Shwedagon. Inside, there is also the Maha Gandha, a bell that weighs 23 tons. It is said the bell was placed back in the Shwedagon after the British tried to take it to Great Britain during colonial rule. Once the bell was transported on to a boat, the boat could not move but rather sank.
All young Burmese boys have to be Buddist monks during their youth so every day there is a spectacular monk ceremony at the Shwedagon.
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