Kyauktan Yele Pagoda

Yele means mid-stream, and the pagoda sits on a small island in the creek at Kyauktan with water on every side and a compound that covers essentially the whole island. Flat-bottomed boats run across constantly from the landing, taking a couple of minutes. The compound holds a central gilded stupa, image halls around the edge, and a wall of catfish in the water below that visitors feed, which is half the reason local families come. It makes an easy half day out of Yangon and is not on most itineraries.

What you actually see

• The island compound - a pagoda occupying an entire midstream island, with water on all sides.
• The crossing - a two-minute ferry on a flat-bottomed boat from the bank.
• The stupa and halls - a gilded central stupa ringed by image halls and donation shrines.
• The catfish - large fish crowding the steps, fed by visitors as a merit-making act.

When to go

November to February is dry and comfortable. Weekends bring Yangon families out in numbers, which is livelier and more crowded. The monsoon raises the creek and the crossing is wetter but still runs.

Honest expectations

The drive out through the southern industrial edge of Yangon is slow and unappealing. The pagoda itself is modest and takes half an hour once you are there. Shoes off from the boat landing onward, and the stone gets hot.

Nearby

Thanlyin and its ruined Portuguese-era church are on the same road back towards Yangon.