One of the shrines – Golden Rock (Gold Mountain) – located in the town Kyaktio (Kyaiktiyo), 200 km from Yangon. However, to get to the Golden Mountain is not so simple. Private cars travel the tourist zone is prohibited. The only public transport – minibus, is a lightweight truck with an open body, which was packed to thirty people. Driving on mountain serpentine in such an environment – entertainment not for the faint of heart. But the continuation of the path leaves much to be desired. Tourists were not brought up to the most golden mountain, and planted on the distant approaches. Then have to walk that, in the unbearable heat very difficult.
Only at the foot of the stone relics are on duty bearers, ready to deliver top and you and your luggage. But their services are used by only the wealthy pilgrims and tourists. Most travelers rise to the peak itself. Fortunately, on the way to the top every now and again caught traders, offering local "energy drink" – sugar cane juice, which is great refreshment. Here sell all kinds of balms, ointments and souvenirs.
Fact the mountain itself is not a relic. The value of the stone is located on its top. Seems to touch this huge boulder hovering over the abyss, and he will fly down, but the stone miraculously maintained its precarious situation from time immemorial. golden rock, golden rock, gold goraKak say the monks, he is tied to the sky filament of the Buddha. In this legend is very easy to believe, because the physical laws are pasuyut, unable to explain why the stone, hanging from a cliff at an incredible angle, has not yet been rolled down.
Women are not allowed to stone closer than 10 meters (probably afraid that they drop it into the abyss). The men can pass freely to the shrine, where the tourists are here along with the local. By the stone is allowed to touch, look at it, take pictures – these actions are not cause for disapproval myanmantsev. Moreover, the interesting foreign men, local pilgrims even offer knock together a lump, so that they could personally make sure that the stone "vibrate" if his swing, but it miraculously maintains an unusual situation.
City Kyaktio is for Burmese Buddhists, a kind of Mecca. Visit at least once in their life on the Golden Mountain is committed to each. The pilgrims, even the poorest, be sure to donate money for the gilding stone, or that the shrine is decorated with gold leaf. Especially for this purpose at the entrance to the site, where there is a stone, sell discs with gold plating.
