Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival
Shwesettaw (Buddha Foot-print) Pagoda Festival (Magwe Division)
From Mid February to Mid April 2011
Shwesettaw Pagoda & Wildlife Sanctuary can be reached from Yangon via Pyay to Magway, a journey of about 330 miles, crossing the Ayeyarwaddy to Minbu and travelling another 35 miles to Shwesettaw.
The cool and pleasant Mann creek flows steadily around Shwesettaw Pagoda and adds sparkle and life to the Pagoda festival itself. There are stalls which are staffs with local handicrafts and traditional herbal plants.
Major attraction of this Wildlife Sanctuary is Brow-antlered Deer (Myanmar endemic). According to 2002 survey, the estimated population of was over 900 individuals in this Sanctuary and others such as Sambhur Deer, Hog Deer, over 40 species of butterfly, and Myanmar Star Tortoise (Myanmar endemic) can be seen.
Itinerary:
Yangon-Pyay- Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary-Mandalay
5-Day/4-Night
Day 01: Yangon - Pyay
Early morning pick-up from hotel in Yangon and drive to Pyay (Prome) (approx. 5 hrs). On the way visit Shwemyettman Pagoda, “Pagoda of Golden Spectacles” and Shwesandaw Pagoda on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Accommodation at Hotel, in Pyay.
Day 02: Pyay / Akauk Taung / Hmawza Village
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the other side of Pyay, across the Ayeyarwaddy river, there lies Akauk Taung hill ranges. Once, it was the custom collecting centre of cargo boats. The boats going to and fro had to queue for paying custom duty. It took a long time for one's turn. While waiting its turn, the boatmen made artifacts of carving in the banks of rocks along the river. A boat trip around Akauk Taung is really exciting. Back to Pyay. Afternoon visit Thirikhittra Museum at Hmawza village of Pyay. It is approx. five miles to east of modern Pyay and Hmawza village is now standing at the centre of that ancient city. There is no doubt to the fine-arts of Pyus bestowed upon the remains and excavation findings, indicated the excellent arts and skillful works of Pyu’s architecture, silver smithery, gold-smithery, bronze smithery, glass industry and so on. And then visit Ancient monuments of Baw Baw Gyi stupa and Be Be temple. Accommodation at Hotel, in Pyay.
Day 03: Pyay – Magwe - Shwesettaw
Breakfast at hotel. Depart your hotel early morning and drive to Magwe. Cross the Ayeyarwaddy River by bridge to Minbu. Then drive to Shwesettaw and visit Buddha Foot print pagoda. See local Pagoda Festival. Overnight at forest guest house in Shwesettaw.
Day 04: Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary
Breakfast at Guest house. See local Pagoda Festival. Visit the Sanctuary to see Brow-antlered Deer (Myanmar endemic) and other wildlife. Overnight at forest guest house in Shwesettaw.
Day 05: Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary – Mandalay
Breakfast at Guest house. Drvie to Mandalay via Myin Chan. Arrival and transfer to hotel in Mandalay.