(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor Adeline Woon)

Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is a new and developing tourist destination in Southeast Asia, known for its rich culture and natural attractions. It is an exotic and fascinating destination in Asia that offers numerous archaeological sites, pagodas and temples, rivers and natural lakes, sites of natural beauty, snow-capped mountains and tropical forests, clean beaches and unspoilt archipelagos; traditional arts and crafts, as well as rich cultures from the 135 national races, each with their unique and colourful traditional clothing and customs.

If you are planning to visit, below is some useful information to make your visit to Myanmar, one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the world, most memorable and enjoyable, especially because Myanmar is said to have the most hospitable people in the world.

Location

Myanmar stems from the Burmese Empire (1500-1000 BCE) and is situated in Southeast Asia. It is bordered on the north by China, on the east and southeast by Laos and Thailand, and lies on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea coast, with Bangladesh and India to the west. To the north, Myanmar has a large range of hills and valleys, with mountain ranges in the east and west, forming a giant horseshoe shape, covering 653,407 square kilometres (252,282 square miles), and ranging 936 kilometres (581 miles) from east to west and 2,051 kilometres (1,275 miles) from north to south.

Myanmar lies on the Bay of Bengal. Click on the image to enlarge.

A more close up look on Myanmar map

Population

Myanmar’s current population is 54,800,890 based on the latest United Nations estimates. This is equivalent to 0.73% of the total world population. It is made up of 135 national races including the Bamar (68%), Shan (10%), Kayin (7%), Rakhine (4%), overseas Chinese (3%), Mon (2%) and overseas Indians (2%). 35.3% of the total population is urban, which amounts to approximately 19,363,071 people in 2017.

General Information

Although Myanmar’s currency is Myanmar kyat (MMK), the US dollar (USD) is also widely used in the country. While in the country, you will see a mix of both, with USD being used in most hotels, for domestic airfares, train tickets, and entrance fees, while MMK is used for everything else such as food, souvenirs, etc. Myanmar’s capital city is Nay Pyi Daw (also spelt Nay Pyi Taw) while its former capital city Yangon (Rangoon) is the country’s largest city.

Myanmar has seven states and seven regions formerly known as divisions. Regions are mainly inhabited by the predominant Bamar peoples, while states, in essence, are regions that are home to particular ethnic minorities. Below is a list of the states and regions of Myanmar:

Regions and states of Myanmar. Click on the image to enlarge.

• Kachin State
• Chin State
• Shan State
• Rakhine State
• Kayah State
• Kayin State
• Ayeyarwady Region
• Sagaing Region
• Mandalay Region
• Magway Region
• Bago Region
• Yangon Region
• Tanintharyi Region

Most foreign visitors require a visa to enter Myanmar. Below are some key facts for the Myanmar tourist visa, and are listed for convenient planning.

• Visa-free travel for 14 days is applicable for Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos passport holders.
• You can apply for tourist visas at Myanmarese embassies and consulates as well as using the online e-visa system designed to simplify the application process, particularly for travelers from countries that do not have a Myanmarese embassy.
• Please visit the official Ministry of Immigration e-visa website for e-visa applications. For the full list of 100 countries whose citizens are eligible for e-visas. The list of Myanmarese embassies and consulates around the world can also be found here.
• Tourists should hold passports with at least six months of validity after planned departure from Myanmar.
• Tourist visas are valid for 28 days and a 14-day extension may be acquired at the cost of USD3 per day including a one-off USD3 administration fee.
• A single entry tourist visa typically costs around USD50.

Myanmar’s Unique Weather Pattern and the Best Time to Visit

Myanmar is a tropical country with seasonal changes. Myanmar is located in the monsoon region of Southeast Asia, and as such the change in monsoon wind direction creates three seasons: summer, rainy, and winter. Each year the monsoon brings rain from May to October, and some roads become flooded and blocked, particularly from July to September, while the central plains receive only a fraction of the rain seen on the coast. The rains subside from October onwards.

The best time to visit most of Myanmar is from November to February when temperatures are relatively manageable. From March to May, temperatures rise and the heat can become unbearable. The Bagan and Mandalay areas, in particular, often see temperatures in excess of 40°C (104°F). Winter in Myanmar starts from November and lasts through to the end of February, where temperatures in hilly areas of over 3,000 feet can drop below 0°C (32°F).

The Local Customs and Cultures of Myanmar

With 135 ethnic groups in Myanmar, one can imagine the abundance of languages, traditional clothing, and customs of its people. Visitors find this fascinating, interesting, and adventurous to discover. While visiting, it is advisable to understand and practise the following, in order to immerse oneself in the culture, making the visit more meaningful and worthwhile.

 
Greetings

Social politeness is highly practised in Myanmar. The common expression to greet someone is “Mingalaba” (Minga-la-ba) that translates loosely as “Have an auspicious day.” This is somewhat similar to the Tibetan “Tashi Delek” and the well-used Indian “Namaste”. The “Mingalaba” greeting can be used throughout all social levels or genders including among monks and respected elders.

