The Golden Rock is located in Mon State, Burma / Myanmar. Sitting on top of a mountain, it is close to the small towns of Kyaiktiyo and Kinpun. The Golden Rock itself is also sometimes referred to as Kyaiktiyo.
One of the most significant and sacred sites for Burmese Buddhists, the Golden Rock attracts many devoted pilgrims. Somewhat off-the-beaten-track for tourists, it sees fewer visitors than places like Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon, and Mandalay. If you have the time, however, it is well-worth adding the Golden Rock to your travel plans.
Enjoying the magnificent Golden Rock
The Golden Rock is the name given to a huge gilded boulder on the edge of a cliff. A golden stupa / pagoda sits on top of the rock.
Male visitors can approach the large rock and add more layers of gold leaf, and it is quite common to see a large number of (male) worshippers kneeling in front of the rock to pray. Females must admire the rock from behind a low barrier, just a couple of metres from the magnificent glittering boulder.
There is a small room next to the boulder for further prayer and contemplation, as well as a number of shrines and statues of the Lord Buddha scattered around the mountain top. Vendors sell incense and flowers, with devotees making offerings at the sacred site.
The admission fee for foreign visitors is 6,000 MMK (approximately 4.80 USD). Visitors must be dressed respectfully, with shoulders covered and long pants, dresses, or skirts covering the lower part of the body. You must take off your shoes when walking around the mountain-top area. You can carry these with you, leave them in a pile at the edge, or rent a locker for a small fee.
A precarious balancing act!
Part of what makes the Golden Rock so remarkable is its position on the edge of the cliff. Teetering on the edge, it really is a marvel that the rock stays in place! Estimated to weigh around 546 tons (611 US tons / 554 tonnes), you can see a large gap where the rock doesn’t actually make contact with the ground. Seemingly defying gravity, you cannot help but wonder how it remains in place.
The ledge on which the Golden Rock sits has itself broken away from the edge of the mountain. A small bridge spans the deep chasm, allowing men to access the Golden Rock.
Said to have been in the same place for over 2,500 years, there are several legends that purport to explain why the rock remains steady. One account says that the boulder itself sits on top of a sacred relic; a strand of hair from the Lord Buddha’s head. Another version says that a hermit received a hair from the Lord Buddha / Siddhartha Gautama, carrying it for a long time wrapped up within his own hair. Upon seeing the rock, the hermit decided that it looked like his own head, and so built a pagoda on top to house the hair.
Getting to the Golden Rock
Buses connect Yangon to Kinpun, the most convenient place for visiting the Golden Rock. The direct journey takes around five hours, so you will likely want to spend at least a night in Kinpun. Buses also operate from Bago and Mawlamyine. Train is another option, with rickety old trains running between Yangon and Kyaiktiyo. You would then need to take a local pick-up truck to Kinpun.
There are several guest houses and eateries in the small and dusty town of Kinpun. Although there is little of interest in the locale, save for the Golden Rock, it is quite interesting to experience town life.
Open-top trucks convey passengers up the mountain, with many stopping around four kilometres (2.5 miles) from the summit. You can either try to find a truck that will take you the rest of the way up the steep road, or walk the remaining distance. Walking is actually quite nice as, although the road is steep and the temperatures will probably be pretty hot, the surroundings offer plenty of picturesque views. Trucks also run down the mountain until dusk. Expect to pay around 2,000 MMK (approximately 1.60 USD) for a partial journey, and around 3,000 MMK (approximately 2.40 USD) to travel all the way from the bottom to the top, or vice versa.
The ride is often said to be part of the overall experience, with people crammed into the trucks like sardines in a tin for the heart-lurching and frenetic drive. The drivers really put their foot down and hurtle around corners and up the steep road, with many passengers putting their faith in the presence of monks to ensure a safe journey.
It is possible to walk the entire way up the mountain – it will take around five hours to walk the full 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) though!
Other things to do and see in the area
There are many market stalls on the rear slopes of the mountain, selling a wide range of local dishes and souvenirs. The Burmese curries are especially tasty!
Several other temples, shrines, and pagodas, dot the surrounding peaks and slopes, although the highlight is definitely the stunning Golden Rock.
Take some time to explore the walking trails and admire the views. One marked trail leads visitors to a natural split in the rocks, said to resemble a crow’s open beak. If you stand in a certain position you are said to be able to see the Golden Rock’s pagoda between the rocks and sitting inside the “mouth”. At the time of visit, however, lots of lush greenery obscured the view.
Best time of year to visit the Golden Rock
Whilst you can enjoy the Golden Rock at any time of the year, the rainy season isn’t really recommended. During this period, between May and October, the beautiful views can be obscured by mists and clouds. It would also be quite miserable to be walking up the mountain or exploring the summit in a torrential downpour! Even when it’s not raining, the high humidity can be really uncomfortable during the wet season, and temperatures can be quite chilly in the evenings. Many restaurants and market stalls are closed, and the majority of visitors are foreigners.
If you want to see large numbers of pilgrims, the best time to visit the Golden Rock is between November and March. You’ll hear devotional chants and mantras, the rhythmic and monotone sounds drifting through the air, as regular people and religious disciples alike pay their respects. Buddhist monks clad in claret-coloured robes and nuns dressed all in white are a common sight. People sit in meditation and contemplation, and children excitedly race around. The spiritual energy is palpable, and you can experience the magical and serene ambience.
Each year, the mountain is host to the Nine Thousand Lights Festival, when thousands of worshippers light candles at night and make offerings at dawn. The date changes each year, as the festival follows the lunar calendar, but it usually falls in December.
Arrange your visit to the incredible Golden Rock and experience one of the country’s most spiritual places.
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