One of the easiest ways for us to get away from the hustle and bustle of Yangon is to go to a small rural town called Thanlyin, across the river. The main destinations for the Thanlyin tour is some interesting religious sites as its outstanding Myanmar tourist attraction.
However, the main purpose of the tour is still the rural lifestyle of the village in Myanmar.
During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Thanlyin was the base of the notorious Portuguese explorer Filipe de Brito e Nicote. As a trade representative for the Rakhaing people, he had his own kingdom at Thanlyin. In many Myanmar blogsintroducing this place, there records that in 1599, his own troops invaded Bago, but in 1613 the Bamar encircled Thanlyin. De Brito received a consequence of those who destroyed Buddhist temples: the death penalty.
Thanlyin continued to serve as the main port and commercial center until this Myanmar site was destroyed by the Bamar king named Alaungpaya in 1756. Today, Thanlyin is a small industrial town and home to a large community of Hindus devotees.
Outstanding tourist attractions
Thanlyin is a very pleasant place with shady trees and bustling markets. But there are still ancient Myanmar highlights of the town that visitors can enjoy in their visit.
Taking a short bus ride out of the town, you will arrive at Kyaik-khauk Paya, which is comparable to a miniature of Shwedagon Pagoda. The ticket price for the entrance allowance is 1 US dollar. Here you will have great views toward the whole town thanks to the hilltop location of the Myanmar tourist attraction. It is said that the Buddha himself brought two of his hairpieces to keep there. The first monastery was built by the Monks between 600 and 800 years ago. Buses around Kyauktan can take you here. If you get down at Thanlyin Market, you can catch a motorbike taxi getting to this Myanmar town, which cost you around 1,000 Kyats.
Thanlyin was also the first place in Myanmar to receive missionaries and have churches. You can visit the church relics built by the Portuguese in 1750. They are famous for being Burma tourist attractions for a long time.
Yele Paya is about 12 km to the south of Thanlyin. It is a glittering temple which was built on the surface of water. Only by paying the ticket price of 2 US dollars, you will be allowed to get inside and take a glimpse round this famous and beautiful Myanmar tourist site. Here you can feed the fish around the edges of the temple and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere that can hardly be felt in crowded central cities. To get to the temple and start your own adventure in Myanmar, you will need to take a ferry (5000K for the whole journey in and out).
In the third week of January, the Hindu devotees at Thanlyin will commemorate (or endure, depending on your perspective) the Thaipusam ceremony, the penitential ritual. You can feel free to watch this because it is an interesting experience for tourists in this Myanmar tourist attraction. Participants will repent of their wrongdoings by stabbing hooks and nails through their bodies and walking across hot coal.
About accommodation in Thanlyin
Foreigners do not need a residence permit at Thanlyin.
For dining, you can go to Pwint, a popular eating place for tourists with reasonable price. For a whole set of meal, you need to pay only around 2000K to 6000K, not much for a Myanmar trip cost. They will be ready to serve you both lunch and dinner. This place claims to be a high-class restaurant in Myanmar, located about 1.5 km from the Thanlyin Market.
Shwe Pu Zun is also a great Burma attraction, suggested for visitors to Thanlyin, Myanmar. Here you can enjoy wonderful cream cakes made by unique recipes of the inhabitants. There will be many memorable moments if you spend your own trip in this place.
Of course, there must be more to care about when deciding to go on a trip to any tourist destination in Myanmar. However, if you just want to enjoy something else, unique, cultural and friendly, who not consider Thanlyin? It is a wonderful Myanmar tourist attraction for you in a short holiday trip to the beautiful country of Buddhism.