 
Titles

Another part of social etiquette showing respect to others is the use of titles before personal names. The title “Teacher” is inserted before one’s name if they are seen as wise and helpful. Due to the history of strict military control, titles like “General” are less admirable compared to titles that make an educational reference. “Auntie” is used for women of a certain age, while “Uncle” is applied to their male counterparts.

 
Food

A mixture of Indian and Chinese cuisines can be found in Myanmarese food, with rice being the country’s staple food. Local curries and soups add a Myanmarese flair to the food where most meals are accompanied by a condiment that is made from preserved fish or prawn and chili powder. Meals are typically served at a dining table with a family sized bowl of rice placed in the middle of the table and different dishes laid out for everyone to serve themselves and make their own combinations.

 
Table Manners

Myanmarese homes usually have low and round dining tables. Diners sit on the floor, or on a floor mat, around the table and the elderly diners and guests serve themselves first. Alcoholic beverages are not served with meals but water, tea or juice are. The locals handle the spoons to serve the food with the left hand, as it is considered the clean hand. They still eat with their fingers though forks and spoons have gained popularity in Myanmar. If you wish to have more rice, do leave some rice on the plate to indicate that you want more. Take only the amount you can finish, and leave enough for the host and everyone else.

 
Accept Hospitality

Generally, the Myanmarese have very little, surviving on subsistence farming but they are eager to share what they have with visitors and guests. Buddhists, especially, will offer food to visitors and guests first before eating themselves. It would be deemed impolite if guests decline offers of such hospitality. Taking a single bite or a small portion will assure your host that you appreciate the gesture.

 
Body Language

Buddhists in Myanmar consider the head to be the most sacred part of the human body, while the feet are considered the dirtiest. While entering an indoor or private space you are expected to remove your shoes, and be aware not to point your feet at anyone, especially monks. Touching another person’s head is also an insult. The same understanding of clean and unclean body parts also dictates what you wash, and where. For example, you rinse your hands after a meal at a different faucet from where you clean your muddy toes. Common gestures of deference include giving monks the most accessible seats on a bus or train, and women do not touch monks as they are celibate.

 
Hand Gestures

Placing one hand firmly under the elbow of the extended arm is a proper way to introduce yourself, or offer or accept an item. This gesture is important and even food in a restaurant is served in this manner, before the plate is passed to you.

 
Dress

Shorts should be avoided by female tourists and visitors. Proper undergarments should be worn under t-shirts, and revealing clothes are considered rude. The typical dress code for Myanmarese men includes a collarless white shirt with overcoat and a bottom garment made from a long piece of folded cloth (longyi) secured at the waist, that resembles a sarong. Myanmarese ladies usually wear silk or cotton dresses, or a blouse with a longyi.

 
Thanakha

Thanakha is the Myanmarese traditional cosmetic for Burmese women to protect their skin from sunlight, to cool the skin on their faces in hot weather, as well as for beauty purposes. Thanakha can be painted in simple circle shapes, while others may make it more sophisticated with intrigued flowers and other patterns. It is made from natural sources and has been used for a long time.

 
Religion

Myanmar offers freedom of religion with approximately 80% of the population Buddhist, while 20% practises Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other localised religions. Most Myanmarese believe in reincarnation and show respect to the crimson-coloured robes of monks regardless of their religious faith. Amongst the Buddhists, most follow the Theravada tradition, and teachings on karma – what goes around, comes around – is very much emphasised.

 
Superstitions

Compared to the urbanised Myanmarese, those living in rural areas have a stronger belief in superstition. Astrology or means of clairvoyance are known to be used when important decisions are to be made. Some common superstitions include that leaving a shoe or slipper upside-down will bring bad luck, and that washing your hair after a funeral or keeping broken glass at home are to be avoided. There are also some who believe that one will lose one’s will power, if you walk under a ladder, or under a woman’s laundry line with hanging longyis, while carrying an elephant’s tail hairs can ward off evil.

 
Business Culture

Trust and friendship is the focus in building business relationships. Favours in business are expected to be repaid later. During initial business meetings, people take the opportunity to evaluate strengths, weaknesses and personalities instead of business topics. For foreign businessmen, it is good to know that most commercial business transactions occur in English, and a Myanmarese translator can facilitate better communication. Friction in business situations may occurs when a supervisor is younger than a subordinate as Myanmarese have a custom of showing respect to their elders.

