Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery, Bago
Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery
Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery
4
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
10 within 3 miles
Royal Taste
72
439 ft$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Asian • Thai
Comin's
6
0.5 mi$ • American
Shwe Le Restaurant
2
0.5 miAsian • Burmese
Legend of Hanthawaddy
1
0.6 miChinese • Japanese • European • Asian
Hanthawaddy
156
0.8 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Burmese • Vegetarian Friendly
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1
1 mi$ • Chinese • Indian • European
Nan Daw Thu Restaurant
2
2.5 mi$ • Chinese • European • Asian
Kyaw Swa Restaurant
34
2.9 mi$$ - $$$ • Chinese • Asian • Vegetarian Friendly
Von Bar & Restaurant
2 mi$ • Chinese • Asian • Thai
Opera Hot Pot & BBQ House
2.2 miInternational
Attractions
7 within 6 miles
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287
1.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
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215
1.2 miReligious Sites • Monuments & Statues
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174
1.2 miReligious Sites
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244
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
108 reviews
Excellent
27
Very good
56
Average
22
Poor
2
Terrible
1
yipjcs88
Hong Kong, China9,934 contributions
Solo
It is quite ordinary but it provides one with the experience of monks walking down a long walkway at11 am, to be bestowed by donors (rice or money, from mainly the locals). Tourists generally just take photos, but it is very crowded. I chose to go to the other end of the walkway to avoid getting pushed by the crowd.
Written February 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LittleSwissLou
Dubai, United Arab Emirates138 contributions
Solo
Get there for 10.30. See the prep of the food then here the call for lunch and the monks line up.
There is a big rice bowl so you can make an offering, or bring some food, pens, pads (as they are also there to learn) and you can offer it on the way in.
Fabulous to interact with them where most places you are kept away from monks.
Loved it!
There is a big rice bowl so you can make an offering, or bring some food, pens, pads (as they are also there to learn) and you can offer it on the way in.
Fabulous to interact with them where most places you are kept away from monks.
Loved it!
Written October 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
B1714D
Belgrade, Serbia14,084 contributions
Friends
If you're going on your own that's what you should know, 11 AM at LATEST. Otherwise you miss the lunch, which is a kind like a procession and the most interesting thing.
Monks get up very early having their breakfast around 5-6 AM. The lunch is the main meal and by tradition, it must be completed until noon. After that they're only allowed to have fruits, tea and water.
Gathering in line of several hundreds (our tour guide told us that more than 1000 monks live there) monks and their procession collecting food and eating in a vast hall is really an impressive scene.
At first I expected it's a tourist stuff, presuming they will ask for some kind of donations. None of them did. It's their every day routine and you're welcome to participate and watch for free. If you have by yourself any snacks, sweets, fruits,.. you can offer and give them when passing by, but you're not obliged to.
Saying that, I felt uncomfortable when they sat to have lunch and bunch of us stood there at the entrance door watching them and taking pics. They don't pay attention, they're used to it, but imagine yourself having a meal with such audience. So, I took few pics and left the hall not to intrude them.
Apart from that lunch ritual you can wander around the monastery complex, see their dormitories (from outside through windows), learning classes, praying halls etc. It's a nice, educative and totally free attraction. Count on around 1-1,5 hrs for visit.
Monks get up very early having their breakfast around 5-6 AM. The lunch is the main meal and by tradition, it must be completed until noon. After that they're only allowed to have fruits, tea and water.
Gathering in line of several hundreds (our tour guide told us that more than 1000 monks live there) monks and their procession collecting food and eating in a vast hall is really an impressive scene.
At first I expected it's a tourist stuff, presuming they will ask for some kind of donations. None of them did. It's their every day routine and you're welcome to participate and watch for free. If you have by yourself any snacks, sweets, fruits,.. you can offer and give them when passing by, but you're not obliged to.
Saying that, I felt uncomfortable when they sat to have lunch and bunch of us stood there at the entrance door watching them and taking pics. They don't pay attention, they're used to it, but imagine yourself having a meal with such audience. So, I took few pics and left the hall not to intrude them.
Apart from that lunch ritual you can wander around the monastery complex, see their dormitories (from outside through windows), learning classes, praying halls etc. It's a nice, educative and totally free attraction. Count on around 1-1,5 hrs for visit.
Written April 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GulabJa
Tel Aviv, Israel20 contributions
Family
We were there with a small child , the monastery is not so special and the monks parade feels authentic in a way but the whole thing feels very torusitic there are better things to do in Bago
Written March 31, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kevin F
Nottingham, UK240 contributions
Couples
Nothing wrong with the monastery; it's interesting and beautiful in many ways. You are made very welcome to walk round and see life in the monastery it's just that the lunchtime or should I say the second and final meal of the day is sometime of a spectacle with a number of tourists lining up watching the 300 or so boys and men line up and take their meal. I felt a bit intrusive to be honest. What was better was getting out of the way and seeing and speaking to the people in the kitchens and also in the main hall where a number of the younger boys were preparing for exams at small desks lined up in rows. Interesting place, worth looking round for an hour but intruding on whilst they eat is a bit much for me.
Written March 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
63Mark63
Toronto, Canada134 contributions
Solo
Really, you want to be there in time to take a look around before watching the quiet monk procession to lunch. Note the statue of General Aung Su and take a look in the kitchen. Then find a good vantage for the lunch procession.
Written February 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
paukie
Zurich, Switzerland1,105 contributions
Couples
This experience made us kind of modest and humble. You need to get there early (10.30-11PM), before the monks have lunch. The come from different buildings and line up to walk together to the mess hall. Before they enter there are 2 very big bowls with rice, where we (and many thai tourists, who come here for their karma) give the monks rice in their personal bowls. When all are seated, they chant and then eat. When we were there a business men offered the monks chickenmeat. This whole experience made us contemplate our own lifes and what is really important.
Written November 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lucas G
1,369 contributions
Couples
Come to monastery to witness 500 monks having lunch . After a Long wait, the monks walk in line to their usual place for lunch. Along the corridor queued with tourist like me and do the offering to the monks with foods, snacks and money. 5 to 6 monks shared one table for several dishes which supposedly enough for all of them. See the picture . Sad to see some very young monks who started their life in monastery and probably they felt lucky in this part of the world. Do come here before 1045am to see this and heard this is their last meal of the day at 11 am!
Written September 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mbaas
Singapore375 contributions
Friends
We were late and thus missed meeting/observing the monks while having their lunch. It's an interesting complex to see otherwise but not quite the highlight of our Bago trip that we had hoped for. If you are short on time we would suggest you focus on the palace, the most famous pagoda and one of the reclining Buddhas instead.
Written September 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Luckytravel
55 contributions
Couples
Visiting at lunch time to feed the monks was a truly unique experience. We joined a group of Thai tourists to serve rice to the monks.
A really great story to tell!
A small donation is asked for.
A really great story to tell!
A small donation is asked for.
Written August 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Frequently Asked Questions about Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery
- We recommend booking Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 7 Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery:
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- Restaurants near Kyaly Khat Wai Monastery:
- (0.08 mi) Royal Taste
- (0.55 mi) Comin's
- (0.76 mi) Hanthawaddy
- (0.54 mi) Shwe Le Restaurant
- (0.56 mi) Legend of Hanthawaddy