Quick answerBago is a city in Myanmar, with 179,505 people inside the city limits in 2019. It is best known for the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the Shwethalyaung Buddha and the Kyaikpun Pagoda. Its official language is Burmese, and its currency is the Myanmar kyat.
Bago is a city in southern Myanmar, with about 180,000 people (179,505 in 2019). It is the capital of Bago Region, about 91 kilometres north-east of Yangon, and a former royal capital known for its great pagodas, above all the Shwemawdaw Pagoda.
Key facts
| Country | Myanmar |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 179,505 (2019) |
| Elevation | 4 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Yangon |
| Language | Burmese |
| Currency | Myanmar kyat (MMK, K) |
| Coordinates | 17.3333° N, 96.4833° E |
Overview
Bago, formerly spelled Pegu and formerly known as Hanthawaddy, is the capital of Bago Region in southern Myanmar. The city had 179,505 residents in 2019 and sits 4 metres above sea level, about 91 kilometres north-east of Yangon. The wider Bago township counted 491,434 people in the 2014 census, which is why Bago appears fourth in Myanmar's largest-cities list.
Bago was a historical capital of the Mon kingdom of Hanthawaddy and later of the Taungoo dynasty, which reunified Myanmar in the 16th century. Its landmarks include the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the tallest pagoda in Myanmar, the Shwethalyaung Buddha, a 55-metre reclining Buddha from the 10th century, the Kyaikpun Pagoda with four seated Buddhas back to back, and the reconstructed Kanbawzathadi Palace of King Bayinnaung.
Today Bago is a market town and a day trip from Yangon, known for its pagodas, its Mon heritage and its weaving and pottery. The city was badly hit by Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and by severe flooding in later years, but its temples remain among the most visited in Lower Myanmar.
What Bago is known for
- Shwemawdaw Pagoda
- Shwethalyaung Buddha
- Kyaikpun Pagoda
- Kanbawzathadi Palace
- Hanthawaddy capital
- Mon heritage
Landmarks
- Shwemawdaw Pagoda
- Shwethalyaung Buddha
- Kyaikpun Pagoda
- Kanbawzathadi Palace
- Kalyani Ordination Hall
- Hintha Gon Pagoda
- Shwegugyi Pagoda
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bago?
About 180,000 people live in Bago (179,505 in 2019). That makes Bago one of the larger cities of Lower Myanmar, though the wider Bago township counted more than 490,000 people in the 2014 census.
What is Bago famous for?
Bago is famous as a historical capital of the Mon and Taungoo kingdoms, and for its large pagodas: the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the tallest pagoda in Myanmar, and the Shwethalyaung Buddha, a 55-metre reclining Buddha. It is also known for the Kyaikpun Pagoda, with four seated Buddhas back to back.
Where is Bago located?
Bago is in southern Myanmar, about 91 kilometres north-east of Yangon, and is the capital of Bago Region. It sits 4 metres above sea level on the Bago River. Its coordinates are 17.33° N, 96.48° E, and its time zone is Myanmar Standard Time.
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Keep exploring
- Myanmar — the country Bago is in
- Yangon — another city in Myanmar
- Mandalay — another city in Myanmar
- Naypyidaw — another city in Myanmar
- All cities in Myanmar
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.