20 Great Places to Visit in Myanmar

The following Myanmar visitors guide will be divided into the seven parts of the country, namely:

• Yangon (Rangoon)
• The delta region and western Myanmar
• South-eastern Myanmar
• Bagan and the central plains
• Inle Lake and the east
• Mandalay and its surroundings
• Northern Myanmar

Yangon (Rangoon)

1. Yangon River

Yangon is currently the most exciting place in Myanmar, nestled on the eastern banks of the Yangon River. This former capital is a bustling and colourful metropolis, with great and mysterious charm formed by colonial heritage; gracious historical and cultural architecture well-preserved after the British colonial era; modern commercial buildings, shopping centres, lively restaurants and bars sitting side-by-side with well-maintained and preserved centuries-old golden stupas. It is located 644 kilometres (400 miles) away from Myanmar’s current capital Nay Pyi Daw.

To experience the city’s amazing activities you can take a cruise on the Yangon River. You may board on a number of cruises from Botataung (east end of downtown) or Wardan (west end of downtown) jetties for a relaxing few hours on the river. For those who wish to visit Dala’s local markets and enjoy a much slower pace of life on the delta, they are welcome to board from Pansodan Ferry Terminal. Many locals commute across the river to Yangon on small private boats, but foreigners are not allowed to board these boats, as prices are lower and affordable for Dala residents. Foreigners can board the public ferries that leave every 30 minutes to Dala.

There are many ferry rides and cruises available for tourists to choose from. A USD4 return ride to Dala takes about 10 minutes. The boat has quite a large capacity (2 levels) that is normally packed with hundreds of people. It departs about three times per hour and tickets can be purchased prior to departure at a separate office room at USD2 one way. The spectacular scenery of Yangon’s waterways and the rich historical and cultural landscapes that lie along the banks of the Yangon River on the Sunset Cruise are incredible. Here you can experience the beauty of Yangon in the final hours of its sunset while savouring the fresh evening breeze that comes through the Gulf of Martaban of the Andaman Sea; observe the little-known Lighthouse of the Twante Canal; and witness the Shwedagon Pagoda from a different perspective. You can also enjoy the amazing glow of lights along the river bank as the sun gently sinks below the horizon. Do not forget to take beautiful pictures while enjoying the ride!

 
2. Colonial Buildings

Click on image to enlarge

The highest preserved and maintained number of colonial period buildings in Southeast Asia are known to be found in Downtown Yangon. These century-old buildings included the former City Hall, High Court, Secretariat buildings, Telegraph Office, Inland Water Transport building, and the Strand Hotel with magnificent architecture, and they are definitely one of the main tourist attractions in downtown Yangon.

 
3. Chauk Htat Gyi Temple

In Yangon, there is also the little known Chauk Htat Gyi Temple that hosts one of the biggest and most graceful 65 metres (213.2 feet) long reclining Buddha statue, dating back to 1907. It is located a short distance from the famous Golden Temple (Shwedagon Pagoda). This Buddha statue was demolished in 1957 due to environmental damage and rebuilt through generous donations from the public to its current form in 1966. Surrounding this temple are Buddhist monasteries that house over six hundred monks who study and practise the Buddha’s teachings.

Address:
Shwe Gon Taing Street
Tamwe Township
Yangon

Operating Hours:
6am to 8pm daily

Admission Fees:
USD5 per person

 
4. Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda is officially known as Shwedagon Zedi Daw. It is also known as the Great Dragon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda. Being one of the three most sacred religious sites in Myanmar, this 2,500-year-old pagoda contains a strand of Shakyamuni Buddha’s hair and other sacred relics. It is located on the 51-metre (168-feet) high Singuttara Hill and has grown from 8 metres to 99 metres (26 feet to 324 feet) in height over the centuries. The Shwedagon is estimated to have first been built by the Mon during the Bagan period (between the 6th and 10th centuries CE). The stupa is fully plated with 21,841 solid gold bars and has a tip encrusted with thousands of diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Surrounding the pagoda are numerous temples, statues and stupas which are definitely worth a visit if your time permits.

Visitors to the pagoda are expected to follow a dress code deemed to be respectful, i.e. loose trousers or ankle-length loose skirts, and loose t-shirts with the preferred length of sleeves being elbow-length, in order to enter the temple, and must be barefooted.

Address:
No. 1, Shwedagon Pagoda Road
Dagon Township
Yangon

Operating Hours:
4am to 10pm daily
24 hours on the following days:

1. Tabaung Waxing Day – the day before full moon day of the Myanmar Lunar month Tabaung (around March)
2. Wakhaung Waxing Day – the day before full moon day of the Myanmar Lunar month Wakhaung (around June)

Admission Fees:
USD8 per person
Tickets for entrance are not sold to foreign visitors until 6am

 
5. Bogyoke Aung San Market

Bogyoke Aung San Market was formerly known as Scott Market, named after James George Scott, and is located in the heart of Yangon city. It is a famous and beautiful oriental bazaar, and a good shopping spot with attractive architecture and trading ambiance. The current premises was first built in 1926 and is one of the 189 historical buildings in Yangon.

