Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple

• Location: Shwe Gon Daing Road, Yangon (Rangoon)
• Recommended reason: The largest reclining Buddha in the world
• Opening hours: 6:00-20:00
• Entrance fee: Free (Generally, you need to donate $5 when you enter the temple.)

Located in Yangon of Myanmar, Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple  is located in the northern part of Yangon. It is close to some must-see attractions in Yangon. It is about 1.5km from Karaweik Palace and 1.7km from Shwedagon Pagoda. The reason why Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple is famous among tourists is mainly because there is a reclining Buddha about 70 meters long in the temple. The scene is spectacular. It has been said in the folks in Myanmar that if you don’t plan to visit largest reclining Buddha of Myanmar in Bago, then you must not miss the reclining Buddha within Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple.

History of Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple

This Buddha statue was first built in 1907. It was originally an open-air sitting Buddha. However, it was blown up by the Japanese in the Second World War. It was changed to the current white big reclining Buddha when it was rebuilt in 1953. It is more than 20 meters long and is more than 5 meters high. It is quite spectacular. The eyes of reclining Buddha, made of glass, were completed by a Chinese painter, which has a historical significance. The reclining Buddha looks very laid-back, kind and open-minded. Looking at the eyes of the reclining Buddha, you will have a feeling of wanting to communicate with the reclining Buddha.

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple Facts

Nowadays, the reclining Buddha in Chaukhtatgyi Temple is famous all over the world. The reclining Buddha of the temple is no longer an open-air reclining Buddha, but an indoor reclining Buddha. Thing to cover the reclining Buddha is not a temple, but a roof made of iron. There is no walls surrounding reclining Buddha. One foot of the Buddha is behind another. The head of the Buddha is on the hand. The eyes of the Buddha are looking at the devout believers who are lying on the ground. It is said that this is the state of rest of the Buddha.

On the bottom plate of feet of the reclining Buddha, there are 108 grids. The patterns of each grid represent an image of 6 reincarnations. These 108 grids contain 59 human world, 21 animal world and 28 god’s world, which represent 108 reincarnations of people. In addition, there is an English comment next to the grid, which explains in detail the meaning of the 6 reincarnations represented by each grid. In the temple, the position of pagoda is supreme.

How to get to Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple?

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple is close to Shwedagon Pagoda, you can walk to the temple form Shwedagon Pagoda.