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When I was reading about, and planning my trip to Myanmar, I learned that a “must visit” destination in Myanmar was a place called Lake Inle. For some reason, I didn’t spend a lot of time researching the place because I was more enamored by places like Mandalay, Bagan, and Yangon. Places, steeped in history, with romantic and tragic pasts. Lake Inle was just (in my mind) a destination where we would spend a night or a couple of nights while we traversed the highways between Mandalay and Yangon.

floating village on the inle lake

Floating village on the Inle Lake

So, as we drove to Inle from Mandalay, I had zero expectations. Somewhere, in my mind, I sort of vaguely imagined it to be like the lake in Nainital or Ooty or even like the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad. I imagined it to be the sort of place where you might spend time cycling around the lake or at the most, take a day hike and complete the lake circuit. So, it was a huge-huge surprise to me when we got there, and in less than a few hours, I was so in love with the place that I didn’t want to leave.

Lake Inle is called the Venice of the east, but I think Inle’s waterways are Venice’s water canals on steroids! It has miles and miles of canals and waterways and the scale is simply insane! The name in Burmese means “small lake” which is a bit weird because the lake is huge. It’s 22 km in length and 11 km at its widest point, so, unless you live near ‘Lake Superior’ or something, it’s big!
Inle is a freshwater lake in the Shan state of Myanmar, surrounded by hills and is one of the most picturesque places in Myanmar. It is about 350 km from Mandalay and 660 km from Yangon. We actually drove to Inle from Bagan, which was about a distance of 340 km. Since we were on a road trip we made several stops along the way, so the drive took us about 9 hours. On the way out of Inle, we drove to Yangon, which took us about 13 hours with stops. Of course, if you are not on a road trip like we were, you can always choose to fly into Heho airport, which is about an hour’s drive away from the lake.Once you get to the shores of the lake, you don’t need a car at all. All travel is done via the vast network of waterways that make up Lake Inle. We commandeered 2 or 3 slender wooden boats for our group, outfitted with rather noisy outboard engines and cheerful boat captains. As we traversed the waterways we saw a myriad of similar little boats ferrying tourists around. The boats are these tiny narrow wooden boats with 4 wooden chairs in a row. Almost like a Kashmiri shikara!
smoking cheroots with local woman

Smoking cheroots with local woman

We began our day with a visit to an outdoor market filled with the most beautiful carved curios and other touristy items. Then we went to Inthein, which is filled a plethora of weather-beaten ancient stupas. From there we went to a cigar making unit, where the ladies in charge showed us how to make hand rolled cigars. I really loved this experience because they make unique flavored hand-rolled cigars with flavors from rum to banana and everything else in-between. Then it was a mulberry paper making unit and also a lotus stem silk weaving unit. The people of Shan province, (where Inle lake is situated), are famous for cottage industries as mainstream jobs are hard to come by.

We experienced local cuisine at the floating restaurant on the lake, where the fish was probably caught a scant 30 minutes before we ate it and was simply delicious. After lunch we were out on the lake again, exploring floating markets and farms. The kind of fresh produce that they grow here is amazing. We checked off our tourist “to-do list” when we saw the indigenous fishermen of the area do their thing and row using only their legs.

inle lake

Fisherman in the Inle Lake

Watching the sun rise or set over the water on Lake Inle is almost a spiritual experience, so don’t miss this for anything. Life on the lake moves at a different pace than the rest of the world. You are forced to slow down and take a breath, relax and reset your life goals and expectations. If you get the chance, don’t miss a trip to this fairy tale destination.

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9 Days Adventure In Marvelous Country Myanmar

The first time we tried to make a trip to Myanmar was not as easy as we thought and various thoughts came out of our mind were hardly acceptable because we did not have a precise idea where we should go in Myanmar. So, we used the internet for collecting the information about travel to Myanmar. We just found one program that was very suitable for us and perfects matched with our imagination. It is “9 Days Myanmar Classic Tour” by Pro Niti Travel. So I directly contacted to them and started planning our trip to Myanmar. The reason is that the proposition of the places to visit is more suited to the type of trip that we wanted to do.

One week before our trip, we checked with our agency by Email to secure all the arrangements of our trip have been set up or not. At the same time, we were preparing to pack all of the things that may be of need of trip.

Yangon arrival and explore marvelous Yangon

shwedagon-pagoda

Grand Shwedagon Pagoda

As soon as getting off our plane, the smell that came from Golden Land was giving us some refreshment for the upcoming days in Myanmar and welcoming us to the Land of glittering Pagodas. The guide and the driver waited for us and greeted with Myanmar charming smile. We were taken by the car to our hotel, and it took about 1 hour. We took some minutes to check-in and stayed for a while at the hotel. Then we set out our trip to Botahtaung Pagoda. It stands on the east bank of Yangon River, and a sacred hair relic of Buddha had been keeping in the glass case to display inside the pagoda. And we went to the enjoyable Art Gallery at Strand Hotel. It is a definite must-see place for lovers of art, and all beautiful galleries are displayed covering a diverse range of topics, it is small though. We got some inside tips from local artists. Then we walked through the streets to downtown and saw the colonial buildings reminding us of the British era. All several significant land marks such as Yangon city hall featuring traditional roofs, Sule Pagoda, High court and the central post office were attracting us for unstoppable shooting photos. Afterward, the thing we just wrote down in our note book is that hundreds of late 19th century structures are remaining in the downtown area. Then we were driven to BogyokeAung San Market. In my opinion, it is a great place offering souvenirs, clothes, and pieces of art.

kandawgyi lake

Magical sunset at Kandawgyi Lake, Yangon

So we enjoyed to wander around and got some cheap and quality gifts. Then we went to the Myanmar local restaurant named “Padonmar Restaurant.” It is an excellent restaurant and has very nice seating facilities in the lush green lawn, and food served was also very nice. At the restaurant, we spent for one hour and discussed with our guide for next sightseeing places. After lunch, the weather was getting hot, and so we went at ChaukHtetKyi reclining Buddha image. We think it is one of the famous religious symbols in Myanmar and the shrines are great as well. The next destination that attracts us is Kandawgyi Park. It is also a beautiful park in the middle of Yangon where we have seen local people and plenty of restaurants as well. No doubt that it is a hot spot for local couples. We walked around the park and parts of the lake were beautiful, especially on the side of the Shwedagon Pagoda. So we couldn’t help to take the photos of the Golden Boat in the lake and the scenic view of Shwedagon Pagoda from afar. We were already at Shwedagon Pagoda. Sure, a visit to the Union of Myanmar won’t complete without a visit to Grand Shwedagon Pagoda. We think it is one of the most sacred places in all Myanmar and it is pretty spectacular to see this huge golden stupa surrounded by hundreds of small golden stupas. Visit Shwedagon Pagoda in the evening will give you the most picturesque experience. Although we spent only one day in Yangon, we liked it because it is a lovely city with a good vibe.

