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Divine space. Photo by Abdelrahman Ismail

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Sule Pagoda

Sule Pagoda has become one of Yangon’s most popular tourist destinations due to its unique location at the intersection of Sule Pagoda Road and Mahabandoola Road in the city’s center.

The pagoda is located in the heart of the city, adjacent to historical and cultural sites, and is a significant political and religious focal point. Sule Pagoda has typical pagoda architecture, which can be found in some Asian countries, including Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia.

The Pagoda is 48 meters tall, with an octagonal bell shape, and it is surrounded by small temples, bronze bells, and a good collection of Buddha images.

Sule Pagoda was one of Myanmar’s oldest pagodas, dating back over 2500 years. The British used it as the grid town’s center. The pagoda was rebuilt in the 1880s.

According to Burmese legend, the Sule pagoda is located in the home of a powerful nat named Sularata and coincides with the location where the three Buddhas buried sacred relics million years ago.

Unfortunately, no one knew where they were except the Sule Nat, so people gathered around him and inquired about the location of those relics. After that, people decided to call this pagoda after him.

It is thought to house a hair of the Buddha. In Myanmar, the word “sule” means “meeting.” Sule Pagoda is said to be where King Ukkalapa held meetings to plan the construction of Shwedagon.

Because of its strategic location, many people agreed to keep Sule Pagoda as Yangon’s center.
Many small shops and non-religious services, such as astrologists and palmists, surround it.

It is surrounded by a plethora of small shops and non-religious services such as astrologists and palmists.

1.Yangon’s historic octagonal pagoda in the city center

The Sule Paya is a small pagoda in the heart of Yangon. The pagoda, known as the Kyaik Athok Zedi in Burmese, is surrounded by bustling streets, a market, and colonial-era structures such as the Supreme Court and Yangon City Hall.

According to legend, the pagoda was built around 2,500 years ago during the lifetime of Gautama Buddha. At the time, the pagoda was much smaller.

Later Kings renovated and expanded it several times. When it was renovated halfway through the 15th century, the paya reached its current height.

2.Sule Nat was the inspiration for the name

The Sule pagoda is named after Sularata, a Sule Nat (spirit) who lived on the site of the pagoda. According to legend, Sularata, a Nat millions of years old, discovered the location where the relics of the Buddha’s three reincarnations were to be buried, as well as the site where the Shwedagon pagoda was to be built some 2,500 years ago. Nat spirits have been worshiped in Burma for centuries, long before Buddhism arrived. The Sule is much less visited than the better known Shwedagon.

3.Golden octagonal pagoda

The Sule’s golden Mon-style pagoda is 44 meters tall. Its octagonal shape, which extends all the way up to the spire, is unusual in design. A hti, a multi-tiered ornamental element shaped like an umbrella, crowns the pagoda. The Sule Paya is highly revered because it houses a Buddha hair relic. A steady stream of Burmese devotees bring virtue and offerings.

4.Other buildings on the property

A circular structure surrounds the pagoda and houses small shops that provide services such as astrology and palmistry. The Sule grounds are accessible via four entrances topped with multi-tiered Pyatthat roofs. Buddhist devotees make merit by ringing bronze bells around the pagoda, which houses images of the Buddha.

5.Nat spirits and Hintha bird

Divine space. Photo by Abdelrahman Ismail

On the temple grounds, there are several depictions of the Hintha bird, Bago’s symbol. One of the mythological birds, with a miniature pagoda on its back, sits atop a lotus flower pole, while another, with a shrine on its back, hangs from a steel cable.

On the Sule grounds, there are several images of Nat spirits. For centuries, Burmese have worshiped Nat spirits, the most important of which reside on Mount Popa.

6.Directions to the Sule Pagoda

The pagoda is situated in the heart of Yangon, approximately halfway between the central railway station and the Yangon River. It is located in the center of a roundabout at the intersection of Sule and Maha Bandula roads.

7.The Sule Paya is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m

Divine space. Photo by Abdelrahman Ismail

Tourists’ shoes are placed on shelves near the pagoda’s entrance before entering the grounds.

8.How much are you expected to pay to enter the beautiful Sule Pagoda?

The entrance fee is US$ 3 per person. Foreign tourists are asked to make a donation ranging from 500 to 1,000 Kyat.

A guide can be hired to explain the backround of the pagoda as well as Buddhist beliefs and rituals. The rate ranges between $5 and $10, depending on bargaining efforts.

9.Sule Pagoda’s building development

Divine space. Photo by Abdelrahman Ismail

Sule Pagoda has pretty standard pagoda architecture, which can be found in Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. The Pagoda is popular for its octagonal bell shape, which is similar to the Mon (an ethnic group in Myanmar) style chedi.

It has a length of nearly 79 meters and a height of 44 meters. In fact, the bronze bells vary in size and age depending on when they were donated. People can remember their eicated by writing down their names and dedication dates.

10.Sule Pagoda and surrounding sights

While on a Yangon tour, visit Sule Pagoda to immerse yourself in the simple life and religious merits of the Burmese, as well as the magnificent Independence Pillar in Maha Bandoola Park and the Immanuel Church. Admire the colonial architecture of Myanmar’s High Court Buildings and City Hall.