Move aside, Leaning Tower of Pisa. You’ve got a gravity defying structure to contend with. Meet the Golden Rock (also known as the Kyaikhto Pagoda), one of Myanmar’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Rub your eyes as many times as you wish, but that boulder is sitting on the edge of the cliff and has been staying there for centuries. And to top it all off (no pun intended), there is a little pagoda on top of it!

Let’s talk history a little bit. Legend has it that underneath the boulder is a strand of the Buddha’s hair. Why? Well the Buddha himself gave it to a hermit who in turn gave it over to the King, hoping that it be safe and sealed inside a boulder shaped like, yes, you guessed it, the hermit’s head! The King, with his supernatural powers found the mentioned rock at the bottom of the sea. And the rest is history.

They say that strand of hair is what balances the rock on the edge of the cliff. That is surely one powerful piece of hair! You’ll also notice the boulder itself is gold. That’s because people have been posting golden leaves on to it, a type of offering and tradition that continues until today.  In addition, pilgrims from all over Burma offering fruits, food and incense to the Buddha. During the March full moon (on a festival known as Tabaung) the area springs even more into life with thousands of candles lighting up the area.

Exotissimo’s The Golden Rock tour takes you to this venerated site from Yangon, a ride approximately four and a half hours long. Along the way, you’ll get opportunities to encounter engaging, interesting and welcoming locals and to admire the beautiful Burmese surroundings. Your way back is interesting as well. You’ll stroll among the ruins of Bago, the ancient capital of a mysterious empire and home to a towering Mon pagoda. Finally, you’ll stop at the Allied War Cemetery, final resting place for over 27,000 allied soldiers, before your journey ends back in Yangon. See what else we got in our Myanmar tours page.

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