KYAIKHTIYO

Kyaiktiyo

Kyaiktiyo

Kyaiktiyo

Kyaikhtiyo pagoda is located in the small town called Kyaikhto, in the Mon State. This destination is 160km away from Yangon. The pagoda is 1100km above sea-level. It is a 11 kilometer uphill climb for the hikers from Kinpun base camp. There is also a steep winding road for 4-wheel drive cars from the base to the nearest point of the pagodas. The pagoda is also known as “the golden rock”. The meaning of Kyaik Hti Yo : According to Mon tradition, the name is a corruption of Kyaiki-thi-yo being derived as follows. In Mon language the word “Kyaik” means ” pagoda” and ” yo” ” to carry on the hermits head”, in Pali the word” ithi” means a hermit and therefore the name means ” the pagoda carried on the hermit’s head.

Structure

The pagoda, about 18 feet high, and 50 feet in girth. is situated on the hill of the same name on the ridge between Sittaung and Thanlwin. It is built on a huge, almost egg- shaped, rounded granitoid boulder perched on the very summit of a projecting and shelving tabular rock, which in itself is separated several feet from the mountain by a rent or chasm, now spanned by a small foot bridge of iron and on the further side drops perpendicularly into a valley blow.

Measurements

One of the wonder of the world , Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock), known as the Golden Rock (built in 574 B.C ). It lies 229 km far from Yangon and built on a huge boulder which stands on the extreme edge of the cliff, 3625 ft ( 1095.45 m ) above sea level.

Some marvelous facts about the Golden rock are as follows :

• Volume of the Rock : 244.58 M3
• Density of the Rock : 2.5 Ton/M3
• Weight of the Rock : 611.5 Tons
• Height of the Rock : 8.15 m (26ft , 9 in)
• Kind of the Rock : Granite
• Contact area : 0.714 sq-m ( 7.69 sq-ft )
• Volume of the Stupa : 9.26 M3
• Density of the Stupa: 2.1 Ton/M3
• Weight of the Stupa: 19.45 Tons
• Height of the Stupa : 33ft , 2 in

History

It is said that the boulder has been over 2500 years. The tradition is that after the hermit had obtained the hair from the Buddha, he was carrying it on his head inside his hair knot till he found a boulder which resembled his head, and so he built the pagoda on its enshrining the relic, substituting the boulder for his over head.  

On the extreme verge of this sloping rock table, and actually over hanging it by nearly half, is perched this wonderful boulder (now completely gilded with gold), thirty feet high and surrounded by the pagoda. By gently rocking the boulder a thread can be passed underneath; seemingly appears as if the additional weight of a few pounds, or a strong wind, would send it sliding down from the place it has occupied for unknown centuries watching over three thousand feet into the sloping valley beneath and we know what freakish law keeps it in its position. Anyway pious Buddhists attribute it to the power of the relic enshrined in the pagoda.

This relic is a hair of Gotama Buddha given to a hermit residing on the mountain by the Buddha himself as he was returning from the second heaven of the Nats whither he had gone to preach the law to his mother. 

Attractions:   

Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda

Kyaikhtiyo pagoda is located in the small town called Kyaikhto, in the Mon State. This destination is 160km away from Yangon. The pagoda is 1100km above sea-level. It is a 11 kilometer uphill climb for the hikers from Kinpun base camp. There is also a steep winding road for 4-wheel drive cars from the base to the nearest point of the pagodas. The pagoda is also known as “the golden rock”.

The meaning of Kyaik Hti Yo : According to Mon tradition, the name is a corruption of Kyaik-ithi–yo being derived as follows. In Mon language the word “Kyaik” means ” pagoda” and ” yo” ” to carry on the hermits head”, in Pali the word” ithi” means a hermit and therefore the name means ” the pagoda carried on the hermit’s head.  

Structure The pagoda, about 18 feet high, and 50 feet in girth. is situated on the hill of the same name on the ridge between Sittaung and Thanlwin. It is built on a huge, almost egg- shaped, rounded granitoid boulder perched on the very summit of a projecting and shelving tabular rock, which in itself is separated several feet from the mountain by a rent or chasm, now spanned by a small foot bridge of iron and on the further side drops perpendicularly into a valley blow.

History

It is said that the boulder has been over 2500 years. The tradition is that after the hermit had obtained the hair from the Buddha, he was carrying it on his head inside his hair knot till he found a boulder which resembled his head, and so he built the pagoda on its enshrining the relic, substituting the boulder for his over head. On the extreme verge of this sloping rock table, and actually over hanging it by nearly half, is perched this wonderful boulder (now completely gilded with gold), thirty feet high and surrounded by the pagoda. By gently rocking the boulder a thread can be passed underneath; seemingly appears as if the additional weight of a few pounds, or a strong wind, would send it sliding down from the place it has occupied for unknown centuries watching over three thousand feet into the sloping valley beneath and we know what freakish law keeps it in its position. Anyway pious Buddhists attribute it to the power of the relic enshrined in the pagoda.

