Over 2,800 pilgrims, 74 foreign tourists visit Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in August

A total of 2,879 local devotees and 74 international pilgrims visited the renowned Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Mon State in August, according to the pagoda board of trustees.
The Buddha Pujaniya festival is annually held from the full moon day of Thadingyut to the full moon day of Kason. There are up to three million pilgrims in the regular season.
“Pilgrimage is low. Not many travellers are coming to visit here due to travel hardship, security and Covid-19. Transport costs and fuel prices are also expensive. Some could not open their shops until now,” vendor Ma Kay Thi Lwin told the Global New Light of Myanmar.
Hotels and restaurants are opened and mountain vehicles are also arranged in a rotation system for the convenience of visitors. There are 6,908 local visitors and 34 foreign tourists in June and 7,480 locals and 97 foreigners in July respectively, according to the pagoda board of trustees. — TWA/GNLM