Yangon-Bagan by morning flight and explore ancient Bagan

bagan-myanmar

Bagan, Myanmar

As Yangon greeted us with full excitements, we were eager and couldn’t wait for the new destination visualizing what they would excite us with different things. Thus, we got up early and were ready to set off from my hotel after breakfast. The driver picked us up on time, and we headed to the airport for Bagan flight. Yangon morning was alive with less traffic, and we easily got to the airport. By one hour and twenty minutes flight, we safely landed in Bagan. A friendly guide was greeting and taken us to a local market in Nyaung U, Manisithu Market. It is a colorful market and crowded with locals in town and nearby villages. We were attracted by its rural culture and amazingly by its seasonal fruits and vegetables, traditional local sweets and products. Each and everything is so strange to us and enthusiastic for the next stop. Our second stop was Shwezigon Pagoda, a golden stupa, and it is a good introductory place to learn Bagan’s rich history. Next, to Wetkyi Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple, the architecture and the unique, exquisite Jataka mural paintings show Indian influence; this cave temple is fascinating but photography inside the temple is prohibited as the flash light would damage the ancient mural paintings. Htilominlo temple is noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations, and we are sure that it will impress you with its marvelous architecture.

cultivation in bagan

Farm in the ancient Bagan

Then, we proceeded to Ananda temple famous for its architectural masterpiece which is built in the early Mon-Myanmar style. After that, we took a horse cart, and we felt like traveling in ancient Bagan. Passing through the Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan and we stopped for a while for photo shot to the whole view of famous temples like Dhammayangyi, Shwe San Daw and other small temples nearby. We got some interesting history about the glorious of Bagan kingdom and what attracted us most are the hanging puppets from a big tree near the gate of Dhammayangyi. We took a lot of photos there and bought one of the red puppets as the trip present. Lastly, we ended our day at Shwe San Daw Pagoda by enjoying an unforgettable sunset over the plain. It was a bit touristic but worth the wait and patience.

Exploration of Bagan continues

ox cart in myanmar

Ox cart in Myanmar

Today also, we planned to stroll around Bagan for some famous and popular temples.We went to Minnanthu village that is just a village giving us an excellent insight into the life and times of the people around Bagan. The authentic cotton weaving and cheroot making in the village gave us a vivid impression of rural life. Then we set out our way to Bagan temples such as Laymyatnar monastery complex, Phayathon Su, Nandamannya Pahto. All are the temples painted by mural paintings, and while we were visiting there, we felt like our dates back to the 13th Century. We didn’t know how the time has gone and was very hungry at the time of arriving at the restaurant. After lunch, we were driven to the hotel and stayed relaxed for a few hours. We noticed it later that was better for us instead of continuing sightseeing in one day after our trip. After we had reloaded our energy, we started our way again to the village named Myinkabar. We visited Manuha temple located as one of the four large Buddha temples in the village.

horse-cart-at-bagan

Horse cart at Bagan

We were told the story behind the large Buddhas encased in the small chambers. The stories are as fascinating as the structures themselves. The temple next to it is Nan Paya. We had just a short visit there and took the photos of the stone carvings. All stone carvings are visible from the beginning of the entrance. The nearby temple is GubyaukGyi temple where we saw the remarkable feature of the temple. It is the many arrays of well-preserved frescos found in the temple interior. At the late afternoon, we went to the jetty for a sunset river cruise along the Ayeyarwady River (also known as the Irrawaddy River) and enjoyed a relaxing 90 minutes sunset cruise.It is worth a watch for magical sunset if you are a big fan of sunset. We captured a shot of local life along the shore and of the sun setting beyond the river’s edge. It was a great way to relax after a day of temple viewing.Then we got back to the hotel and spent our time at the hotel by seeing the photos shot today.

If you have some more days, you can visit Mt. Popa and other rural villages exploration. Biking around this ancient Bagan is tremendous and adventurous. Of course, ballooning over Bagan is one of the must-try experience in Myanmar.

Bagan-Mandalay by morning flight and ancient cities exploration

mahagandayon monastery

Monks at Mahagandayone Monastery, Amarapura

To minimize the time, we took the flight from Bagan to Mandalay. On arrival, the guide and driver were waiting for us. As we arrived at the next city, our thoughts were very fresh to explore what is more in a new destination. We observed more about Buddhism and the daily life of monks and novices at MahargandarYone Monastery. As my guide arranged a private donation for us, we got a chance to donate some fruits for the monks. To Ava (Innwa) we needed to take a public boat. It was so exciting to experience the different local transport. In Innwa, we visited Mae Nu brick monastery and noted its intricate stucco sculptures, the leaning tower of Innwa, a 27-meter-high Masonry watch tower, and Bagaya teak monastery built by massive 267 teak pillars. On the way back to Amarapura, we had a chance to observe the alms bowl workshop. At Sagaing Hill, we visited U Min Thoneze Pagoda and U Ponya Shin Pagoda. We took the photos of a panoramic view of Sagaing, and the two bridges stand aside across the Ayeyarwady River.

u bein bridge

U Bein bridge, Amarapura, Mandalay

Then we headed our way to Amarapura and experienced the enjoyable sunset view at U Bein Bridge. U Bein Bridge is famous of its teak planks over 200 years ago. There, we took a boat in Thaung Ta Man lake as it is a bit crowd on the bridge. The amazing sunset just happened with this old and long teak bridge, and together fishers on boats are fascinating. We did enjoy our evening in the vicinity of Mandalay.

Adventure around the last dynasty of Myanmar, Mandalay

kuthodaw pagoda

Nun at Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay

Today, we planned to visit in the Mandalay city. The first place we got to is Maha Muni Pagoda. According to our guide’s explanation, we noted that it is the heart of Mandalay and pilgrimage site of Buddhists. Also, it is famous for its life-like Buddha image and the story. If you are in Mandalay, it is the one that you should not miss. Since Mandalay is a city of arts and culture, visiting traditional art and craft workshops was our target. We headed out to stucco, Aung Nan tapestry workshop, bronze casting statue workshop, hand-made gold-leave workshops and got to know the knowledgeable processes of making them. Then we went to a local Myanmar restaurant for lunch and took a couple of minutes for relaxing. Then, we continued our way to the Royal Palace. We learned more about the last kingdom of Myanmar and the epic history.

stucco workshop from Mandalay

Stucco workshop from Mandalay

The other impressive place is Shwenandaw Kyaung (also known as the Golden monastery). It is famous for its wood carving. After exploration there, we visited Kuthodaw Pagoda where we have seen the world’s biggest book and the inscription of the Buddha teachings on the 729 marble slabs. Then, we climbed up to the top of Mandalay Hill and took the photos of the fascinating sunset of Mandalay with the background of Ayeyawaddy River and Sagaing Hill. After all, we got back to our hotel for relaxation and overnight. Discovery of Mandalay city is so unique. It is a modernized city as well as a city where we can see a mixture of old culture and traditions at the concurrent time. Mandalay is worth to see, and a visit to Myanmar without Mandalay is incomplete.

