The decision was taken by the temple’s board of trustees with support of senior monks.Ticket offices will be set up at the entrances; the admission for foreign visitors will be K5,000. For locals visiting the temple remains free of charge.
The temple board point out they just follow the suit of many other countries in the region where foreign visitors are charged fees when sightseeing at religious sites. Previously there were separate fees for cameras at the Mahamuni Pagoda but now the flat rate will cover it all.
The southern and northern gates of thre temple will be equipped with information centres where visitors will be able to receive information on the pagoda, learn about its history and get complimentary boolets in English with all major attractions of the temple indicated. There will be bathrooms and seating areas in the infrmation centres, too.
Daily, the Mahamuni Pagoda receives over 400 foreign visitors with the number reaching 1,000 visits a day during the high tourist season.
Mahamuni Buddha Temple Starts Charging Entrace Fees
News in Asia
The Mahamuni Buddha Temple, also known as Maha Myat Minu Temple in Mandalay, Myanmar, will start charging entrance fee from foreign visitors effective from June, 1.