Myathabate Pagoda is an old hilltop pagoda worth visiting mainly for the stupendous views its location affords right across the surrounding area.
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Worth the slog to the top -- the view over Thaton. Photo: Mark Ord
According to local lore (or an English sign at the foot of the steps, anyway), Myathabate dates from more than 2,000 years ago and contains two hairs from the Buddha’s head, though frankly up close it looks like any other large, gold-painted stupa. To the west, the vista stretches across town and, on a clear day, as far as the Gulf of Martaban. To the east, they go beyond a picturesque lake and rubber plantations to the limestone outcrops towards Hpa-an.
Somewhere in there are a couple of Buddha's hairs. Photo: Mark Ord
As with most hilltop temples, there’s an easy and a hard way to get to the summit. In this case, the hard way is tough: 999 steps tough. Well, the sign says 999 and to be honest we didn’t count them since we confess to having taken the easy way up. This is a sealed road in good condition that goes for several kilometres and is sufficiently winding to avoid any really steep ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 400 words.)
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