National Museum of Myanmar

The national collection sits in a large purpose-built block on Pyay Road, and its centrepiece is the Sihasana or Lion Throne, the surviving throne of the Konbaung dynasty, over eight metres tall in gilded and carved wood, returned from India in the 1960s. Around it the museum runs through prehistory, the Pyu city states, epigraphy and scripts, court regalia, costume of the country's ethnic groups, musical instruments and Buddhist art. The building is dim and the labelling is uneven, but the objects are the real thing.

What you actually see

• The Lion Throne - the surviving Konbaung throne in gilded wood, over eight metres tall.
• The regalia gallery - court dress, jewellery and objects from the royal household at Mandalay.
• The epigraphy hall - inscribed stones and manuscripts covering the development of the script.
• The ethnic costume floor - dress and craft from across the country's regions.

When to go

Year-round, since it is indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it a good option in the hot months from March to May. The museum closes on some public holidays. Mornings are quiet.

Honest expectations

Lighting is poor throughout and many cases are hard to read. Labelling in English is inconsistent and there is little interpretation, so the collection rewards prior interest more than curiosity. Cameras and bags are left at the entrance.

Nearby

The Shwedagon Pagoda is a short drive east, and Inya Lake is further north on the same road.