Dawei dotted with famous historical pagodas can be accessible by all means of transportation
Among many places I have been, the most unforgettable one is Dawei which is in southern Myanmar.
I went there last April during Myanmar New Year’s holiday.
Before deciding to go on a vacation, I discussed with my family about where we should go and what kind of general knowledge could we gain from our vacation.
After consulting, we decided to go on a pilgrimage tour to Shin Koe Shin (Shin 9 Shin) pagodas in Dawei.
Dawei, a town formerly known as Tavoy is in the south-eastern part of the country in Tanintharyi Region, formerly known as Tenasserim Division which is about 614.3 km (381.7 mi) south of Yangon. To go to Dawei, visitors have to pass through towns which are Bago, Kyaikto, Mawlamyine, Mudon and Ye and finally arriving in Dawei.
Dawei is the capital of Tanintharyi Region which covers an area of 2636.14 square miles and produces rice, rubber, teakwood, cashew nuts, betel nuts, oil-palm and fruits such as pineapples, a variety of mangoes, mangosteens, and durian.
We first visited Su Taung Pyae Santaw Shin Pagoda which is one of Dawei’s historic Shin Koe Shin pagodas at the top of the hill in Kaleinaung Sub Township near the entry of Dawei. We climbed to the top by car and enjoyed the beauty of the scenery of the countryside before paying homage to a sacred relic of the tooth of the Lord Buddha.
While having tea at a shop near the pagoda, I had a chat with the owner who was a local and asked him about the history of Shin Koe Shin pagodas.
“This year, the number of pilgrims visiting Shin Koe Shin is very high. Everyday there are many tour buses and private cars full of pilgrims who visit this place. So our locals’ businesses have become better,” he said.
According to him, Shin Koe Shin pagodas can be divided into three categories which are mountain pagodas, forest pagodas and town pagodas. Three mountain pagodas are - Shin Sandaw Pagoda (Kaleinaung Su Taung Pyae Pagoda), Shin Myaw Taung Pagoda and Shin Taung Pone Pagoda. The three forest pagodas are Shin Ded We Pagoda, Shin Za Lun Pagoda and Shin Tauk Htein Pagoda and the third is three town pagodas which are Shin Pin Kayu Pagoda, Shin Ote Aou Pagoda and Shin Monti Pagoda.
Due to time constraint, we were able to visit only one Shin Pagoda. However, it we stayed for two nights in Dawei we would have been able to visit all the Pagodas.
As a second place, we went to Shin Ded We Pagoda at Maung Mae Shaung village about 7 miles from Dawei - Yayphyu road at the north of Dawei. There is a sitting Buddha image near Shin Ded We Pagoda. After visiting Shin Ded We Pagoda, we continued our journey to Shin Taung Pone Pagoda which is near the downtown area of Thayet Chaung in Dawei district. The mountain where the pagoda is situated is more than 2000 feet tall.
Even though the mountain was steep, we could reach the top by car or motorcycle where the pagoda was situated. From the peak of the mountain, I could see the zigzag mountain path and natural beauty of the countryside. Then we continued to Shin Monti Pagoda at Shin Monti village by the Dawei-Myeik highway.
To end our pilgrimage tour to Shin Koe Shin pagodas, we continued to the last one which is Shin Zalun Pagoda. Shin Zalun Pagoda is located at Myohaung Thar Gara in Laung Long Township. Distinctive thing is the floral pattern adorned around upper part of the bell-shaped pagoda. It is deemed as an ancient architecture which is in contemporary with Pyu era. At the foot of this pagoda, there is an ample parking space and shops selling locally-produced fruits and snacks.
After returning from Shin Zalun Pagoda, we also visited the famous Maungmagan beach which was our last visit in Dawei. After we said goodbye to Dawei, we passed Ma Lwel Mountain and reached Ye. Our pilgrimage tour also included Setse Beach, Kyitekami Yay Lal Pagoda, Win Sein Taw Ya and other pagodas in Mawlamyine. After we visited Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Kyaikto, our tour ended and returned to Yangon.
No comments:
Post a Comment