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Mandalay-Heho by flight and time to enjoy nature and explore the ethnic groups around Inle Lake

local market

Local market near Inle Lake

We were always quite captured with Myanmar’s best places so far, but we were still energetic for the next stop wondering how it would amaze us. Today, we flew to Heho from Mandalay for about 25 minutes. Upon arrival, the experienced guide waited for us, and we proceeded to Pindaya (about 2-hr drive from the airport). Just as we thought, we were aroused by the beautiful Shan Hill with colorful fields and pine trees. Our first stop was Pindaya Cave. It is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists located on a limestone ridge. The legendary of the cave and big spider sculpture is so interesting that we could imagine beyond the history. Then, we explored to the traditional cottage industry of umbrella making by Shan Paper. We could not hide our curiosity of the manufacturing process as it was not only entertaining but also educational for us.

local market inle lake

Local market near Inle Lake

We had our lunch at a local Danu Restaurant and tasted the traditional Danu cuisine. We did think to carry recipes to home. After lunch, we continued to NyaungShwe (for about 2.30 hr drive). On arrival, we went to our hotel for refreshments. We headed out for a small walk near the hotel. NyaungShwe is like a small Italian village, and there are many restaurants and bars to chill after your long day. Moreover, if you are an art lover, you can stop by at art galleries and explore the masterpiece of the local artists which are somewhat a relaxing expedition. We ended our day at a pub by enjoying European dinner.

Inle Lake and Indein village, nature is lovely

inle lake

Fisherman in the Inle Lake

Today, we surely would have the different experience for the discovery to Inle Lake by boating. We visited the floating islands and gardens. We were overwhelmed by the gardening method of Intha ethnic. Then, we proceeded to HeyaYwama Village. It is a village of blacksmith, goldsmith, silversmith, and weaving and we had a chance to learn more about their arts and what made us unforgettable is the hospitality of the locals and hosts. They treated us as a family with various traditional snacks and Intha tea. Our next checkpoint was Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. It is the main pilgrimage site of Inle Lake. Surrounding of the pagoda and in the basement are shops selling traditional Shan and Intha merchandise.

inle lake

Floating village on the Inle Lake

Next, our curiosities were very high at the traditional fishing style of Inthasbecause it is so unique and rare. It would be better if you have your cameras ready in your hands. Our Lunch was different from the past days because we had a local Intha Cuisines which were delicious and fine for the westerners’ appetite. After lunch, we headed out to the south of Inle Lake and boating to Indein Village through Indein creek, a long narrow canal. Indein is one of the villages that host the Inle 5 day market. There, you can see the Paoh people in black costumes with turbans on heads. Everything was attracting for us and the ancient ShweIndien Pagoda complex where we noticed the arts from the 17th and 18th century.

kayan woman inle lake

Kayan Woman at Inle Lake

We had a great time to learn more about a different culture, ways of living, and get exposure with the locals. We couldn’t express how happy and excited while we were exploring around the lake.

Adventure biking around the Lake

inle lake

Inle Lake

Since along the way from Heho airport to Nyaung Shwe yesterday, we noted that the surrounding of Inle Lake is rich in natural elements. And so we decided to do one full day lake sightseeing and biking around the lake the next day. Today, we were ready to bike around Nyaung Shwe after breakfast. Our guide was also ready, and we started biking in NyaungShwe town. Our first visit was Nyaung Shwe Mingalar Market in the middle of town, and we enjoyed it as we experienced the authentic traditional cuisines. Then, we continue to NyaungShwe Haw, a secret Shan Palace of a long time ago. There, we have explained the deeper history of the palace and saw a collection of Thrones; the original costumes were worn by the queen and so on. Afterward, we led our way to the north of Nyaung Shwe by passing through green fields and ponds. We stopped by at the ancient Shwe Yan Pyay monastery. It is the most photo spot monastery of NyaungShwe. The unique oval windows in the old ordination hall create the perfect frame, and you can get good pictures of novices. We spent our time there a lot and even having an interaction with little beginners is the best for us. We biked back to Nyaung Shwe and enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant.

Smoking cheroots with local woman

Smoking cheroots with local woman

After loaded, biking to the eastern part of the lake by passing through villages and a sugar factory is our way. The green fields and seasonal flowers are so attracting alongside the road. Then we visited Red Mountain Winery (called German Winery). The view up there is fantastic with a background view of Inle Lake in the west. We had wine tasting and enjoyed the beautiful view with the cool breeze. It worth biking up there and sincerely we would like to stay until sunset. But, to catch our evening flight back to Yangon, we returned our way to the hotel. Then we drove to Heho airport for Yangon flight. On arrival at Yangon, we just spent our leisure night at the hotel as it’s been a long day.

Trekking around Kalaw, Pindaya, and Inle Lake are very popular in this area and exploring Paoh trail would be another choice you might do there.

Can’t believe we were in marvelous Myanmar

Today was the last day of our trip, and thus we had already woke up before hotel’s morning call and getting ready and alert for airport transfer. Then we had a breakfast that was our last breakfast in Myanmar. Our driver was willing to fetch us to the airport. Spending 9 days in Myanmar is not enough for us. Honestly, we want to spend more here and interact with the people, experience the different culture of ethics, try different traditional cuisines and lastly, explore the wonders and places of Myanmar. Well, we were about to on board and made a vow to come again to mysterious Myanmar.

So… so…, our trip was perfectly ended. We think all of the places where we explored and the things that we made during in trip made sense for its particular location. Naturally, Myanmar offers many breathtaking temples, Pagodas, small villages, statues, vibrant cities and so on. So, we couldn’t resist recommending to other for their trip to Myanmar after we have experienced this journey with full of impression and anticipation getting to know this lovely country.

Thinking and planning to travel Myanmar? Our travel experts are ready to assist you, get in touch with us now.

Mrauk U: Hidden gems in Myanmar, Remote Areas of Myanmar

The tourist situation in Burma/Myanmar is currently a constantly changing one. More so than in many other countries I found that the guides you can find in books, and even the ones on the internet were often well out of date and facing a hopeless task in trying to keep up with the changing information coming out of the country. As a general rule, things are, for the tourist at least, gradually getting better – road conditions and travel times are generally a bit quicker than what is found in the guides and the number of places you can now visit overland without the need for prior permission is slowly increasing.

shitthaung pagoda mrauk u

Shitthaung Pagoda, Mrauk U

Hurrah for lovers of long bus journeys!

