Situated roughly 20 minutes from Yangon downtown, Kalaywa monastery is one of the most famous and cherished cultural sites in Myanmar. If you want to have a better chance of experiencing the spiritual life of the monks, then this is the place for you. Coming to Kalaywa monastery, visitors will be immersed in the collective life of the monks here, to understand the cultural characteristics of a Buddhist country.

Kalaywa Monastery

Kalaywa monastery is home for studying and living of many monks. Monks here are in different ages. There are chelas who are very young. At Kalaywa monastery, people can see monks’ life, as well as learn more about the rituals of Buddhism.
It will be better for you to visit Kalaywa monastery between 10:30 am to 11:30 am to enjoy their lunch procession. Myanmar is a multi-religion country with the presence of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam … in which Buddhism plays a huge role in human life. In it, the tradition of begging for food is one of the manifestations of good values in the culture of Myanmar. The alm always takes place in the morning and ends before the sun shines. The food must be cooked. You cannot afford to miss a house, or give priority to the streets in prosperous towns, rich or poor landlords must be given equal opportunities to cultivate merit. After finishing begging for food, they returned to the monastery to eat before the sun stood shining. This is the only meal of the day. Usually the food is divided into four parts: one is given to fellow initiates if they have no or little, partly for the poor, a part for non-living beings with the person, and finally the rest is their own use. Begging for food costume creates a unique feature in Buddhist cultural life because it is both religious and social. Therefore, if you have visited Kalaywa monastery, then you should not miss this interesting custom.

Kalaywa Monastery

At the Kalaywa monastery there are classes on Buddhism, teaching people the things or the right, and cherishing the good values in life.
– Phone number: +95 1 651 064
– Address: Naga Hlainggu Hillock, Yangon (Rangoon)
– It will be better for you to visit from 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Other attractions in Yangon: National Museum of Myanmar; Shwedagon pagoda; Sule pagodaKalaywa MonasteryImmanuel Baptist Church; Myanmar Gems Museum; Bogyoke parkMingalarbar BalloonSaint Mary Cathedral Yangon; Yangon City Hall; Independence Monument YangonKaraweik HallSaint Mary’s Cathedral Yangon