This sprawling market is a one-stop shop for everything you need, ranging from local snacks and traditional and ethnic textiles to wood carvings, musical instruments, interesting souvenirs, antique collections, sculptures and stunning jewellery. The varieties of Myanmarese handicrafts and other items make this complex an excellent opportunity for a shopping spree. Do get at least a pair of traditional footwear – they are very comfortable sandals with velvet covers – when you are there!

Address:
Bogyoke Aung San Road
Yangon

Operating Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 9am to 5pm
Closed on Mondays and gazetted holidays

Admission Fees:
Free

 
6. Sule Pagoda

Located in Yangon’s centre is also the Sule Pagoda. This pagoda is often compared to Piccadilly Circus in London as it has a peculiar octagonal shape tapering to its spire and standing in the middle of a roundabout at the heart of Yangon. This 48-metre (152-feet) high golden dome is a landmark of the city and as a Buddhist monument was rebuilt in the 1880s. It was once used by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern for the city. In its vicinity are small shops with new age services such as astrologists, palmists, etc., giving visitors a full and extensive range of local delights.

Address:
At the junction of Sule Pagoda Road and Mahabandoola Road
Kyauktada Township
Yangon

Operating Hours:
6am to 8pm daily

Admission Fees:
USD2 per person

Accommodation
Below are several recommended places available that are strategic for visitors intending to spend some time in Yangon. You may wish to do further research for accommodation suitable for your needs.

1. The Loft Hotel
   33 Yaw Min Gyi Street
   Dagon Township
   Yangon
   Phone: +95 1 393 112
   Website: www.theloftyangon.com
2. Merchant Art Boutique Hotel
   67/71, New Yaytarshay Road
   Yangon
   Phone: +95 1 544 426
   Website: www.merchantyangon.com/merchant-art
3. Vintage Luxury Yacht Hotel
   No. 6, Botahtaung Jetty
   Botahtaung Township
   Yangon
   Phone: +95 1 901 0532
   Website: www.vintageluxuryhotel.com

The Delta Region and Western Myanmar

7. Ngwe Saung

Ngwe Saung’s 15-kilometer-long stretch of beautiful white sand shore is an appealing and clean beach, with clear water. Ngwe Saung attracts a lot of foreigners and wealthy locals to the area so the local standard of pricing is on the high side. There is a small village with a main street fulfilling the needs of tourists as well. Nevertheless, Ngwe Saung is one of the most laid-back places you will find in Myanmar. Once you are here, you should just sit back and take in the sun’s rays and picturesque beach views with fresh food from local restaurants.

Towards the northern end of the beach is the Ngwe Saung village, which hosts shop that serve a variety of fantastic seafood dishes and others that sell locally-produced handicrafts. Walking to the village from the southern end hotels at the main beach can take up to an hour, and if you walk there in the evening, you can catch the sun setting over the Bay of Bengal. Along the way are also some hotels with beach front restaurants that serve mainly seafood dishes as well. If you wish for something different, Ume cafe serves excellent Japanese and Asian fusion food and has a fire dancing show every evening at around 7.30pm. It is located on the road south of Ngwe Saung village, on a hill opposite the Yanomar Oo and Silver View resorts.

Location:
Ngwe Saung is located 48 kilometres (29 miles) west of Pathein, Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar. The beach is 5 hours’ drive away from Yangon.

 
8. Pathein

Pathein is a coastal town located in the lower Myanmar delta area which is called the Ayeyarwady Division. It lies at the heart of an area that produces the finest rice in Myanmar, including pawsanmwe t’ămìn (fragrant rice). Pathein is a thriving, busy city, especially along the riverfront and in the markets near the principal religious site of Shwemokhtaw Paya. Pathein is Myanmar’s most important delta port outside of Yangon.

The main attraction at Pathein is the Shwemokhtaw Paya, a Buddhist temple believed to have been originally built by King Asoka of India in 305 BC with a 2.2-metres (7.5-feet) tall stupa. Bagan’s King Alaungsithu raised the stupa’s height to 11 metres (36 feet) in 1115 CE. In 1263 CE, King Samodogossa raised it to 40 metres (131 feet).

The stupa is now 46.6-metres (152.88-feet) tall and its pinnacle consists of a topmost layer made from 14lb of solid gold, a middle tier of pure silver and a bottom tier of bronze. All three tiers are gilded and reportedly embedded with a total of 829 diamond fragments, 843 rubies and 1,588 semiprecious stones.

Pathein also has workshops in the city’s northeast that produce colourful hand-painted parasols. If you stop by Pathein on your way to nearby beaches, you may want to visit the Shwemokhtaw Paya and browse through the intriguing and interesting produce of the local workshops. You will not regret visiting these two places.

Location:
Pathein is only a three-hour drive away from Yangon.

Accommodation
Below are several recommended places available that are strategic for visitors intending to spend some time in delta region and western Myanmar. You may wish to do further research for accommodation suitable for your needs.

