Young monks at the Ye Le Pagoda

It’s the most unusual Buddhist pagoda I’ve visited in Myanmar. With its name loosely translated as mid-stream on a laterite reef, the Kyauktan Yele Pagoda or Kyaik Hmaw Wun Pagoda is located in Myanmar’s major port city of Thanlyin along the banks of Yangon River. I went there with my Thai and Burmese friends after attending a wedding.

The ‘foreigners’ boat going to the Ye Le Pagoda.

The pagoda is standing in a small island in the middle of Hmaw Wun Creek and the only way to go there is using a boat. As a foreigner, we were only allowed to use a larger boat as compared to the ones used by the locals. My friend told me it’s for safety and security reasons.

Ye Le Pagoda in the middle of the river.

It may not exceed the massive grandeur of Shwedagon, the location of the Ye Le Pagoda gave it a different characteristics. The pagoda was built under the rule of the seventh king of the Pada Dynasty, King Zeyasana during the third century BC.

Ye Le Pagoda

When we arrived at the pagoda, the first rule is to take off our shoes. Like in Shwedagon, we should walk around the pagoda barefooted.

People feeding the fishes.

My Burmese friend bought a plastic bag filled with bread crumbs-like food. I didn’t know what was it for until he told me to feed the fishes with it. The muddy brown water is filled with giant catfishes which are so adapted to people feeding them.

Ye Le Pagoda

I was also amazed of the golden stupa and the intricate wood carvings in the pagoda. Inside the temple are impressive Buddha statues and paintings, and of course, there are monks and ordinary locals praying in the temple’s worship chambers.

After spending a little time, we went back and I thanked my Burmese friend for taking us in that nice place.

The boats used by the locals going to and from the pagoda.