Myanmar (also known as Bagan) today is no longer a strange name for both Southeast Asian and international tourists. For those who prefer modern and comfortable holiday, Myanmar may not be a perfect choice. Because there are very few commercial centers in Myanmar. Its transportation networks have not been fully expanded and the economy has only recently flourished. However, if you are a passionate traveler who enjoys freedom, love unique experiences, and want to explore pristine nature and mysterious cultures, Myanmar can be one of the most ideal options for you. It will be great to wake up early in the morning, enjoy the picturesque scenery of thousands of ancient temples intertwined with the golden pagoda as in fairy tales. If you want to enjoy this experience once in your life, please come to Bagan Myanmar. Here, we would like to show you useful tips which make your journey to Bagan Myanmar unforgettable.
Bagan is located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River (Irrawaddy), a few miles south of Mandalay and north of Yangon. During the heyday of Bagan, this was the center of the Pagan Kingdom, now Myanmar. More than 10,000 Buddhist monuments have been built here. Today, however, only 2,000 remain. These Buddhist buildings are the main reason for attracting visitors to Myanmar.
The best time for a travel to Bagan Myanmar.
Situated in the tropics, Bagan has only two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Therefore, you should carefully analyze the weather conditions before coming here to have a perfect Myanmar Bagan trip. The advice we give to tourists is: Do not go to Bagan from March to May (because it’s the hottest time in Bagan) or June to October (because this is the time of heavy rain and storms in the year).
The best time for a travel to Bagan Myanmar is around November to February. However, this is also the high tourist season of Myanmar. So make sure you prepare the perfect baggage, book everything from plane tickets or train tickets, hotel accommodations to sightseeing tours.
Bagan – here we come.
There is no direct flight to Bagan so you should fly to Mandalay or Yangon first. From there you will have many options to go forward.
Airplane: If you want to save time, the airplane is the fastest transport to take you to Bagan. Many domestic airlines from Mandalay, Heho, and Yangon offer direct flights to Nyaung U Airport (the nearest airport to Bagan). The flight is about 30-40 minutes from Heho, an hour and 20 minutes from Yangon.
Bus: Day or night bus trips are the most popular choice in Bagan because the bus system in Bagan is very good and inexpensive. Buses to Bagan can be from Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung Shwe, Taunggyi, Kalaw and Pyin Oo Lwin. The bus will stop sometimes at a stopover, and tourists can be provided with a wet towel and complimentary bottled water.
Train: If you choose a train to Bagan, you will have the opportunity to admire the countryside of Myanmar through the window. However, the train network in Myanmar is not very developed and often comes late than expected. Moreover, the quality of railways in Myanmar is still under development. So, whether you choose to sit in a regular compartment with a wooden chair, a first-class cabin with a cushion or a cabin with a bed, you must also prepare for a long, bumpy ride in front.
Boat: If you want a bit more adventurous and have more time, a Bagan Myanmar cruise with a boat ship will be an interesting option. Trains to Bagan travel on the Ayeyarwady River and will take an average of 12 hours to arrive.
Transportation in the city.
If you are looking for a fun, totally free experience, do not forget to shop for a map of Bagan when you arrive. The map can be provided free of charge by the hotel or purchased anywhere for only 1000 kyat. Then, you can start the Bagan Myanmar trip with one of the following:
Taxi: Taxis are the most convenient way to explore Bagan, as Bagan is quite sunny and dusty. However, you will have to pay 35,000 kyats (about $ 27) for one day if you choose taxi as principal transport in Bagan.
Horse wagons: If you want to explore Bagan in a “traditional” way, you can rent a horse wagon for 15,000-20,000 kyat a day. However, this type of transport is not very fast!
Bicycle or electric motorcycle: This is the funniest way to discover Bagan, and also the cheapest means. You can rent an electric motorbike for 6,000-8,000 kyat ($ 6-8) or a bike for 2000-5000 kyat ($ 2-3) for the whole day! But cycling around Bagan in hot weather requires good health and you need to bring plenty of water. You can choose an electric motorcycle, but remember before you go to check that the battery is fully charged and record the phone number of the garage so you can call when something goes wrong.