One such place I was keen to visit was Mrauk U, pronounced Mira Oo – an area featuring a concentration of temples and pagodas that are often compared with what is probably Burma/Myanmar’s most famous tourist sight, Bagan. Mrauk U is generally touted as being the less touristy, more “real” version, as on account of its difficulty to get to, only around 5,000 tourists a year make it here compared to the tens of thousands that visit Bagan. Tourist numbers seem likely to slowly increase though, as although it is still not the most straight forward place to visit, you can get at least now which Mrauk U direct by bus from both Mandalay and Yangon, and even from Bagan via a change of bus in Magway. However, you can count on it being your most expensive bus journey (and probably longest) in the country, for a not particularly luxurious bus on which you will be liable to spend at least 20 hours on. Some of these journeys might be in the company of a wide variety of cargo thrown into the back seats of the bus and underneath the seats, with large metal girders under my seat doing nothing to help what wasn’t a particularly generous leg room situation to start with.

mruak u myanmar

Mruak U, Myanmar

Although at least I had a seat, rather than some locals who were sat on bags of rice in the aisles, and a much better situation that the chicken and her chicks that were making the journey in a wicker bag in the aisle that kept getting accidentally kicked just about every time anyone embarked or disembarked from the bus… Also, you will likely have your capacity for sleep tested by the fact that much of your journey will be going up and down and round and round switchbacks as you negotiation the mountainous terrain on route (although returning from Mrauk U during the day the views are spectacular). If you get travel sick you might want to take precautions – a number of locals also seem to succumb to the twisty turns – I quickly decided that my initial disappointment on my return trip of not getting the window seat was somewhat misplaced as the chap next to it proceeded to open it up every now and then to vomit out of…

You can extend your adventure to Chin village from Mrauk U by passing Lay Myo river. Mrauk U and Chin village adventure combination is really fantastic experience.

beauty of Myanmar

A long the way to Chin Village

Still assuming you manage to get there (an alternative route is to fly to Sittwe and take a boat or bus to Mrauk U, or to take a combination of buses and boats along the coast from Yangon to Sittwe) the rewards are rich. One of the major selling points for me was the continued existence of the settlement of Mrauk U in the middle of the site. At Bagan the locals have been moved out by the government and live on the outskirts of the site in Nyaung U or New Bagan, but here in Mrauk U they and their thatched houses are right in the heart of the action, and wandering around the village at dawn, as they wake to cook their breakfasts over wood fires and generously call off their dogs from attacking you was almost as much fun as the temples themselves. It definitely gives the place a different energy to the slightly more artificial atmosphere I found at Bagan.

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The temples are very different to Bagan, much more simple in appearance and made of stone rather than brick. Some of them look more like forts or pill boxes, to be honest. There are also far fewer of them, but the landscape is also different, with myriads of small hills meaning the whole site has a very different look to Bagan. In the evening, the view from the hills as the setting sun shines through the wood smoke, with kids playing hacky sack and football outside the temples whilst adults tend the surrounding fields is truly awesome, a highlight of my entire time in Burma/Myanmar and up there as a highlight of my whole trip so far.

china women with tattoo

Face tattooed women

Mrauk U v Bagan.  Temple Off!

No, nothing to do with Berlin’s iconic airfield, but a question I have been asked and have asked others on several occasions – “which is the better site to visit? – Bagan or Mrauk U“.  The guide book and several other tourists I met characterized Mrauk U, as I stated at the beginning of this piece, as the less touristy Bagan, as a result several people I met had only visited Mrauk U and others who did visit both said that they much preferred Mrauk U on this basis. But the site is also much smaller so you are just as likely to be sharing the best sunset and sunrise viewing spots with others (although admittedly not on the same scale) Equally Bagan is large enough that if you go off the beaten track you are just as likely to find yourself wandering a temple alone. A Mexican I met seemed rather disappointed with the temples of Mrauk U and clearly preferred the slightly grander and generally larger designs at Bagan, but some of the larger temples at Mrauk U definitely stack up well in my opinion in terms of visual appeal and the fun of exploring the interiors.

Mrauk U sunset

Sunset Mrauk U

So in my mind, the whole thing is rather a false choice – they are, despite essentially both being locations in which you can find lots of temples, in my mind sufficiently different places to stack up as must see places in their own right. If you are on a tight time schedule you will likely only have time to visit Bagan as it is the far easier place to get to, but if you have the luxury of time then Mrauk U is a great place to visit, not instead of Bagan, but in addition to Bagan. That said, false choice or not, when asked to pick which one I preferred, I would have to say Mrauk U – partly because the sunsets with the wood smoke really were special, and probably partly because I spent 40 hours on buses to get there and back and I probably still need to justify to myself that it was worth it! I’m sure many others who say Mrauk U is much better than Bagan are motivated by similar feelings, so the truth is if you can visit both, visit both!

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This article is reused with permission from No Fly Tripping.

Dan is the 29-year-old guy from London in the UK, who, having got out of university with a highly relevant Medieval History degree, went on to work for the rail industry in the UK, where some of the equipment dates back only slightly less than the Magna Carta. More about Dan – http://noflytripping.com/about/


Thinking and planning to travel Myanmar? Our travel experts are ready to assist you, just get in touch.

Unforgettable boat ride down the Ayeyarwaddy River

Boating down the Ayeyarwady (or Irrawaddy) River sounds like Myanmar’s version of The Love Boat. It could be, but it certainly is not what I have in mind. But let’s first look at the river.

This river is big. It flows from its sources in the Himalayan glaciers of Upper Myanmar all the way south through the Ayeyarwady Delta and into the Andaman Sea. A distance of about 2,170 km. The river is home to the endangered Ayeyarwady dolphin and the Ayeyarwady river shark. The delta near the Andaman Sea is fertile and home to many species including the sambar deer, wild boar, Asian elephants, leopard, Bengal tiger, crab-eating macaque, wild dog, otters, saltwater crocodiles and many exotic animals.

 

ayeyarwaddy river cruise

Let’s get back to the boat. A large China-built passenger boat drifts down the Ayeyarwady River fairly regularly but infrequently from Myitkyina in the northern Kachin State down south to Mandalay. You can board the boat in Myitkyina, the most northern town on this route, or a bit downstream at Bhamo or further down at Katha (Myitkyina and Bhamo are often suspended). Getting to the point of boarding is challenging.  Expensive flights go from Yangon or Mandalay to Myitkyina or Bhamo. However, boarding at Katha requires a long and bumpy bus or train ride from Mandalay. This is where the fun starts!

