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Bago Travel

Bago was formerly known as Pegu. It is a city and the capital of Bago Region in Myanmar. It is located 80 km (about 50 miles) from Yangon. It has a population of 220,000. Being an ancient capital of Mon Kingdom in 15th century, you can enjoy the Bago sightseeing including ancient Buddha Images. Most sightseeing is Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha (55 metres long), Shwemawdaw Pagoda, and 28 meter high huge Buddha Image of Kyaikpun Pagoda with its four huge Buddha Images facing the cardinal points and the one interest place is Kanbawzathardi Palace.

Do you want to see the country’s highest golden pagoda? Or the Reclining Buddha 55 m in length and 16 m in height? Or Kyaukpun Pagoda’s four huge seated Buddhas – sitting back to back facing the four points of the compass? Would you like to follow the studies of Buddha’s teachings with the monks of Kyakhatwaing monastery? Or rather just stroll across and enjoy the extensive river market? Well, it is time to follow us to Bago. At a 2 hours´ drive from Yangon we visit the former capital of the Mon-People. We travel Myanmar’s only “freeway”. While returning, you will have the chance to visit the temple (home of the nats according to local lore) dedicated to the guardian of traveling where motorists offer flowers to pray for a safe journey. Bago, called Pegu by the British and once an important sea harbour (before it silted up), has been reborn!

Myatharlyaung Reclining Buddha Image

Bago Attractions

Other Information About Bago

History of Bago

According to legend, two Mon princess from Thaton founded Bago in 573 AD. They saw a female Hinthar (a kind of a bird like a goose) standing on the back of a male Hinthar on an island in a huge lake. Thinking that this was an auspicious omen, they built a city called Hanthawady (Pali Hamsavati) on the edge of the lake. The earliest mention of this city in history is by the Arab geographer Ibn Khudadhbin around 850 AD. At the time, the Mon capital had shifted to Thaton. The area came under rule of the Bamar from Bagan in 1056. After the collapse of Bagan to the Mongols in 1287, the Mon regained their independence. From 1369-1539, Hantharwaddy was the capital of the Mon Kingdom of Ramanadesa, which covered all of what is now lower Myanmar. The area came under Bamar control again in 1539, when it was annexed by King Tabinshwethi to his Kingdom of Taungoo. The kings of Taungoo made Bago their royal capital from 1539-1599 and again in 1613-1634, and used it as a base for repeated invasions of Siam. As a major seaport, the city was frequently visited by Europeans, who commented on its magnificence. The Burmese capital relocated to Inwa in 1634. In 1740, the Mon revolted and briefly regained their independence, but Burmese King Alaungpaya sacked and completely destroyed the city (along with Mon independence) in 1757. Bago was rebuilt by King Bodawpaya (1782-1819), but by then the river had shifted course, cutting the city off from the sea.