1. Aureum Resort & Spa Ngwe Saung
   Ngwe Saung Village
   Pathein
   Ayeyarwaddy Division
   Phone: +95 42 4021 82133
   Website: ngwesaunghotels.org
2. Sunny Paradise Resort
   Ngwesaung
   Phone: +95 42 40227
   Website: www.sunnyparadiseresort.net
3. Myanmar Treasure Resort
   Ngwe Saung Village
   Phone: +95 1 399 341
   Website: www.htoohospitality.com

South-eastern Myanmar

9. Kyaiktiyo (Kyite Htee Yoe)

Kyaiktiyo Paya is a huge golden rock perched at Mount Kyaiktiyo’s summit, it is one of the three most holy sites in Myanmar, together with the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and the Mahamuni Temple in Mandalay. The rock seems to defy gravity by delicately balancing on the edge of the 1,100-metres (3,608-feet) high mountain. This draws large numbers of non-believers among its throngs of pilgrims from far and wide to worship and visit.

The small pagoda was built atop the golden rock which is itself perched on a larger rock. It is a boulder 15 metres (49.2 feet) in circumference, coated in gold leaf, and looks extremely precarious. Kyaiktiyo means “pagoda on a hermit’s head”. This gravity-defying rock that resembles the head of the hermit Taik Tha is supposedly kept in place by a strand of Lord Buddha’s hair. According to legend, on one of Lord Buddha’s visit, he gave the strand of hair to the hermit Taik Tha, who then tucked it in the tuft of his hair safely. Taik Tha later gave the strand of hair to the king, with the wish that the hair would be enshrined in a boulder shaped like the hermit’s head. The king located a suitable rock and built the Golden Rock Pagoda at Kyaiktiyo, where the strand was enshrined.

The rock (standing 7.6 metres tall, 24.93 feet) and the gilded pagoda which sits on top of it (itself 7.3 metres tall, 23.95 feet) are the main attraction for visitors. However another reason to make the journey is the panoramic 360-degree views of the surrounding Mon State mountains from the summit.

Address:
Kyaikhto
Mon State

Operating Hours:
Golden Rock temple grounds are open 24 hours daily

Admission Fees:
USD6 per person

 
10. Kyaikkami

The Kyaikkami, also spelt as Kyaikkhamee, is located 24.14 kilometres (15 miles) northwest of Thanbyuzayat. It was a small coastal resort and missionary centre known as Amherst during the British era. The town has the atmosphere of a seaside destination and its main attraction is the Yele Paya, a metal-roofed Buddhist shrine complex perched over the sea. It is said to house 11 relics of the Buddha’s hairs.

The shrine chamber beneath Yele Paya reportedly contains a Buddha image that supposedly floated there on a raft from Sri Lanka during ancient times. A display of 21 Mandalay-style Buddha statues sit over the spot where the Sinhalese image is buried. The Buddha images face the sea towards the south. A notable fact is that although the shrine is located a short distance from the shore, its basement is not engulfed with seawater, even during the highest tide. Women are only allowed to worship from a pavilion away from the shrine, while men may do so from the hall facing the main image. One oddity here is that pilgrims standing at the water’s edge place clay pots of flowers and milk that float into the sea in order to ‘feed’ the spirits. Kyaikkhamee is easily accessible from Mawlamyine by road.

Location:
10 km northeast of Thanbyuzayat

Accommodation
Below are several recommended places available that are strategic for visitors intending to spend some time in South-eastern Myanmar. You may wish to do further research for accommodation suitable for your needs.

1. The Eternity Resort
   176(A), Zayat Quin
   Golden Rock Mountain Road
   Kin Mum Sakhan
   Kinmun
   Phone: +95 9 500 7342
   Website: www.eternityresort.com/en-gb/
2. Thuwunna Bomi Mountain View Hotel
   Seikphu Foothill
   Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda Road
   Kyaikhto
   Taunggale
   Phone: +95 9 498 18688
   Website: thuwunna-bumi-mountain-view-resort-kyaikto-mm.booked.net
3. Shwe Hinn Thar Hotel
   Kin Pun Sakhan
   Kinmun
   Phone: +95 9 264 492 468
   Website: http://www.myanmartourism.org/index.php/services/hotels-resorts/8782-shwe-hinn-thar-hotel

Bagan and the Central Plains

11. The Many Thousand Temples

Being the capital of the first Myanmar Empire, Bagan is a major tourist destination in Myanmar and one of the richest archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. It was listed as an archaeological zone by UNESCO and has been tentatively placed on a list for consideration as a future World Heritage Site.

Bagan was once the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan from the 9th to 13th centuries. During the kingdom’s height, the wealthy Pagan rulers ordered thousands of temples to be built on the Bagan plains. Over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were once estimated to have been built on this 100-square kilometres (38-square miles) plain. Over 2,200 temples and pagodas still remain to the present day.

