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Chic . Explore . ThinkerTen

My Style ~ My Journey ~ My Inspiration

MyanmarTravelYangon

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery – White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

by kumamonjeng October 10, 2018
written by kumamonjeng October 10, 2018
Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery – White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

Unexpected stop back to Yangon

On our way back to Yangon from Bago city, our whole day taxi driver had a brief stop at Hsin Hpyu Daw Park where the white elephants can be seen. We didn’t plan to visit any white elephants but the driver insisted and told us it is on the way back to Yangon, so we just followed what he suggested.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

Elephants house in beautiful pavilion but no freedom

It seems like white elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park is a major attraction for tourists. Before us, there were already few couples of foreigners with their English-speaking guide at the park.

The elephants are kept in the beautiful pavilion but visitors are not allowed to go near them. A total different experience I had in Chiang Mai Thailand where you are able to get up close and touching and feeding the elephants. Over here in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park, there is a fence to block visitors from entering anywhere near these elephants. Visitors are only allowed to watch the elephants from behind the fence.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

White pinky elephants in chains = sad

In total there are only three elephants all with slightly different colors tone.  One is more of pinky white, suspected to be albino and the other is more pinky and the third one is just the usual color of the elephant, which is dark grey.

If you look closer, all three elephants were chained at their feet.  They seem pretty sad and wanted to roam around.  But it was said the elephants are allowed to roam freely after the park is closed at 5 pm.  I still sorry to see them all being chained at their feet.  I overheard a local guide telling a couple of caucasian tourists: “Animal is still animal, you never know what they will do to the human if unchained.”  Still, it was very sad thing to see.  This is totally different experience from the Elephant camp in Chiang Mai Thailand.  The elephants in Chiang Mai Elephants Camp are all happy, cheeky and playful.  I was disappointed to learn the truth about the white elephant park here.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

Some food that you can purchased for the elephants but you won’t be allowed to feed them yourself, the elephant keeper will bring in the food and feed them instead.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

There are posters showing some introduction of the white elephants. One male and two female lives in this beautiful pavilion.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

White Elephant Symbolise Purity and Good Fortune

Burmese people worship Elephant and think that it an auspicious animal that is being white which is symbolise of purity, power and good fortune.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

I found some pots in the middle of the park, got curious so went to open up the pot and have a look what was inside. Is just plain water and there are bowls too, probably for the thirsty visitors.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

Burmese kid saying hello to us and he has a name tag with him but it was written in Burmese, not sure if the tag say their name.  They don’t speak any English but very friendly.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

No Entrance Fees

There is no entrance fees to White Elephant Park. The entrance to the park is also not that obvious as there is no signboard. You see few stalls setting outside the White Elephants Park and many children roaming outside the entrance.  Children faces were all painted with the Thanaka yellowish powder, a signature in Myanmar.

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

Final thoughts :

The White Elephants Park near Yangon was not in our plan at all.  We have a brief stop.  It was my first time to see elephant in this color, the white pink greyish.  However,  not a very happy feeling as the elephants were chained and not allowed to roam freely.  They look sad to me and who doesn’t if freedom is being constraint.  Not sure it is the right way to worship the white elephants?

 

Myanmar : Unexpected Discovery - White Elephant in Hsin Hpyu Daw Park Yangon

Other attractions in Bago :

  • Mya Tha Lyaung Reclining Buddha – Outdoor
  • Bago Reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha (Indoor)
  • Bago Golden God Temple : Shwemawdaw Pagoda – Myanmar Tallest Pagoda
  • Bago Monk School – Kya Kha Wain Kyaung Monastery
  • The Golden Palace in Bago – Kanbawzathadi Palace
  • 4 Seated Buddha – Kyaik Pun Pagoda
  • Taukkyan War Cemetery
  • Road Trip from Yangon to Bago – 14 Things to observe

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Myanmar : Bago Road Trip – A Brief Stop at Taukkyan War Cemetery
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44 comments

Joan October 10, 2018 - 10:33 am

I have never seen. Albino elephants but I don’t really like seeing them in chains. It is really sad but atleast you got to see them.

