Yangon

• Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the largest city of Myanmar (also known as Burma).
• The city is located at the convergence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers about 19 miles (30 km) away from the Gulf of Martaban.
• Motto : Yangon Purum Manaw Ra Man
• Stripped of its status as capital in 2005, Yangon nonetheless continues to be the hub of economic activity, a hive of underground intellectual debate and the gateway for most international visitors.
• That said, many travellers tend to give Yangon short shrift, sacrificing the city for extra time in Myanmar’s high-profile upcountry destinations.
• This is a pity, as the city is – in its own quirky way – one of the more distinctive in Southeast Asia.
• In addition to possessing what is quite possibly the most awe-inspiring religious monument in the region, international isolation over the last five decades has left Yangon with an enduring colonial charm that has all but disappeared elsewhere.
• And although a sense of melancholy is a frequent backdrop to this setting, your memories are more likely to be of Yangon’s vibrant and colourful streets, its hectic open-air markets, some of the friendliest urbanites anywhere and what is most likely your first experience with an entirely unfamiliar cuisine.
• The stunning Shwedagon Paya is the centrepiece of the city, a gleaming golden stupa visible from all over town.
• Closer to the waterfront, downtown Yangon is a warren of historic streets concealing some of the best British colonial-era architecture in the region.
• Forget the cosmetic renovations in Singapore: this is the real deal. A walk along the Strand or Pansodan St is like strolling down Pall Mall, albeit without the paint job.
• Vibrant and dynamic, sweaty and steamy, reaching for the future but trapped in the past, Yangon is a fascinating introduction to Myanmar.
• It’s diverse too – home to Burmese, Shan, Mon, Chinese, Indians and Western expats.
• The main religion in Yangon is Buddhism and the local currency is named Kyat.