known as Kelasa hills or Eastern Yoma mountains); it
is on the Paung-laung ridge of the Eastern Yoma mountains. It is at a distance
of 210 kilometers (130 mi) from Yangon. The
Kinpun village 16 km (10 mi) is at the base of Mt. Kyaiktiyo. It is
the closest to the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. From Kyaiktiyo, the foot trail or road
starts for the Golden rock. On this approach, there are numerous granite
boulders on the mountain, perched in precarious condition. Near the top of the
mountain, there are two large lions guarding the entrance to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda.
From this location, known as Yatetaung (the last point for vehicular traffic),
pilgrims and visitors have to climb to the Golden Rock barefoot, after leaving
their footwear behind, as per Burmese
custom. The paved mountain track,
built in 1999, from the bus terminal at Yatetaung, is along a dusty section
with kiosks on both sides and the climb of 1.2 km up to the Golden Rock is
stiff and takes about one hour to reach. From
the base camp at Kinpun, the hiking trek to the pagoda is about 11 kilometers
(6.8 mi) and many devotees do this trek as part of the pilgrimage rites. There are also many temples and
pagodas, which have been built recently on other hills in the vicinity of the
Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda that are visited by pilgrims and tourists by trekking along
foot tracks.