Reply
Ben Butler October 10, 2018 - 12:15 pm

Any time anything is chained, it’s a bad thing. If they can’t walk freely, it’s abuse. I hope in the future that they honor their elephants by giving them space to walk and not shackling them. =(

Reply
kumamonjeng October 10, 2018 - 1:03 pm

Dear Ben,
I can’t agree more. It is pretty sad to just look at them being chained.

Reply
GiGi Eats Celebrities October 10, 2018 - 1:01 pm

I LOVEEEEE stumbling upon unexpected finds when traveling!! It makes it that much more real!! What an awesome find!

Reply
kumamonjeng October 10, 2018 - 10:52 pm

Dear Gigi,

Such surprises can bring a lot of emotion 🙂

Reply
Alexandra October 10, 2018 - 1:26 pm

What beautiful animals – I agree with you though, it is so sad to see them in chains 🙁

Reply
Priyanka October 10, 2018 - 2:18 pm

Thats true. White elephants are comsidered sacred in many of the Asian countries.

Reply
Deserted_Queen October 10, 2018 - 2:42 pm

They chain them?? This is bad, it hurts to see those cute elephants in chains.

Reply
kumamonjeng October 10, 2018 - 10:54 pm

Dear Queen,

They worried the elephants got angry and hurt the local people who lives nearby.

Reply
Melanie J Sparks October 10, 2018 - 2:47 pm

Those elephants are beautiful, it is so sad to see them in chains though.

Reply
kumamonjeng October 10, 2018 - 10:47 pm

Dear Melanie,

You are right about it, it was not a pleasant feeling.

Reply
Jessi Joachim October 10, 2018 - 3:49 pm

I have never been to Myanmar, but it looks absolutely beautiful! There seems to be a lot of places to visit and things to do!

Reply
kumamonjeng October 10, 2018 - 10:56 pm

Dear Jessi,

It was my first time visiting Myanmar, they are plenty of pagodas and temple all over the country. 🙂

Reply
Mosaics Lab October 10, 2018 - 5:33 pm

Thanks a lot for the awesome post! The chained elephant is sad but the place is gorgeous for sure! Can’t wait to visit it!

Reply
kumamonjeng October 10, 2018 - 11:00 pm

Dear Mosaics,

I still very much prefer the Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai Thailand where you see the elephants are so jovial and friendly. Over here there are only three pathetic looking elephants with chain. However this sort of color is my first encounter!

Reply
Ayana Nell October 10, 2018 - 6:55 pm

I have to say I thought the same thing as you, for a people who worship these creatures, how sad that they are chained up! Get a taller fence if you’re worried about human interaction! I’m sure it was an interesting experience!

Reply
Jessica Taylor October 10, 2018 - 7:17 pm

Aren’t you glad that your driver insisted??? Such a beautiful animal!

Reply
Coombe Mill October 10, 2018 - 7:53 pm

How exciting to see a white elephant. I must say I find it quite distressing to see them chained up like that.

Reply
Terri Steffes October 10, 2018 - 10:26 pm

While they are quite beautiful and I am glad you got to see them, I hate to see any animal in captivity.

Reply
Marysa October 10, 2018 - 11:46 pm

That is sad to see such a majestic animal confined like that. But interesting to tour other countries and see what it is like.

Reply
Catherine Santiago Jose October 11, 2018 - 8:21 am

I have never been there but definitely a nice place to visit and once I get there meeting that elephant is my first activity that I am going to do.

Reply
Yeah Lifestyle October 11, 2018 - 11:59 am

What beautiful elephants – it must have been such an experience to see them as close as you did. I love unexpected discoveries like this.

Reply
Scott Gombar October 11, 2018 - 2:26 pm

So sad to see them chained up. They’re really such peaceful animals and beautiful.