 

 

naba village ayeyarwaddy

Book your train ticket a few days in advance from Mandalay to the village of Naba. This very interesting but bumpy train ride normally takes about 12 hours which means you will arrive in Naba at around 3 am. At the train station an old bus should be waiting to take the passengers on a 45 min ride (23 km) east to the town of Katha. Once you arrive in town, take a tricycle taxi to one of the three old shabby guest houses near the river. Choose among the Ayarwaddy Guest House, Eden Guest House and the New Diamond Hotel. The first two are extremely shabby while the latter is a tidbit better. Regard yourself lucky if you can board the big boat on the same day.

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embank the cruise in ayeyarwady river

As you board the boat and settle down in your private, but basic, cabin, you will be delighted to leave the scruffy town of Katha. Once the boat pulls away from the ferry docks, the fun starts. That is if you remembered to buy snacks and a big bottle of Myanmar Rum. I promise you will need it during the long night on the boat!

As the sun sets over the Ayeyarwady, it’s time to buy a cold coke from the little shop on board and pull out your rum. Soon you will have several friends around you and as the boat ever so slowly drifts down the Ayeyarwady, so you and your friends will empty the bottle, and eat all your snacks.

 

 

sunset in irrawaddy river

Wake up early in the morning with a slight headache and watch as the boat continues its drift past many small villages with hordes of excited residents congregating to welcome the boat. Wave, take photos, smile. You are the main attraction because foreigners are scarce in this part of Myanmar.

 

Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady River

The boat will come to a standstill a stone-throw away from the shore as it stops at a couple of villages along the route. Villagers will quickly place a few planks between the river’s muddy edge and the boat to let passengers get on and off. The village ladies will wade waist deep into the river to get close up to the boat to sell their wares. When you make eye contact, some fruits will fly through the air into your waiting hands, at which time you are expected to float down the money. Almost hard to resist the fruits… While they are not of great quality, they sure are cheap and the ladies are in dire need of some cash. Go ahead. Float down the money.

 

in irrawaddy river

The exciting journey continues until you eventually reach Mandalay.

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This article is reused with permission from Globerovers Magazine.

GlobeRovers Magazine is currently a biannual magazine, available in digital and printed formats and focuses on bringing exciting destinations and inspiring photography from around the globe to the intrepid traveller. More at www.globerovers-magazine.com. Connect on Twitter at @globerovers and Facebook @ GloberoversMag. 


Thinking and planning to travel Myanmar, our travel experts are ready to assist you, just get in touch with us.

3 Most Beautiful Beaches in Myanmar

So far mentioned in each travel blog about Myanmar, everyone visited Myanmar love the country. One of the reasons is it’s beautiful and unspoiled beaches. Although all travelers have different purposes to visit our country, most are not just visiting and exploring the places in each city but for recreation and relaxation in the beaches. In our beautiful country, there are only three main beaches (Chaung Thar, NgweSaung and Ngapali) and Mergui Archipelagos where we can catch the fresh air and get to the area of sand and rocks next to the sea.

How do you think where you should relax for your last days of the trip if you need a carefree relaxation to rejuvenate both your physical and mental after adventure trip? In our opinion, we should end our trip at beautiful beaches of a country we visit; laying on white sand under a clear blue sky in the beautiful tanned skin, adding sweet memories and unforgettable great experiences and thus our travel notebooks would be fantastic.

Chaung Tha Beach

Chaung Thar is located in Ayeyarwady Region and it is a local friendly beach and more crowded than other beaches. But, if you are searching for the beach with local exposure at low-cost budget, Chaung Tha beach is a good option for you. Moreover, it is in the west of Yangon Region and easily accessible as you can reach by private car with your own groups or by local bus lines for 5 hr drive.

Well, let’s go deeper into the facts about hotels and restaurants. Numerous hotels are operating and so you can have different options depending on your price list. Every hotel is full of hospitality and value for money. If you are a seafood lover, this beach is a paradise for you since there are many restaurants where you can try various types of local food after strolling around the shore. Various types of fish products are available at the dry fish shop and can be bought from the vendors.

Fortunately, Chaung Tha beach is accessible all year round and so it will always welcome you even if you come and visit in rainy season.

chaung thar beach

Chaung Thar Beach, Myanmar

 Ngwe Saung Beach

Ngwe Saung is one of the finest beaches and second closest one from Yangon. Because it is located just 48km west of Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region and it needs 5 hours drive to be there. Besides, it is more popular than Chaung Tha Beach and all of the local people and some visitors can be seen for their long holidays.

Also, silvery sand and modern amenities have made the beach a popular place for tourists and local people. The accommodations and restaurants where you may reach are all comfortable and the price is reasonable as well. So you can have your own decision about what you are expecting to do and where you should relax.

Despite not many things to do in Ngwe Saung, something different is still available there such as Bird watching, visit Elephant camp, an excursion to the nearby islands, doing aquatic activities and grabbing the new experiences by keeping in touch with the local villagers. If you are a bird watcher, get a bird watching experiences in the surrounding areas of the beach. Or if you are fond of riding elephant, ask the hotel to arrange an elephant ride for you to enjoy the adventure moments by riding an elephant along the small stream across the jungle.  As aquatic activities, you will have great chance to enjoy snorkeling, diving and so on. Going to the villages to interact with the local people and stay overnight there will be a chance to create as a part of your meaningful trip.

It is, no doubt, one fine beach for all visitors whether you are considering for lower cost or luxurious one although NgweSaung still needs to be developed. Both Chaungtha and NgweSaung actually stand for its own reputation. This Bay of Bengal package will let you feel great and relax.

ngwe saung beach

Ngwe Saung Beach, Myanmar

Ngapali Beach

This one, Ngapali Beach, is a very popular beach destination among tourists as it was recognized as the best and most clean beach in Asia by travelers. It is located in Rakhine State, the western part of Myanmar. It is easily reachable by flight to Thandwe (Sandoway) airport; Thandwe is a small sea port town, which is just 7 kilometers (4 miles) away from Ngapali Beach. Although transportation by car is available, it will take about one and a half day (to/from) between the beach and Yangon. Thus, most travelers prefer to use flight if they want to minimize the time for their tiredness. Ones who love to spend their leisure in an easy, quiet and peaceful place shouldn’t miss this beach because it is regarded as ‘a touch of paradise’.

Next, you don’t need too much time to consider for hotel choices. There are various categories of hotel ranges start from fair guesthouses to luxurious hotels with spas and resorts.  After the hotel option, how are your meals? There are seafood restaurants scattered along the shore offering cheap and delicious fresh seafood daily. If you are a book lover and are not in the mood to read in your hotel room, you can go and chill by reading at cozy and quiet cafes nearby your hotel.

