Kyauktan
Before you go
Before you go, it helps to know that Thanlyin and Kyauktan, also called Syriam, were once an important city on the Irrawaddy Delta but are today an almost forgotten suburb of Yangon. The area's history runs deep: in the early seventeenth century the Portuguese adventurer and mercenary Filipe de Brito, a short-time self-proclaimed king, was the de facto ruler of Syriam, until he was defeated in 1613 by Burmese forces led by Alaungpaya, founder of the Konbaung dynasty. Set your expectations accordingly. This is a place to visit for that layered past and its delta setting rather than for big-city comforts, and the source offers little practical detail beyond the history, so plan to treat it as a side trip from Yangon rather than a destination in its own right.Getting there
Kyauktan is reached via Thanlyin, a short taxi ride from Yangon (around USD30 for a round trip), or you can take a local bus from Bogoyoke Aung San Rd in Pazundaung Township — a crowded ride that feels like travelling into the past. From Thanlyin, a boat crosses to Kyauktan in a few minutes.
Getting around
Kyauktan is a small, local destination rather than a city with an extensive transport network, so plan your movements around informal options rather than an urban transit system. There is no rail, metro or tram service here, and no formal city bus network within Kyauktan itself. From Yangon, the practical approach is by road to Thanlyin and then by boat across to Kyauktan.
Local buses are the main form of public transport on the Yangon side of the journey; you can catch one from Bogoyoke Aung San Rd in Pazundaung Township. The ride is crowded and inexpensive, a local service rather than a tourist coach, so expect a busy, everyday journey. Taxis are the most straightforward option for reaching Thanlyin from Yangon, and no ride-hailing apps are mentioned for this area, so arrange a taxi rather than relying on an app. Agree the fare and the round trip in advance, since the return leg from a small town can otherwise be difficult to arrange.
- The final leg into Kyauktan is by boat from Thanlyin; the crossing takes only a few minutes and is the key connection to plan around.
- Build your day so that you reach Thanlyin in good time for the crossing, and have a clear plan for the return.
- Bring small notes and coins in local currency; the bus and boat fares are modest and paid in kyat.
- Allow extra time for the local bus, which is described as crowded.
- Confirm the boat's timing before you set out.
- Expect to cover short distances on foot once you arrive, but do not count on walking as a way to reach Kyauktan from Yangon or Thanlyin.
Where to stay
The town's main draw is the pagoda on its island in the river, and most travellers visit it as a short trip rather than an overnight stay.
Food & drink
The source material for Kyauktan contains no information on where or what to eat or drink, so there is nothing to describe in this section.What to see and do
Kyauktan's main draw is the Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda, known as the Island Pagoda, which sits on an island in the middle of a river roughly 20 km south of Thanlyin on a tributary of the Yangon River. The journey by jeep or bus takes about 45 minutes from Thanlyin. The pagoda was built by King Zeyasana, the seventh king of the Pada Dynasty in the third century BCE, and the first structure was only 3 m high. The only way to reach it is by boat, and foreigners are required to sit in a larger boat than the smaller ones locals take, for security purposes. The ride from the mainland to the island is barely a minute. As with nearly all Buddhist monuments, footwear is not permitted. Visitors are told to remove their footwear in the boat and leave their shoes there, but you can carry a plastic shopping bag, put your shoes in it, and carry it around with you unless you do not mind being harassed for tips by the people guarding your shoes in the boat.Three days in Kyauktan
Day one: Start in Yangon and head east to Thanlyin, the old Portuguese settlement also known as Syriam, where the Portuguese adventurer Filipe de Brito e Nicote once held sway before the Burmese king Alaungpaya of the Konbaung dynasty brought the town to an end. From Thanlyin, continue on to Kyauktan. Settle in, then take a local taxi to the Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda, the island pagoda on the Yangon River, said to have been founded by King Zeyasana of the Pada Dynasty in the BCE era. Time your visit for the quieter hours and confirm with your driver when to return.
- Thanlyin (Syriam)
- Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda
Day two: Give the island pagoda a second, unhurried look, arriving by local taxi and allowing plenty of time for the crossing and the walk around the shrine. As a Buddhist site, dress modestly and remove your shoes where required. In the afternoon, wander the streets of Kyauktan itself and get a feel for the town's pace.
- Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda
- Kyauktan
Day three: Head back towards Yangon, breaking the journey in Thanlyin to see what remains of its colonial and Portuguese past. From Thanlyin, taxis and local transport connect you to Yangon; agree the fare before you set off. If you are returning to the city centre, Bogoyoke Aung San Rd in Pazundaung Township is a useful reference point for onward travel. Build in slack for the drive, bring water, and confirm your transport the day before.
- Thanlyin
- Yangon
- Bogoyoke Aung San Rd, Pazundaung Township