The 2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is the most sacred Buddhist site for the people of Myanmar. The pagoda stands almost 360 feet high and its gold-plated dome is studded with diamonds, rubies, topaz and saphires. A 72-carat diamond sits atop the stupa. There are hundreds of colorful temples, stupas and statues in the complex which is visited daily by Budhists, monks and tourists. At any given time there are scores of people worshiping, meditating, offering flowers, chanting and taking photographs.