Bagan offers a range of unique experiences including:

• Floating over the sacred temples and stupas on the Bagan plains in a hot air balloon
• Discovering hidden gold-plated Buddha statues in the temple niches
• Enjoying the sunrise from Shwesandaw Pagoda’s top
• Overlooking the Irrawaddy River with a cooling glass of fresh tamarind juice
• Discovering tiny temples along the winding dirt roads around bushes and through groves of palm trees

Location:
Bagan Archaeological Zone
Bagan

Operating Hours:
Free timing

Admission Fees:
USD20 (the ticket is valid for five days)

 
12. Nyaung U Market

4 kilometres (2.5 miles) away from old Bagan is the town of Nyaung U. Over time as visitors to the area increased, the town naturally grew into a bustling tourist centre with the lively and must-see Nyaung U Market, and also boasts some significant pagodas and temples. The colourful market includes a wet market and is divided into different sections selling a range of items for you to shop around and bargain. You can find almost everything there, from fresh produce, handicrafts, to longyi.

It is here that you can see the real Myanmar, from novice nuns from a monastery nearby collecting alms, and carpenters transforming blocks of plain wood into works of art. The market also offers you a great chance to mingle with local people, and get a glimpse of their daily life.

Address:
2, Nyaung-U

Operating Hours:
6am to 5pm daily

Admission Fees:
Free

 
13. Mount Popa and Popa Taungkalat Monastery

Mount Popa volcano rises 1,518 metres above sea level and is a popular side-trip from Bagan. The neighbouring volcanic plug is frequently confused with the much larger Mount Popa that looms over it and is sometimes called Taung Ma Gyi the ‘Mother Hill’. You can ascend the main peak if you have the time and the conditions are right. On a clear day, climbers can witness views over vast distances, sometimes as far as Bagan and the Irrawaddy River, and even beyond. The views from the top are good and definitely worth the while.

While a handful of people do ascend the main peak, most people choose to visit the Taungkalat Monastery on top of the volcanic plug on the southwestern flank. Visitors must climb up almost eight hundred steps to ascend to the top. The monastery is considered to be the home of the 37 nats (animist spirits) represented by statues at the base of the volcanic outcrop. The monastery offers a 360-degree panoramic view and a labyrinth of shrines to explore. It is entirely surrounded by sheer cliff faces and offers stunning views of the surrounding plains and Mount Popa itself.

Accommodation
Below are several recommended places available that are strategic for visitors intending to spend some time in Bagan. You may wish to do further research for accommodation suitable for your needs.

1. Thande Hotel Bagan
   Old Bagan
   Bagan
   Phone: +95 61 60025
   Website: thandehotel.com/bagan/
2. Myanmar Treasure Resort Bagan
   Khayay Road
   Anawrahta Quarter
   Bagan
   Phone: +95 9 862 4980
   Website: www.htoohospitality.com
3. Aye Yar River View Resort
   Near Bu Pagoda
   Between Royal Palace and Ayeyarwaddy River Bank
   Bagan
   Phone: +95-61-60352
   Website: www.ayeyarriverviewresort.com

Inle Lake and the East

14. Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda

Phaung Daw Oo, also spelt as Hpaung Daw U or Hpaung Daw Oo, is a notable Buddhist site in Myanmar located in Ywama of the southern Shan State. The pagoda is believed to have been built by King Alaungsithu or Mani Sithu (who reigned from 1112-1167 CE) of the Bagan Dynasty, one of the longest rulers of the dynasty. It houses five small gilded Buddha images covered in gold leaf.

The main attraction associated with the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is the famous 18-day Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival. It starts from 14 days before, to 3 days after the full moon day of Thadingyut in the Myanmarese calendar (roughly between October and November). During this festival four of the five Buddha images are carried on the royal barge and ceremoniously brought around the 14 villages around the Inle lake. The reason why the fifth image is not taken out, is that once the image had been taken on a barge, but it had tipped over. The fifth image was nearly lost, but mysteriously appeared back at the pagoda. Since that time, it was not taken out of the pagoda.

In addition, there are many other attractions, including a boat race according to the Shan tradition. During the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival and important Buddhist holidays, the pagoda can get very crowded.

Address:
Ywama village
Inle lake
Shan state

Operating Hours:
The monastery opens from 8am to 6pm daily

Admission Fees:
Free

 
15. Nga Phe Chaung Monastery

Nga Phe Chaung Monastery (also spelt as Nga Phe Kyaung) is the biggest and oldest monastery on the Inle Lake, and is on the way to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. This is an attractive wooden monastery built during the end of 1850s, and sits on stilts over the lake. Many people visit this monastery to watch the many cats living in the monastery jump through hoops and also to be mesmerised by its collection of old Myanmarese Buddha images from different eras.