Hot air balloon: This is the most expensive way to explore Bagan. If you are not afraid of money, stand in a hot air balloon and enjoy the panorama of Bagan with its ancient temples during the sunset is a must-have experience. Currently, there are two companies – Balloons Over Bagan and Oriental Ballooning – operate balloon flights and they only run this service from October to March when the weather is good.
Popular tourist destinations in Bagan Myanmar.
Bagan appears in the visitor’s eyes like an African land, with arid sandy fields, low bushes, and the shadow of some old trees lingering among sandy lands.
The most original experience when traveling to Bagan is by horse wagon, admiring sunrise and sunset.
Early in the morning, while sitting in the horse wagon, listening to the horseshoe, looking up at the dark, ink-like scene, you will have a divine feeling like walking in a holy land. Horse carts run about 45 minutes to Shwesandaw Paya – where you can enjoy the most beautiful sunrise Bagan. Many tourists from all over the world waited for the sunrise until the light shone in every corner of each temple. In this time, Bagan is bright, spacious and splendid.
After that, the guide will take you walking around the temple towers. Shwezigon Paya is the most famous and beautiful religious site in Bagan. Built in the 11th century, this is a model building for temples built later in Myanmar. It is also believed as where remains the forehead and collarbone of Buddha. Beside magnificent Shwezigon Temple, Bagan also owns a lot of famous destinations including the highest Thatbyinyu Temple, the most beautiful Ananda Temple, and finally, the most monumental Dhamma Yangyi Temple. Ananda Temple is considered to be the remnant of Mon architecture, the finest, most robust and preserved architecture among the temples, towers in Bagan. After the 1975 earthquake, the temple was severely damaged but was later restored. In addition, Dhamma Yangyi is the most monumental, with the same architecture as Ananda, built by King Narathu (1107-1170). Another famous temple to visit in Bagan Myanmar is Sulamani Pahto. The temple is famous for its elaborate brickwork with elaborate carvings. It is known as Bagan’s “jewel in the crown”.
Late afternoon, when the sun begins to fade, the sunlight falls down as well as visitors to Shwesandaw Temple – the temple in the sun very private, very impressive. Many visitors choose to stand on the temple to see the temple in a clear and beautiful way; Open hands to the wind and imagine how long people celebrated the majestic, dignified and sacred temple.
Other famous places:
Htilominlo Pahto: This is a very impressive red brick temple. The name of the temple is the name of the king who built it. This temple was built exactly where the king was crowned.
Pya-Tha-Da Paya: The way to this temple is hard to find. If you are not careful you will be wrong to turn or turn back. However, this is the ideal place for you to relax at the end of a day because you can climb here and enjoy the beautiful sunset.
Cuisine
The price of food in Bagan Myanmar is not too expensive so if you have a budget, you can still enjoy traditional or modern food in the beautiful luxury restaurants here. Some restaurants, for example, Queen Restaurant has a set lunch or dinner 19,900 kyats (about $ 20) for four. Alternatively, consider the Nada restaurant where there is an excellent dinner, luxurious setting. Here you will also enjoy Burmese wire puppetry, listening to ethnic musical instruments. If you want to enjoy Myanmar food, you can try the buffet at Myanmar Foods House, popular restaurant. It is a buffet but you will be served at your table. The price for a buffet here is only about 3,500 kyat (less than 4 USD per person).
Some specials notes:
– Most people in Bagan workship Buddha. They are very warm and friendly but have a little hesitation. Do not wear too revealing if you do not want to attract attention. In places of worship, your legs and shoulders need to be covered, and you must remove both shoes and socks before entering. Couples should also pay attention not to express too much in public. You should also avoid political and religious topics when talking with people here.
– Bagan is hot all year so you need to bring bottled water with you and apply sunscreen or a full hat. On the road to Bagan, especially in the fields, you may encounter dogs, squirrels, monkeys, and snakes, but I advise you not to approach them no matter how cute they look. Wild animals can carry rabies or poison. You should also carry an insect repellent.
– The dollar must be new, not wrinkled or folded, because of the high possibility that you can not exchange the currency if it looks ugly.
– Bring a pouch because Myanmar people usually use small denominations to facilitate the transaction, so the exchange of $ 100 you can get back lots of kyats (Name of Myanmar currency).
Preparing for the return journey from Bagan Myanmar, do not forget to shop for some interesting souvenirs for your friends and relatives. Wish you a great trip to Bagan Myanmar!