This relic is a hair of Gotama Buddha given to a hermit residing on the mountain by the Buddha himself as he was returning from the second heaven of the Nats whither he had gone to preach the law to his mother. Visitors can also go by car up to a point about a mile away from the Pagoda. Then take a walk for about 30 minutes to reach the pagoda’s terrace. It can take about 10 hours to go up from the base of the camp to the pagoda. You can feel the environment around, by trekking mountain to mountain. Some visitors who cannot walk for long can be carried up by bamboo carrier chairs.  

Festival

It is of considerable celebrity and attracts crowds of worshippers annually beginning from October to March which is the seasonal pilgrimage period for worshippers Especially on the full moon day of Tabaung, the platform of the pagoda is lighted with ninety thousand candles offered to the Buddha and thousands of worshippers gather around the pagoda offering fruits, foods incense to the Buddha. Sometimes reflected rays of color from the Buddha’s image were said to have been observed by the worshipers.  

Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary

This wild life sanctuary was established in 1998. It covers a total area of 180.05 Sq. km. It is situated in Tropical Rain forest type. Recorded birds are only 50 species, the others are not yet recorded. Highlight species that can be found are Great Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Blue-throated Barbet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Germain’s Swiftlet, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch , Black-headed Bulbul, Streak-eared Bulbul and Black-throated Laughing thrush. Other mammals such as : Goral, Gaur, Sambhur Deer, Bear and Monkey can also be seen. There are also about 50 species of butterflies. Trekking at Mt. Kyaikhtiyo can also be enjoyed. The distance is 1,102m. 

AROUND KYAIKHTIYO 

Kyaikhto

Kyaikhto is a town in Mon State. Kyaikhto is a small town and popular for its wish fulfil Golden Rock Pagoda. About 160 km from Yangon. This mystical Pagoda is about 18ft tall and is built on a huge boulder about 50ft in girth. This boulder is balancing precariously on the edge of 18ft high rock and separated from the mountain edge by a deep chasm over 1100M above sea level. It is indeed an overwhelming sight, how the boulder keeps its balance is beyond comprehension, but it was been there for 2500 years.

There is a steep road winding up from Kinpun base camp to Golden Rock about 13 miles by truck. There are only few Hotels with modern facilities for the visitors.

Interesting Places 

Kyaikpawlaw Hmeshindaw (Live-Mole) Image

It is situated in Gangaw Ward, Kyaikhto, Mon State. About 221 years after the Parinibbana of the Buddha, Sri Lankan King Dewanampiya Teiktha in consultation with Ashin Maheinda floated four statues each enshrining a hair relic with four barges made of teak, jackfruit, thingan and rock cartwheel. 

Maha Muni Thun Paya

A replica of Maha Myat Muni Image in Mandalay is situated opposite Kyaikpawlaw Hmeshindaw Image in Gangaw Ward, Kyaikhto, Mon State.

Kyaikhto

Kyaikhto is a town in Mon State. Kyaikhto is a small town and popular for its wish fulfil Golden Rock Pagoda. About 160 km from Yangon. This mystical Pagoda is about 18ft tall and is built on a huge boulder about 50ft in girth. This boulder is balancing precariously on the edge of 18ft high rock and separated from the mountain edge by a deep chasm over 1100M above sea level. It is indeed an overwhelming sight, how the boulder keeps its balance is beyond comprehension, but it was been there for 2500 years.

There is a steep road winding up from Kinpun base camp to Golden Rock about 13 miles by truck. There are only few Hotels with modern facilities for the visitors.

Interesting Places

Kyaikpawlaw Hmeshindaw (Live-Mole) Image

It is situated in Gangaw Ward, Kyaikhto, Mon State. About 221 years after the Parinibbana of the Buddha, Sri Lankan King Dewanampiya Teiktha in consultation with Ashin Maheinda floated four statues each enshrining a hair relic with four barges made of teak, jackfruit, thingan and rock cartwheel. 

Maha Muni Thun Paya

A replica of Maha Myat Muni Image in Mandalay is situated opposite Kyaikpawlaw Hmeshindaw Image in Gangaw Ward, Kyaikhto, Mon State.

Kyaikpawlaw Buddha Image

Located in Kyaikhto, Kantkaw Township in Mon State. Kyaikpawlaw Buddha Image is well-known because of the living mole on the face of the Buddha image. While visiting Kyaikhtiyo, one can also plan to visit this astonishing image. It is more convenient to go to Kyaikpawlaw Hmeshindaw Pagoda after visiting Kyaikhtiyoe. “Hmeshin” means living mole. The pagoda is said to possess great influence because the image enshrined in it has a mole on its face. Every year, there is a festival held in the name of this Buddha image. Locals from all parts of the country visit the mysterious image with the moving mole.   

Five astonishing facts about this image.

• The eyes of the image are lively.
• The image was moved by elephants, horses, and men but was not able to move.
• The image is said to be floating on water.
• No matter how many times, the mole on the Buddha’s face is offered with gold foil, it never fades away.
• The image is always facing to the region where Sri Lanka exists.

Nearby Attractions

On the eastern side of the image residence, there is the Mahamuni Thun Buddha image. The image was donated by U Ant and Daw Gun, in the year A.D 1256, with the permission of the King Thibaw’s sister. They made the identical image of the Maha Myat Muni of Mandalay. It took seven days to complete the plaster copying of the Maha Myat Muni. So, this image is said to be the real replica of the original one. Many people donated gold, silver, gems, jewels and bronze.