As Ngapali Beach lies on the coast of Rakhine State where there is a lot of rain, travelers should avoid going there in rainy season. So, don’t forget to take into account for choosing the dates and travel period because hotels at Ngapali beach mostly run from October to April. But even it is in the operating period, there are many activities available and so you can enjoy a variety of aquatic activities, for example, snorkeling and kayaking at Pearl Island, scuba diving and swimming in clear blue water of the sea. Sometimes, you can experience the differences of the ballooning over the sea by Oriental Ballooning, nearby 9-hole golf course. Apart from them, you can rent motorbike or bicycle to stroll around the local fishing village of Lon Tha.

This beach is well known as private beach due to its remote area with clear greenish-blue sea, fine and dry silvery sand. Thus, there is no doubt that these unspoiled natural elements make Ngapali more divine and that’s what marks it as the apple of the tourists. Check out our recommended package for Ngapli Beach tour.

ngapali beach

Ngapli Beach, Myanmar

Kan Thar Yar Beach

Kan Thar Yar Beach is a far less developed and less crowded beach located in Rakhine Coast. It is about 125miles from Yangon and just 64 miles south of Ngapali Beach. It is an unexplored virgin beach by tourists and most travelers.

Kan Thar Yar is accessible by car which is the most convenient way. And if you travel by private car with your own group, the total driving time will last about 6.30 hrs by passing the green fields, rice field, and pleasant villages along the way. After passing through a bendy country road alongside of the coast, you can see the beautiful blue ocean and white sandy shore, which gives you the refreshment with the cool breeze of the sea. If you are an adventurer and seeking for different types of transport to get a great experience of your life, you can also try an alternative way; you can fly firstly to Thandwe and relax at Ngapali Beach, then hire a private car for a 3hrs drive to Kan Thar Yar. Vice Versa, you can hire a car from Yangon to Kan Thar Yar, then connect to Ngapali and return Yangon by flight. What a fantastic and exciting route!

Well, as Kan Thar Yar is still a virgin beach for foreigners, there aren’t many choices for accommodation. There are only local guesthouses and simple bungalows with coconut trees around. For meals, you can stroll around the village by bike and can taste the true Arakanese local cuisine (spicy and hot mostly). Though it hasn’t many amenities, it won’t disappoint you as you can really get exposure with the local by learning their ways of living and can have a relaxing leisure with no crowd.

Nowadays, Kan Thar Yar is becoming popular for its individual beauty and appreciated as a peaceful heaven. So, you should hunt for that if you want to escape from a crowded area and urban. It will definitely tease you with its secret beauty and let you experience many adventures.

 

food at beach

Food at Myanmar Beach

Actually, the beach is really just to relax under a palm tree and go swimming occasionally. Unless you are keen to do, you can try such activities as riding a banana boat at the sea, riding the horses or bicycles on the shore, driving four-wheeled beach motorcycle, driving to the surrounding of the village by local bike or motorcycle to interact with the locals in the daytime. At night, making a campfire, spending the beautiful night with your friends by playing guitar, counting the stars with your beloved ones will make you unforgettable trip memories.

At the end of the leisure, it is sure that you want to bring some presents for your friends or family. So you can go and buy small handicrafts, hand-made things, and fancy souvenirs. The sceneries of the beaches are not to be missed and you should likely be the ones in the above-mentioned beaches for your beautiful memories. Now, we hope that you have one thought of visiting our country with the beach extension.

Thinking and planning to travel Myanmar, our travel experts are ready to assist you, just get in touch with us now.

Top 6 things to do in Myanmar

What are you going to do when you visit a country? You will try its best things, experience the different and exciting culture, adventure and feel the nature of it, get exposure with the people and interact with the locals, taste the local food and cuisine, and creating sweet memories in your travel diary. Right?

If you are thinking of having a great and fun time in Myanmar, we would like to tell you what things are the best try in our country. Well, there are 6Bs to do in Myanmar.

Ballooning in Myanmar

By doing the hot air balloon tour Bagan, feel the adventure and enjoy the breathtaking view of ancient Bagan city. The diversity of various Bagan temples and stupas below you with the bird’s eye view of mother Ayeyarwady River, the lifeblood of Myanmar, to the west and mountains to the east are all unforgettable things for you. While flying, you will have your own pilot, plus, you will be escorted and treated as royal. You will witness that the glorious and magnificent Bagan reveals its secret as she gradually meets the sun. Moreover, you can catch a glimpse of an extinct volcano, Mt.Popa, from afar. So, capture the best moment in life by Ballooning over Bagan. We promise you will be amazed by the beauty with true pleasure. Book now for ballooning in Myanmar.

ballooning over bagan

Ballooning over Bagan, Myanmar

Biking in Myanmar

If you are a sporty one, biking tour in Myanmar is one popular activity you should try. By biking around in central Myanmar (Bagan, Popa, and Mandalay), eastern hilly region (Inle Lake, Kalaw), the western part of Myanmar (Arakanese land, Mrauk U) and the main commercial city (Yangon), you can experience the rhythms of local life. It is also easily accessible to the narrow tracks between hectic cities and tranquil villages and quarters and then leads you to off the beaten tracks. Well, let’s find out how the biking tour will carry our mind going the extra mile.

biking around in myanmar

Biking in Myanmar – (C) Youtube

Bird watching in Myanmar

Myanmar is recognized as the frontier of global biodiversity in Asia. Myanmar enriches in various diversity like flowering plants, many species of orchids, butterflies, and birds. Nowadays, the local bird watching scenes are developing and we can try bird watching activities at Hlawga Wildlife National Park in Yangon, Moe Yun GyiWildlife Sanctuary and Wetlands Resort in Bago Region, endemic birds’ exploration in Chin Hills (Mt.Victoria), Hukaung Valley and Putao in Kachin State. If you want to do free and easy birding tour, you can also try as a light activity in your normal tour while you are in Kalaw, Inle Lake, Bagan, and Ayeyarwaddy Region. So, be a birdwatcher for a while when you are traveling in Myanmar and feel the true nature of it. We guarantee you will get a lot of valuable experience and knowledge with friendly escorted station local guides.

birdwatching in northern myanmar

Birdwatching in northern Myanmar – Photo credit – Myanmar birdwatching

Beaches in Myanmar

Are you thinking of sailing holidays with exciting beach activities and yachts? Well, two thousands kilometers of Myanmar coastline is your next beach checkpoint. Many of Myanmar beaches are unspoiled and undiscovered. The on tap beautiful beaches along the shore of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea are Ngapali Beach (one of the most beautiful one in South East Asia), NgweSaungBeach, and Mergui Archipelagos; promising you the beautiful sunsets. If you are an adventurer, you can also do snorkeling, diving, scuba diving, swimming, sailing, building sand castles with families, napping in the sun, and so on. Thus, don’t think twice and spend your leisure time by sipping coconuts on the pristine white sands. Cross my heart, Myanmar beaches are the best dots to connect your travel diaries.

