Myanmar (formerly previously known as Burma), is among Asia’s most intriguing travel destinations. It’s a country with a rich heritage, hospitable people, and some of Southeast Asia’s finest ancient architecture. Since the military regime started moving toward a civilian-led administration in 2011, the nation has just recently become fully accessible to the outside world. Myanmar is positioned to play a significant role in 21st-century Asia thanks to its plentiful natural resources and proximity to neighboring countries with a great number of populations in China and India. The potential of this growing country is undeniable.
Follow this guide and travel through Myanmar. Throughout your vacation, you’ll get to stop by the urban sites of Mandalay and Yangon, journey into the country’s heartland on the Irrawaddy River, fly above Bagan’s 3,000 Buddhist temples in a hot-air balloon at dawn, and browse the handicrafts in local markets.
The Highlights of Mandalay
Begin your journey at Mandalay’s vibrant marketplaces, where you can shop for food, jewels, and traditional souvenirs. The following sights on your trip include the venerated Mahamuni Pagoda, a gold-leaf pounding artisan store, the Shwenandaw Monastery’s wooden sculptures, and the Kuthodaw Temple, which has the biggest book in the world—729 stone slabs that comprise the complete the Buddhist scriptures.
Continue traveling in the direction of Amarapura, the site of the former capital, where the U Bein bridge over Taungthaman Lake is. Constructed in the 1850s using wood salvaged from the ancient royal palace in Inwa, the nearly 1-mile bridge is thought to be the oldest teakwood bridge in the whole world. Its over one thousand pillars protrude into the lake and provide stunning sunset views.
Sail Towards the City of Bagan
Enjoy a leisurely boat down the Irrawaddy waterway towards Bagan. In the afternoon, you can board a boat at the Sagaing Lay Kyun Man Aung Jetty. Enjoy a fantastic lunch on board as you drift along the river. There are many attractions worthy of your time here: enjoy culinary displays, longyi fashion, and a thanakha cosmetics showcase. Finally, before you dock for the evening at Set Pan Gone village, share a welcome toast and cocktails on the upper deck.
Villages by the River
You can spend the day onboard and continue downstream to the settlement of Yandabo, famous for producing terracotta ceramics crafted from riverbed clay. Visit the local school while learning about the many steps in pottery-making production and the decorating of pots which will be shipped throughout the nation by boat.
Climb aboard the boat and proceed further downstream, beyond the Chindwin river’s junction. Just shortly, you will arrive in Pakokku Village, well-known for its tobacco industry and thanakha makeup. There are lots of sights and places to visit for curious tourists: a tobacco factory, a blanket workshop, and the local markets. Here, you can exchange your boat for a traditional tuk-tuk to discover the town on land.
Bagan’s Archaeological Treasures
Discover the distinct Buddhist temples of the historic city, such as Shwezigon, which was the inspiration for many of the stupas in the nation, and the well-known Ananda Pagoda. You’ll also pause to visit the paintings of the Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi cave temple, which dates back to the 13th century, Ananda Ok Kyaung, among the few early Bagan era brick monastery structures still standing, and Htilominlo Temple, the last temple constructed in Bagan in the traditional Myanmar-style.
You can spend a whole day touring the temples in Bagan since there’s no shortage of temples to visit here. Explore the Sulamani Temple constructed by King Narapatisithu, the enormous Dhammayangyi Temple from a later era featuring some of the best masonry in Bagan, and the soaring Thatbyinnyu Temple. From here, you can indulge in the perfect location to view the setting sun’s warm rays hovering over the temples as if bathing them in golden light.
Ride a Hot Air Balloon at Breakfast
Bagan is regarded as one of the top hot air ballooning locations, something you might want to wake up early for. Rise a little earlier to enjoy a hot air balloon ride and witness the scenery and pagodas of Bagan from a bird’s eye view. Breakfast will be served while the balloons are inflating, and then you can board the baskets to hover above the temples, enormous trees, and streams at daybreak. Take in and delight in the expansive vistas that come with drifting so high in the air.
After you land, you’ll have refreshments while you celebrate your flight and are driven to your hotel. The remainder of the day will be yours to spend at your pleasure.
In and Around Inle Lake
You’ve been through the air, and next is to the waters of Lake Inle. Take a taxi to the Nyaung U airport and catch a flight to Heho, which is the airport nearest to Inle Lake. Once there, embark on a small long-tail boat towards the settlement of Inn Paw Khone. Discover how the locals weave silk and lotus weaving, witness the way of traditional boat building, and see for yourself how they manufacture cheroot cigars in Nanpan.
Carry on to the Phaung Daw U Pagoda, home to five historic Buddhas covered in gold sheets and the most respected monastery in the region. Nge Phe Chaung monastery floating gardens are where you want to end your afternoon.
Exploring the Capital of Yangon
Proceed to the airport in the early hours of the morning to fly to Yangon. View several of the city’s top attractions, such as the National Museum’s relics and the Reclining Buddha at Chauk Htet Gyi, which is a favorite among Buddhist worshipers.
Venture downtown to see the surviving remnants of British colonial architecture and the lengthy Pansodan Street, which is most renowned for its outdoor bookstores. Visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market in the nighttime to look at the handicrafts. The stone alleyways of this marketplace, which date back to 1926, remain a favorite among tourists because they are lined with stalls selling vintage jewelry, crafts, apparel, and other items.
The Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar’s most significant religious building and a destination of pilgrimage for Buddhists all over the world, is the perfect way to cap it all off.
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