Facts
- Elevation: 1,102 m (3,615 ft)
- Prominence: 804 m
- Peak category:
Spesial - Region:
Central Myanmar - Coordinates: 17.4803, 97.0997
- Rating:
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Loading... - Other names: ကျိုက်ထီးရိုးဘုရား
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The summit of Kyaik Htee Yoe / Kyaiktiyo is home to the legendary Golden Rock Pagoda, a 7.6 m granite boulder precariously balanced on a cliff edge, topped by a 7.3 m pagoda and covered with gold leaf applied by pilgrims. It is one of Myanmar’s three holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites, alongside the Shwedagon and Mahamuni Pagodas. The boulder is said to be held by a strand of the Buddha’s hair, gifted to a hermit and enshrined by a celestial king, and protected from falling by supernatural forces.
Pilgrims either drive or walk from the base village of Kinpun via a 15 km steep truck road or forest trail and some undertake the entire 11 km trek barefoot as an act of devotion, finishing a final hour’s climb from Yathaetaung (1,000 m) to the shrine area. At the Golden Rock complex, devotees light candles, offer prayers and men affix gold leaf onto the boulder itself. Women are not permitted to touch it . The annual Nine-Thousand-Lights Festival during Tabaung (March) is a peak pilgrimage time.
The highest point appears to be near to Yoe Yoe Lay guesthouse on the ridge.
Practicalities
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- Getting there: From Yangon or Bago, travel to Kinpun, the local town. Ascend via licensed open-top trucks on a winding forest road (~15 km, 30–40 min) to the Yathaetaung bus stop (~1,000 m). From there, a final steep 1‑km stretch leads to the pagoda. Many pilgrims walk the full 11 km or take a bus/cable car for part of the route.
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- Permits: No special climbing permit is needed but standard national park entry fees apply as the site is within Kyaiktiyo Wildlife Sanctuary. Pilgrims and visitors must remove shoes before climbing the final steps to the Golden Rock.
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- Water sources: No reliable natural springs exist along the ascent trail. Water must be brought up from base or purchased at roadside kiosks near the Yathaetaung staging point or at the pagoda complex.
Local Average Monthly Rainfall (in Mandalay) 
Location
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Origins and Meaning
The name Kyaik-htiyo in Mon translates to “pagoda on the hermit’s head” (kyaik = pagoda, hti-yo = hermit’s head) . According to legend, a debate between a hermit and heavenly king led to the placement of Buddha’s hair in a boulder shaped like the hermit’s skull, elevated to the ridge where it remains to this day.