ngapali beach myanmar

Ngapli Beach Myanmar

Myanmar Beer

Have you experienced the taste of Myanmar Beer? Myanmar Beer is a local brand and a good one to try while you are in here as well. Enjoying the night life with a grab of Myanmar beer, or relaxing in your cozy hotel room or restaurant will give you a sensation of being in Myanmar. And sipping Myanmar beer makes you feel like a local. So, grab Myanmar beer and have a toast with local!

myanmar beer

Myanmar Beer

Myanmar Betel Nuts

The last one that you should try is chewing betel nuts. It is just to feel the strange way of our local people life and it has been in Myanmar for hundreds of years. Betel leaf is used as a wrapper for the chewing the added flavor things with its peppery taste. Besides, it is only cultivated in South and Southeast Asia. The taste is a bit sour and grassy. What is more, it has the pros and cons. One of the pros of chewing betel nuts is that while you are chewing the betel nuts, your concentration is much better than the normal time. The con is that you will feel dizzy if you add too many flavors at your first time. So what if you stop in one of the stalls at the local market and ask the vendor for betel nut!

myanmar betel nuts

Myanmar Betel nuts credit: The Internet

Well, well, well, Myanmar will never disappoint you and we bet you won’t regret choosing Myanmar to visit. So, do not hesitate to book the flights and try one of these by creating your adventure travel in Myanmar.

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Why you should visit Myanmar in green season

A visit to our country is just one of the good ways to relax your mind and make the peace while you create the entire trip memorable. Lush and green landscapes, unique and native flora and fauna are always creating our land as remarkable one even in rainy season. The places where almost every guest would like to visit are also likely to be beautiful. Despite the heavy rain sometimes, preventing the baking heat of the sun will making the things around your visited area looking nicer than you expected. And there is one of the luck that is you can have no queue as there are fewer tourists in touristy places for catching your memories of the places. So you don’t need to avoid the crowds of other tourists and freely enjoy by sharing the iconic sights of the serenity.

Bagan

Bagan in Green season

What is the accommodation like? During the green season and the rainy season, you may save the money for accommodation and you have many options to consider the hotels because you can secure the best rooms in your favorite hotels and also choose the guides according to your preferences. Furthermore, almost all hotels provide special offers with good promotions and thus taking advantage of these will give you higher quality with an excellent value for money. As of it, there would be a massive difference compared to the peak season rate.

boat trip around saddan cave

Boating near Saddan Cave, Hpa-an Myanmar

Also, the features of the scenery are one attraction and reason of your trip. You may have the opportunity to explore river, lakes, and waterfalls which are all nearly full of water levels and see the flowers in blossom. And you can enjoy the attractive and natural things in the green of the countryside. Next, water-based activities are more in trend again, for example, the kayaking and fishing are the interesting things to do in a green season. The lakes are more spectacular and the rivers are more navigable as well. What is more, as one activity of the farmers, they choose to plow their fields or prepare their terraces and it can be seen in Shan region such as Pindaya, Kalaw, Keng Tung.

monk amarapura

Monks at Amarapura, Mandalay

In the middle region or dry zone (Bagan and Mandalay) of our country, it is not as rainy as you think and the weather is neither too hot in dry zone nor too cold in the mountainous region. In Yangon, the touristy place, there may be a capricious rain followed by a glorious sun although some days are non-stop drizzle. In Inle Lake, there may be heavy rain sometimes and you can enjoy the beautiful green sceneries of surrounding while you are in biking activity if you like.

nan pan , inle lake

Nam Pan, Inle Lake, Myanmar

In conclusion, come and make more friends in here and don’t miss the opportunity to create your treasured memories even if it is in green season or rainy season. The green Myanmar is waiting for you to stay in your memories lifetime.

Check out our Popular programs to explore Myanmar!

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When to Visit China Town in Yangon

While Yangon is no longer the capital of Myanmar, it remains the center for business even after the government of Myanmar moved the capital to Nay Pyi Taw. There are lots of places to visit in Yangon such as the grand Shwedagon Pagoda, the colonial building district, the bustling city center, Bogyoke Aung San Market, Kandawgyi Lake, and other notable temples.

No visitor to Yangon should miss the opportunity to explore China Town. The section between Latha Street and Pyay Road is recognized as China Town, however, the busiest sector is from Latha Road to Lanmadaw Road. There is a market called Than Zay at the corner of Lanmadaw & Anawyatha Road, along 17th Street. When to visit the China town in Yangon? It is best to visit in the morning hours between 7:00 and 10:30 am.

You will enjoy exploring the busy and colorful street market and can observe locals going about their daily routines.

Another good time to visit China Town is at night, from 7:00 to 11:00 pm. After 5:00 pm, street vendors gather to sell their wares at the night street market, and the area comes to life again. The most exciting time will be once you start walking up the 19th street where there are lots of beer stations and bars.

You can enjoy the nightlife there after seeing the night market. Thinking and planning to travel Myanmar, our travel experts are ready to assist you, just get in touch now.

Best Places For Sunset in Yangon

Yangon is the former capital of Myanmar and it has lots of colonial buildings and pagodas to explore. Activities such as circular train ride, night market and boat ride to dala are the popular things to do in Yangon. So, what about catching sunset in this beautiful town? Don’t worry, we will show you the best spot to enjoy the sunset and feel the real moment.

1 Shwedagon Pagoda

shwedagon pagoda, yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon

It is not arguable that Shwedagon pagoda is the best place to enjoy the sunset in Yangon. Most of the tourists visit Shwedagon pagoda in the evening to enjoy the sunset and explore the unique culture, traditions of local and Buddhist practices. You can also explore Myanmar’s 10 arts and crafts at Shwedagon Pagoda. If you are going with your guide, ask them where you can see diamond sparkling which is at the top of Pagoda.

2 Kandawgyi Lake ( Mhyaw Zin Kyun )

sunset at kandawgyi lake

Magical sunset at Kandawgyi Lake, Yangon

Kandawgyi Lake is one of the attractions in Yangon. Most of the people visit there during morning and afternoon for photos with Shwedagon Pagoda and scenic view with the Lake. Yes, it is also good to visit there during the evening for sunset, the voice of nature, beautiful Karaweik Hall and marvelous lake and the background of Shwedagon Pagoda are really amazing.

3 Botahtaung Jetty

sunset at botahtaung jetty

Sunset at Botahtaung Jetty

This place is nice to explore the local life there. There is jetty where you can cross the river to reach to Dala which is another small fishing town. You can ride sunset cruise and enjoy cocktail and dinner together on the board.