Reply
jermyj9 October 11, 2018 - 2:51 pm

I love elephants. I would really love to visit one day so I can see the elephants up close.

Reply
healthyfitcouple.com October 11, 2018 - 4:25 pm

I would never visit this park! How sad to keep the elephants chained up, such cruelty to these beautiful animals.

Reply
gemma redford October 11, 2018 - 4:42 pm

Oh no, this is so sad :'( I hate to see this. Poor magnificent creatures!

Reply
Jasmine - LoveLifeLaughMotherhood October 11, 2018 - 9:35 pm

really upsetting that the elephants are chained. they don’t even do that in zoos here in America!

Reply
kumamonjeng October 12, 2018 - 6:04 am

Dear Jamine,

I agree that having animals chain is just unacceptable, no matter which part of the world.

Reply
Natalia October 11, 2018 - 10:13 pm

The White Elephants Park near Yangon looks like a great spot for a visit. I’d love to see the elephants at such a close distance, but it’s definitely true that they should be free and not chained for sure!

Reply
stacey October 11, 2018 - 11:00 pm

I hate to see any animal confined or chained. I regret my part in some past experiences with the animal kingdom, like riding one of these majestic animals. I wish you could have seen them under different circumstances.

Reply
Enriqueta Lemoine October 11, 2018 - 11:32 pm

Wao this is such a different place… so green and the colors so bright. I don’t lik chains of any kind though….

Reply
Wendy Lemeric October 12, 2018 - 1:35 am

What a fascinating sight, but it’s just so sad with the chains.

Reply
blair villanueva October 12, 2018 - 10:14 am

Humans are more wiser than animals, so it is best if humans will adjust not the animals. Chaining them is stupid.

Reply
Anosa October 12, 2018 - 2:54 pm

Never knew about white elephants, what a truly unexpected discovery

Reply
Suman Doogar October 13, 2018 - 4:56 am

Such perfect timing, my friend is in Myanmar right now. I will forward this post to her, she is also a blogger so your post will interest her.

Reply
Terri Beavers October 16, 2018 - 3:24 am

These elephants are so beautiful but so sad to hear that they have to be chained down. That is a horrible way to live, I wish they could make stronger gates to keep them away from the people and not have to be chained.

Reply
kumamonjeng October 16, 2018 - 7:10 am

Dear Terri,

I think if you treat the elephants well, give them enough food and plenty of activities to do and lots of love, they can’t be dangerous. Seeing them in chain is so heart breaking.

Reply
Kylie cre8tone October 16, 2018 - 9:49 am

such a lovely trip.. to discover some unexpected is always the best part in a journey.. enjoy ur trip ya

Reply
kafeel21 October 16, 2018 - 9:50 am

Such a wonderful idea. Really loved reading this post!

Reply
Megwyn October 16, 2018 - 11:47 am

Interesting but animals should be on their own. 🙁 … We live together with them and they have as much the right in every way.

Reply
Wanda Lopez October 16, 2018 - 1:22 pm

It also saddens me to see them chained. I haven’t seen any albino or pink elephants before. I can just imagine how beautiful they are too see in person.

Reply
usranaeem October 19, 2018 - 11:28 am

Never been to Myanmar but this post is so good and Myanmar looks beautiful. Such pretty pictures though

Reply
Flyingkids October 26, 2018 - 10:22 am

Elephants are really adorable even though they are really huge. This is such an interesting post. Nice shots btw.

Reply
London Mumma October 29, 2018 - 9:31 pm

I love random finds like these, this is certainly a great site seeing and historical place.

Reply

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I am the travel writer for Thinkerten. I lived in Japan, Australia, Malaysia and now based in Singapore. Speak 4 languages, Japanese, English, Malay, and Chinese. There are the many types of travels one can experience and mine are mostly focus on self-driving/road trip to explore the places I wanted to see and learn about. Only if you get out of your country, you will see the real you and understand more about yourself, to realize of your own identity, your own culture, and your root.

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