Four covered stairways lead up to the platform where all shrines are.
The south entrance is built as an extension of Shwedagon Pagoda Road which runs through large parts of the city. Most foreigners choose that way since there is an elevator and facilities to leave the shoes and when coming back to wash the feet.
All people must walk barefoot, this led almost to another war with the British when they refused to do so. Probably the best entry is from the west since it has "Peoples Park" in front, an oasis in green.
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| West entrance to the platform |
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| Peoples park in front of the Shwedagon |
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| The hall before the stairs to walk up |
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| Two colossal chinthes |
At the north entry are 2 colossal chinthes which function as guardian and right across the road a pretty lake with one small pagoda at the edge of the water. Coming from the east side needs a walk through a very quarter until stepping on the stairs.
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| Opposite the northern entrance |
This is definitely something real great but what I absolutely dont like is the fact that they charge entrance to foreigners. I mean a pagoda is a holy shrines open to everyone, that's not a zoo. I wonder why this people cant put some donation boxes around and let the people do it what they think is appropriate. I haven't seen any entrance fee in any mosque, any church and any Indian or Chinese temple in the country. It looks as if some people try to milk the foreigners, that definitely is totally contrary to any Buddhist philosophy, are they Buddhist? Or just grid ridden.
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