Address:
Nga Phe Chaung Village
Taunggyi
Inle lake
Shan state

Operating Hours:
6am to 8pm daily

Admission Fees:
Free

Accommodation
Below are several recommended places available that are strategic for visitors intending to spend some time in Inle Lake. You may wish to do further research for accommodation suitable for your needs.

1. Ann Heritage Lodge
   Myaenigone Village
   Inle Lake
   Nyaung Shwe Township
   Southern Shan State
   Phone: +95 9 438 326 171
   Website: www.annheritagelodge.com
2. Paramount Inle Resort
   Nga Phe Chaung Village
   Inle Lake
   Nyaung Shwe Township
   Southern Shan State
   Phone: +95 9 4936 0855
   Website: www.paramountinleresort.com
3. ViewPoint Ecolodge
   Taik Nan Bridge & Canal
   Inle Lake
   Nyaung Shwe Township
   Southern Shan State
   Phone: +95 81 209 062
   Website: inleviewpoint.com

Mandalay and Its Surroundings

16. U Bein Bridge

Amarapura is situated 11 kilometres (6.83 miles) south of Mandalay and was one of Myanmar’s former capital cities. It was built by King Bodawpaya in 1783 and served as the centre of power until 1857. Today, ruins of the city gate, the palace, and the tombs of old kings can still be found in Amarapura.

One of the biggest attractions in the area is the unique and beautiful 1.2-kilometres (0.75-miles) long U Bein Bridge, a structure built from planks of teakwood and said to be the longest of its type in the world. When the capital moved to Mandalay in 1857, the local mayor U Bein salvaged the wood from pieces of the dismantled teak palace at Amarapura for this bridge.

The bridge is not just a tourist attraction because of its structure, but remains a central part of community life. Hundreds of locals walk their bicycles home along the bridge, and fishermen go about their daily business in its shadow. The best time to see the bridge is at sunset, and the best photo opportunities are afforded by hiring a boat to get a close up view of the bridge from the water.

Location:
10 kilometres south of Mandalay’s city centre, to the east of the prolongation of 84th Street that leads down to the Sagaing Bridge

 
17. Mahamuni Buddha

The Mahamuni Pagoda or Mahamuni Buddha temple, together with Kyaiktiyo and the Shwedagon Pagoda, is one of the three most sacred religious sites in Myanmar. The temple houses the highly revered Mahamuni Buddha statue that is 3.8 metres (12.46 feet) tall. The statue was originally cast of metal and it is now entirely coated with a six-inches thick layer of gold leaf.

The pagoda was built in 1785 by King Bodawpaya of the Konbaung dynasty after the Mahamuni statue was captured during the invasion of the Arakan Kingdom in 1784. The epic story of how it was dragged back to Mandalay is retold in a series of 1950s paintings in a picture gallery across the pagoda’s inner courtyard, to the northeast of the statue.

Every day, thousands of devotees dressed in colourful clothing faithfully venerate the Mahamuni Buddha and during the great festival in early February, the temple draws hundreds of thousands that flock to the temple. Centuries of votary gold leaf applied by male devotees has left the figure with an odd outline, except on his radiant face, which is polished every day at 4am.

There are shops around the temple that sell offerings including incense, flowers and candles. A clock tower and the Maha Buddhavamsa Museum of World Buddhism can be found near the Mahamuni’s outer northeast exit. The museum is a gallery of paintings about the life of the Buddha, and photos of archaeological sites associated with the Buddha. Mahamuni can be conveniently visited en route to Amarapura, Inwa or Sagaing.

Address:
7, Sagaing

Operating Hours:
6am to 8pm daily
To be able to catch up the early morning ritual, one has to be at the pagoda by 5am

Admission Fees:
USD4 per person

Accommodation
Below are several recommended places available that are strategic for visitors intending to spend some time in Mandalay. You may wish to do further research for accommodation suitable for your needs.

1. Mandalay Kandawgyi Inn
   No.174 (B), East Lakeside of Kandawgyi
   Chanmya TharsiTownship
   Mandalay
   Phone: +95 2 59 990
   Website: mandalay-kandawgyi-inn.booked.net
2. Diamonds Inn
   No.E, SY Building
   78th Street Between 29th Street x 30th Street
   Hay Mar Za Latt Quarter
   Chan Aye Thar Zan Township
   Mandalay
   Phone: +95 2 32 251
   Website: diamondsinnmandalay.com
3. The Home Hotel
   82nd Street, between 32nd & 33rd Street
   Chan Aye Tharzan Township
   Mandalay
   Phone: +95 2 33 702
   Website: singularmyanmar.com/hotel/home-hotel

Northern Myanmar

18. Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)

Pyin Oo Lwin (Pyin U Lwin) was originally called Maymyo or ‘May-town’ founded by the British in 1896. Pyin Oo Lwin was designed as a place to escape the Mandalay heat during British rule as its altitude (1070 metres) provides a relatively cool climate.

