Religious Building · Yangon, Myanmar
Shwedagon Pagoda
The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw, and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, Kyaik Dagon is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar.
Photo: kallerna via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Yangon, Myanmar |
|---|---|
| Type | Religious Building |
| Architect | Hsinbyushin |
| Height | Height: 112 m |
| Coordinates | 16.7984° N, 96.1497° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Shwedagon Pagoda is known for
The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw, and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, Kyaik Dagon is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar.
About Shwedagon Pagoda
The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw, and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, Kyaik Dagon is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar. The Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. These relics include the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, and eight strands of hair from the head of Gautama.
History
Legend holds that the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2,500 years ago — while the Buddha was still alive — which would make it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. According to the Buddhavaṃsa, two merchants from Ukkalājanapada named Tapussa and Bhallika were passing through Bodh Gaya when they encountered the Buddha. The Buddha, who was at that time enjoying the bliss of his newly attained Buddhahood as he sat under a rājāyatana tree, accepted their offering of rice cake and honey and taught them some of the dharma in return.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Shwedagon Pagoda website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Yangon |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Yangon International Airport (RGN) |
| Distance from the airport | 7.1 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Yangon International Airport (RGN) · Yangon, Myanmar · 7.6 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Myanmar
More religious buildings
Frequently asked questions
What is Shwedagon Pagoda?
The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw, and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, Kyaik Dagon is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar.
Where is Shwedagon Pagoda located?
Shwedagon Pagoda is in Yangon, Myanmar. Its coordinates are 16.7984° N, 96.1497° E.
How do I get to Shwedagon Pagoda?
The nearest town is Yangon, and the nearest airport is Yangon International Airport (RGN), about 7.1 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Shwedagon Pagoda?
Legend holds that the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed more than 2,500 years ago — while the Buddha was still alive — which would make it the oldest Buddhist stupa in the world. According to the Buddhavaṃsa, two merchants from Ukkalājanapada named Tapussa and Bhallika were passing through Bodh Gaya when they encountered the Buddha.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shwedagon_Pagoda — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q464535 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.shwedagonpagoda.com.mm/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.