Within easy reach of Mandalay the last capital of Myanmar kings are four sacred hills — Mandalay hill, Yankin hill, Mei U hill and Yey Tagun hill, of them the last mentioned hill is the least known, because it lies a little off the tract. But few years ago a good tarred road has been constructed connecting between downtown area and the foot of the hill and even extending to the summit of the hill. Besides, many modern facilities and buildings have been built to the south-east of the hill such as agricultural school, primary and middle schools, a golf course, etc. In spite of the advent of modernity, Yey Tagun hill remains green, clean and verdant retaining its archaeological and historical features, thanks to the care of Ovadacariya Sayadaw monks, Pagoda Board of Trustees and the public.

Like the other three hills, Yey Tagun hill is shrouded with legends and histories. It is said that this hill has been a Sanctuary (Abhayathana) where all living creatures are protected from all dangers and where ascetics, hermits and forest monks had resided to perform religious practices — concentration of mind (Samatha) and meditation (Vipassana). Alchemists and necromancers also experimented their alchemy to concoct panacea and medicine for the longevity or to make a mercury compound to turn all base metals into gold. Herbalists gather medicinal plants that grow wild on this hill. Rishis and forest monks who reside secluded on this hill are vegetarians keeping the hill as a sanctuary for all life forms.

Legend has it that Yey Tagun Taung hill is one of the nine “Maha hills” which have been traditionally designated sanctuaries for all living creatures both flora and fauna. The list of these nine Maha hills begins with Popa hill and ends with Yey Tagun Taung hill. Thus there is a saying in Myanmar “Popa is the beginning and Yey Tagun is the end”. They are in sequence (1) Popa hill (2) Min Wun hill (3) Shwe Taung (Mindon) hill (4) Maha Myaing Pong Taung (5) Kay La Tha hill (6) Kyaik Hti Yoe Taung (7) Zwey Kabin Taung (8) Dawna Taung and (9) Yey Tagun Taung hill.

There are natural caves with ancient religious monuments on and around Yey Tagun Taung hill. They are (1) Adhipadi Pauk Gu or Ta-wa Gu inside of which is a stone Buddha Image with an inscription saying that it was donated by a couple of Prince and Princess, but no name and date were mentioned. (2) Gu Ni or Moe Paw Kya Gu or Ratana San Shwe Gu in which is a coffin inside which Sayadaw Monk U Panna dhaja meditated, (3) Thone Pauk Gu or Ley Kyun Mann Aung Gu with a pagoda on a stone slab where the holyman Shin Mahtee had practiced Samatha (mental concentration) (4) Saing Waing Gu or Ataung Thone Ze Gu or Kaung Kin Gu or Thagya Gu (5) Khun Hnit Sint Gu or Khun Hrut Htat Gu (6) Shwe Hintha Gu with three layers. Rock formations on the cave wall look like a couple of male and female Brahmany ducks. The last layer is very deep and suffocating inside due to insufficient oxygen. (7) Naga Pauk Gu (8) Hto Ma Gu or Htoo Ma Gu or Maghpo Pauk Gu and (9) many Dhamma Theidi Gus in which Rishis, hermits and holymen in the past had meditated.

There are also many water resources at this hill in the forms of springs, falls, pools and lakes (1) Seven water falls cascading from the hill even in Summer (2) a deep lake called Hsin Ma Htauk Kan which is so deep that elephants dare not go into it. It is kept clean and crystal clear supplying drinking water all seasons (3) Thagyar water well (4) a small spring well on the summit of Mya Kalat hill. The name of this hill “Yey Tagun Taung” meaning the hill of waterfalls epitomizes its water resources. It is said and also proved to be true that the chemicals of the natural water of this hill have healing properties — bathing in its cool and clear natural water gives you freshness and body recuperation, cures all skin diseases itch and eye drop with its water purifies and clears your vision.

Some strange phenomena are witnessed by some monks and people who reside on the hill performing religious practices — balls of mercury compound flying about at night, the neighing sounds of some stones on certain auspicious occasions: on some late nights big boulders on the hill collide producing frightening noises. Remnants of alchemists’ workshops are found at the entrances to some caves and in deep valleys, with medicinal plants and trees growing wild around them.

Prominent Buddhist monuments on the hill are (1) Ko Taung Pyi Pagoda (2) Ley Kyun Man Aung Zedi (3) Bodhi Man Daing Saya Saing Pagoda (4) Dhat Paung Zedi (5) Hsu Taung Ya Zedi (6) U Pannadhaja Zedi (7) Phayar Kozu Dhammayone (8) Shin Arahan’s Ordination Hall (9) Footprints of a seven years old novice monk who attained Sainthood, which are enshrined in two Pada Zedis (10) Statues and images of guardian spirits of the hill. The forest monks who had resided on this hill and who developed the hill into a Buddha Sasana center were (1) Kyet Htaung Sayadaw U Dhammacari who touched the wild fowls and birds and recited his Abhaya mantra (no danger mantra) so that they be free from all dangers. (2) First Sayadaw U Pannadhaja who recited Metta Sutta Paritta to the wild cats and other ferocious animals roaming on this hill which became tamed to him. He could stroke tigers and leopards of the hill. (3) His two disciples — Sayadaw U Asarya and Nun Daw Omar and (4) his three lay devotees U Ohn Pe, U Khin Maung and Daw Hla Mei (5) Second Sayadaw U Asaya who did many development works such as repairing and renovating old religious monuments, constructing new ones building motor road around and to the top of the hill, flights of steps to the summit, etc. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 83—63 years of ordained age. His memorials beikman was built on the Mya Kalat summit.

Though Yey Tagun Taung hill is accessible as all weather road had been constructed, it is little known to the local people let alone attracting foreign visitors. Monk U Thuta, a lonely forest monk who lives on this hill explains that only on some Sabbath days and religious occasion a few Buddhists come up to perform charity. Yey Tagun Taung hill is a must in the itinerary of any visitor or pilgrim to Mandalay.