One of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimages in Myanmar is to the Golden Rock Pagoda.
True devotees will climb to the rock from the nearby town of Kyaikhtiyo which can take over five hours. However, the easier option is to ride on a local truck as far as the Golden Rock Hotel and then continue on foot for the last hour to the rock itself.
Over the ages the rock has been totally covered with gold leaf and is remarkable for its gravity-defying position balanced on the edge of the mountain. It is said to be held in place by a single strand of Buddha’s hair.