Botahtaung Pagoda

Botahtaung Pagoda stands on the bank of the Yangon River and ranks among Myanmar's most visited Buddhist shrines, with a claimed history stretching back over 2,500 years. Its name translates roughly as 'a thousand officers,' referring to the military honor guard said to have escorted sacred hair relics of the Buddha when they first arrived in the region. The original structure was completely destroyed by a British bomb in 1943; during reconstruction, workers unearthed ancient Buddha images and gold artifacts in the rubble, now displayed inside. What makes Botahtaung architecturally rare is its hollow stupa — visitors can walk through the interior, passing glass cases of relics and centuries of votive offerings. The site is wheelchair-accessible and remains an active place of worship alongside a popular destination for visitors to Yangon.