Karaweik Royal Barge

The Karaweik Hall, also known as Karaweik Palace is one of Yangon’s many landmarks. From a distance the Karaweik Hall looks like a huge golden barge floating on Kandawgyi Lake, glittering in the sun. After dark the Karaweik barge is lit up in spotlights, the golden stupa reflecting in the water of Lake Kandawgyi. The hall actually is a concrete structure looking like two enormous golden birds with a roof in the shape of a Pyatthat, a Burmese style multi tiered very ornate roof structure. The prow of the ship is built in the shape of a Karaweik, a bird from Burmese mythology. A golden ball is hanging from its beak. The back of the structure is formed by the tail of the Karaweik bird in red and gold colors, on top of the tail is a depiction of a Nat spirit. The Karaweik Hall was completed in 1974, its design based on the Pyi Gyi Mon Royal Barge. In the old days this barge was used by Burmese Kings to travel around the Kingdom. A working model of the Royal Barge can be seen at the Phaung Daw U pagoda in Inle Lake. During the annual Phaung Daw U festival the Karaweik Barge carrying Buddha images is towed over the large lake.