Bago On the way to Golden Rock by car, one can drop in and visit Bago, the capital city of Bago Division. Bago was once the capital city of the Second Myanmar Dynasty in the 16th Century.
In Bago, there are many famous monuments to visit;
1) Kyaik Pon Pagoda with four giant Buddhas sitting back to back,
2) Bago Shwetharlyaung Reclining Buddha,
3) Bago Market
4) Kyakhetwaing Monastery
5) Shwemawdaw Pagoda
6) Kanbawzathardi Palace
One can do excursion to those places on the way Golden Rock or Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda is situated in Mon State.
Golden Rock is about 4 hours driving distance from Yangon. When one has an extra day in Yangon, he can visit Golden Rock staying overnight there.
Firstly, the car will arrive at Kinpun Base Camp. From there, by either trekking for about 9 miles or sharing Open-truck, one can reach Golden Rock.
Among Myanmar people, the pagoda is known as Kyaikhiyo, called in Mon language and it means “Pagoda That Resembles to Hermit’s Head”.
The history says that the hermit who has carried the Buddha’s hair along on his head, before he died, has built the pagoda with the Buddha’s hair enshrined in the pagoda on the rock that has the shape of his head, and therefore it was called Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda. Many pilgrims visit Golden Rock apart from the tourists who come to see the mysterious location of the pagoda and the rock underneath.
It is believed by Myanmar Buddhists that the Rock can stay as it is for centuries due to the Buddha’s Hair Relic enshrined in it.