4 Thiripyitsaya Sky Bistro (Sakura Tower)

sunset at sky bristo

Sunset at Sky Bristo, Yangon

It has been highest buildings in Yangon before. Nowadays, there are so many skyrockets in Yangon than before, Thiripyitsaya Sky Bistro is really nice place to enjoy the sunset. You can see the whole city, beautiful Shwedagon Pagoda, city center, Sule Pagoda, etc.

Recommended Tour: 3 days Yangon Highlights

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Best Places to visit around Bagan

Bagan

Bagan is one of the architectural wonders of the world. It lies on the east bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River and about 290 km southwest of Mandalay and 700 km north of Yangon. It was the capital of the first Myanmar Empire that flourished from the 11th to the 13th centuries AD. The founder of the Bagan Empire was King Anawrahta (1044-1077). Here we love to share with you the best place to visit around Bagan area.

There were altogether 55 Kings, according to the chronicles of the Bagan Dynasty (11th and 12th centuries). Most of the pagoda- construction was done towards the later part of the dynasty when Bagan was at the height of its power and prosperity. During that period over 4000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day.

The Bagan temple falls into one of two broad categories: the stupa- style solid temple and the vault-style hollow temple.

Bagan is also the center of Myanmar lacquerware industry.

Shwe zigone pagoda

The Shwezigone Pagoda is located in Nyaung – u is a prototype of Myanmar stupas and consists of a circular gold leaf-guided stupa surrounded by smaller temples and shrines. It was constructed by King Kyansittha of the Bagan Dynasty in 1102. It is the most venerable in this region.

Bu Pagoda

Bupaya is so, a bulbous dome resembling the gourd fruit too, hence the name. It is located at a bend on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. It has been claimed to be the oldest in the region, dating from the 3rd century. The original one tumbled into the river in the 1975 earthquake. The present one is the newly built structure.

bagan sunrise

Bagan sunrise by Pro Niti Travel

Apeyadana Temple

Apeyadana (Lovely Jewel) Temple consists of a square basement surmounted by a stupa with a pronounced relic – chamber and a tall spire. On the inner faces of the walls are decorated with mural paintings representing gods and divinities.

Manuha Temple

Manuha Temple built in Myinkaba Village by captive Mon King Manuha in 1067 is one of the oldest temples in Bagan. It is a rectangular building of two stories housing three images of seated Buddhas and an image of Buddha entering Nirvana, Manuha Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bagan.

sulamani pagoda bagan

Sulamani Pagoda, Bagan

That-byin-Nyu Temple

It signifies “Omniscience “. As it is the tallest, 61 m high, it overtops all other monuments and sits in the center. Temple was constructed by King Alaungsithu in the mid -12th century.

Bagan Archaeological Museum 

The three-story museum has a collection of many items including the statues of Lord Buddha, votive tablets, stucco pieces, terra-cotta cups and pots of Bagan Dynasty (11th -13th century).

bagan

Bagan, Myanmar by Pro Niti Travel

Kyansithar U-Min 

Kyansistha Umin located near Shwezigone Pagoda is a cave-like chamber, it is a low brick building half- underground and half above. Some walls of inner corridors are ornamented with frescoes of different centuries from 11th to 13th.

Tharaba Gate

The Tharaba Gate dating back to 1020 is the only surviving gate of Bagan Dynasty. The gate is located to the east of the old city. It consists of two brick- walled shrines for two guardian nats, named Min Mahagiri and Hnamadawgyi Shwemyethna, who allegedly were executed by order of a king.

Ananda Temple

The Ananda Temple (completed in 1091) is a masterpiece of King Kyansistha and also the crowning achievement of the early style of temple architecture. It is said to be an architecture. It is said to be an architectural wonder in a fusion of Mon and adopted Indian style of architecture.

Dhammayangyi Temple 

It is one of the Great Monuments, similar in plan to the Ananda Temple. It was constructed to atone the guilt of King Narathu in the 12th century who committed patricide, but it was never completed on account of his early demise. Dhammayangyi Temple is the most massive structure in Bagan.

dhammayangyi temple bagan

Dhammayangyi Temple, Bagan

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Best Shopping Experience in Yangon @ Bogyoke Aung San Market

Bogyoke Aung San Market is one the best place to explore for visitors to Myanmar. Most of the guests enjoy this place because there are lots of sprawling shops where you can buy gems and jewelry, Myanmar arts and crafts such as painting, wood carving. From the historical point of view, this is one of the old colonial buildings and the architecture is very interesting.

It opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 0900 am to 0500 pm normally, it closes on every Monday and Official Government holidays of Myanmar. Thought it opens at 0900 am, the best time to explore this market would be 1300 PM ~ 1600 PM if you combine sightseeing with another place.

You can use a credit card as most of the jewelry shops and most of the shop there accept USD and EUR if you don’t have enough Myanmar Kyats (MMK). Another good news is there are many exchange counters and ATMs there. Enjoy shopping! Don’t miss to buy nice slipper there. Fantastic!

This Market is the top choice for Lonely Planet and you can read what other travelers say on TripAdvisor

Thinking to travel to Myanmar and have questions? You can get in touch with our travel experts now.

Recommended Tour: 3 days Yangon Highlights

Shwedagon Pagoda : Must-visit place of Myanmar

Shwedagon Pagoda, Landmark of Myanmar.

Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the famous tourist site or tourist destination in Myanmar and is located in Yangon. Tourist has to pay 10,000 MMKs for entrance fees. There are four main stairways to go up to the platform of Shwedagon Pagoda, among them, the Southern stairway is the most famous and crowded one.

We would like to suggest you use eastern stairway where you won’t disturb by the crowd and like to recommend to use steps to the platform rather than using the elevator. Along the way, you can see shops that are selling flowers, candles and other religious related items and some of Myanmar traditional toys for kids. That would be very interesting to explore.

Another stairway we would like to recommend is western stairways where you can experience aesthetic sense and the architecture there is nice and this is the stairways where is escalator existed and the only stairway without an elevator for Shwedagon pagoda. The Best time to explore to visit Shwedagon pagoda is evening, normally around 0530 ~ 0700 PM in the evening when you can enjoy the most beautiful and breathtaking sunset with this glorious pagoda and to explore the interesting Buddhist practice in Myanmar.

Why should you visit this marvelous Shwedagon Pagoda? Because this is the heart of Myanmar and this is one of the world wonders. Moreover, this is the place where you can explore the interesting Buddhist practice in Myanmar and this is the place where you can learn more about Myanmar art and crafts. Really recommended one for Myanmar visit.

Recommended Tour: 3 days Yangon Highlights

Thinking to travel Myanmar and have questions? You can get in touch with our travel experts now.

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