Bago, formerly Pegu, is a port and railway junction. Founded c.825 by the Mons, it became their capital when King Binnya U established his palace there. Bago was the center of one of the three chief states of Myanmar from the 14th to the late 15th cent.; in the 16th cent. it was the capital of a united Burmese kingdom. After it was destroyed in 1564 and again in 1599, the Burmese moved their capital to Ava. In the 18th cent. the Talaings rebelled against the Burmese and set up their capital at Bago; it was destroyed by the Burmese in 1757 but was later rebuilt as the center of a Burmese province. The city and province came under British rule in 1852.

Pictured at left is the Kyaik Pun Pagoda is in the form of four gigantic Buddha images all in sitting posture facing the four cardinal points of the compass. They are seated back to back against a massive brick pillar. This unusual and impressive pagoda is only a few hundred feet off the Yangon-Bago road. It was built by King Dhamma Zedi in 1476 A.D. They are kept in a fair state of preservation. Kyaik Pun pagoda is situated amidst the lush rugged countryside strewn with a large number of ancient ruins many of which are under repair. According to a legend four mon sisters were connected with the construction of the images. It was said that if one of them marry, one of the Buddha would collapse.

Monk hitchin' a ride outside the Kyaik Pun Pagoda.

The city's religious monuments include many temples, of which the most impressive is the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, and a great statue (55 feet long) of a reclining Buddha, believed to have been built in 944. Pictured here is an under construcion, even larger reclining Buddha, less than 1 km from the Shwemawdaw Pagoda.

Souvenier stand in the halls of the Shwemawdaw Pagoda.

This green machine, just outside the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, squeezed cane juice out of sugar cane. It is a really popular drink as these machines are everywhere.