According to the Board of Trustees of the sacred Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as the Golden Rock Pagoda, more than 1.16 million pilgrims, both local and international, visited the site during its seven-month-long pagoda festival.
The festival period began on October 17, 2024 (Full Moon Day of Thadingyut) and concluded on May 11, 2025 (Full Moon Day of Kason). During this time, 1,141,367 domestic pilgrims and 24,787 international pilgrims visited the sacred site, said U Soe Hla, head of the Board of Trustees.
He added, “This year, we saw a higher number of pilgrims than last year. Among international visitors, the majority came from Thailand.”
Although the official Buddhist festival period has ended, arrangements are still in place for pilgrims who continue to visit the sacred site. These include transportation services to the mountain, as well as provisions for accommodation, food, security, and healthcare—similar to those available during the festival.
In comparison, during the previous festival period (2023–2024), the area received over 720,000 local and international pilgrims, the board reported.
Due to the influx of visitors, local residents noted that guesthouses, restaurants, and other related businesses in the Kyaiktiyo area have experienced a positive boost in activity.
The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda festival is held annually from the Full Moon Day of Thadingyut to the Full Moon Day of Kason, with an estimated three million pilgrims visiting the site in a typical season.