Although now sadly blighted by some more recent building developments, Pyin Oo Lwin’s colonial legacy still holds the key to the town’s charm, and the surrounding area offers plenty to explore. Pyin Oo Lwin has become famous for its fruit, jams and fruit wines. With the rise of the Myanmarese nouveau riche, Pyin Oo Lwin is once again a popular weekend and hot-season getaway, so get here quickly to experience what’s left of the old charm.

Location:
Located in the Shan Highland, some 67 kilometres east of Mandalay

 
19. Bhamo

Bhamo is a quiet town on the banks of the Irrawaddy in Kachin State, which is often a stop-off point for travellers on their river journey between Mandalay, Katha, and Myitkyina. It has long profited from its position close to a Chinese border crossing (closed to foreigners). The town itself is quiet, but a pleasant place to hang out and relax. Near to Bhamo, you can find the ruins of Sampanago, which was once the capital of the 5th century Shan kingdom of Manmaw; there is a market and waterfront, and the old city walls are 5 kilometers from the centre of town.

 
20. Shwe Kyina Pagoda

On the way to Sampanago, you can also see the Shwe Kyina Pagoda and the impressive 470 metres long bamboo bridge from Wa Thatar village. Each year the bridge is destroyed by monsoon flooding, and rebuilt by two hundred villagers.

Location:
Located 186 kilometres south from the capital city of the state of Kachin

Accommodation
Below are several recommended places available that are strategic for visitors intending to spend some time in Pyin Oo Lwin and Bhamo. You may wish to do further research for accommodation suitable for your needs.

1. Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin
   No. 9 Nanda Rd
   Pyin Oo Lwin
   Phone: +95 85 22881
   Website: www.hotelpyinoolwin.com
2. Orchid Hotel Nan Myaing
   5th Quarter, Mandalay-Lashio Road
   Pyin Oo Lwin City Center
   Phone: +95 1 293 261
   Website: www.orchidhotelsmyanmar.com/orchid-hotel-nan-myaing/
3. Friendship Hotel
   28 Bawde Street
   Mingone Quarter
   Bhamo
   Phone: +95 74 50 095
   Website: www.facebook.com/friendshiphotel.bhamokachinmyanmar/

Travel Books on Myanmar

Before your departure, you may want to read up on related travel books in order to make your visit more enjoyable. Two of useful and popular travel books on Myanmar include:

 
Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma)
Authors: Simon Richmond, Mark Elliott, Nick Ray, Austin Bush, David Eimer

“Now is the moment to visit this extraordinary land, scattered with gilded pagodas, where the traditional ways of Asia endure and areas that were previously off-limits are opening up.”

 
Insight Guides: Myanmar (Burma)
Authors: David Abram, Andrew Forbes

“With its glittering pagodas, timeless countryside and gracious people, Myanmar (Burma) is an extraordinarily beautiful destination which has been isolated from the rest of the world for decades. Finally, things are changing and tourism is set to explode in the coming years. This new edition of the Insight Guide Myanmar has been comprehensively overhauled to help inspire and inform, and guide you to the best that this little-known country has to offer.

Following on from the inspirational Best Of Myanmar section, the country’s rich past and cultural heritage are described in a series of lively essays. Contemporary aspects of Burmese life – the changing political situation, the economy, food, architecture, wildlife – are also covered in depth.

The Places chapters have been completely rewritten for this new edition, describing all the sights worth seeing – from the incomparable temples of Bagan, serene Inle Lake, the lost world of Mrauk U and the beaches along the Bay of Bengal to the fascinating cities of Yangon and Mandalay.

At the back of the book, the Travel Tips section contains all the practical information you’ll need to make the most of your trip, including dozens of carefully selected hotels.”

 
Sources:

• The Comprehensive Myanmar (Burma) Travel Website from Go-myanmar.com/
• What Are the Customs of Myanmar? from Traveltips.usatoday.com
• 10 Ways Not to Offernd Burmese Culture from Goabroad.com
• Why do Burmese Women Have White Faces? from Exoticvoyages.com
• Yangon from Greenexplorertravels.com
• Yangon’s Colonial Buildings from Myanmars.net
• Rough Duides from Roughguides.com
• Myanmar Travel Information from Myanmartravelinformation.com
• Renown Travel from Renown-travel.com

 
For more interesting links:

• Burmese Temple & Floating Heads
• Aung San Suu Kyi: Buddhism has influenced my worldview
• Aung San Suu Kyi is a light in our darkness
• Myanmar’s Suu Kyi to make first foreign trip since 1988
• Myanmar says hundreds of political prisoners free
• Obama visits Aung San Suu Kyi at home
• Earthquake Just Hit Myanmar
• 8 Holy Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites – Part 1
• 8 Holy Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites – Part 2

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