Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

Shwedagon Pagoda, which represents the essence of Myanmar, is a must-visit place for locals and international tourists alike. A trip to Yangon is incomplete without a visit to Shwedagon.

The towering, gold-covered stupa is located in the heart of the capital, only a 10-minute drive from downtown.

Approaching from the south along Shwedagon Pagoda Road provides a spectacular view of the famous landmark. As one approaches from this angle the huge stupa actually appears to shrink, an optical illusion that lends a mystical air to the pagoda.

Every day, thousands of people flock to Shwedagon for a number of purposes: Some go to worship, and some to meditate and count prayer beads, while others go to consult one of the many fortune tellers. Many people even visit the pagoda merely to take a break from their busy lives.

The pagoda is said to have been built some 2500 years ago by King Okkalapa, and to hold eight genuine sandaw (sacred hairs) from the head of the Buddha, which were enshrined with a tremendous amount of precious stones and jewellery.

Shwedagon is surrounded by intriguing stories and legends. Some say that flying swords protect the pagoda from thieves, while others say there are tunnels leading to Bagan in central Myanmar and even to Thailand.

Twante

The town of Twante, famous for its pottery production, is a popular day-trip destination just five hours from Yangon.

Twante is an appealing destination for anyone who wants to get out of Yangon for a day. It can be reached by a five-hour boat ride up the Twante Canal, or by taking a ferry from Pansodan Jetty to the town of Dalla across the river. From there, a jeep can be hired for driving the road to Twante.

Between Dalla and Twante lies Baung Daw Gyoke Pagoda, sporting a red façade and a shape that is unusually angular for a pagoda in Myanmar.

Believed by many people to have been built by spirits, it can be seen from miles away across the flat delta landscape.
Twante itself is the site of Shwesandaw Pagoda, which towers 76 metres above the centre of town. The region is also famous for pottery production and for the weaving of school bags, both of which can be observed in progress.

Boats can also be hired for the return trip to Yangon along the Twante Canal. Approaching the city from the river is surely one of the highlights of the outing.

Bago

Bago is only 80 kilometres north of Yangon and can be reached easily and cheaply by bus or by shared car. There are many interesting religious sites in the town, including Mahazedi and Shwethalyaung pagodas, the latter housing one of the biggest reclining Buddha images in Myanmar. Hinthagon Pagoda is decorated with a motif depicting the mythological Hintha bird allowing the female Hintha to rest on his back, invoking the folktale of a time when only one point of land rose from the otherwise water-covered world.

Other attractions include the Kanbawzathadi Palace, a reconstruction of the compound occupied by the Mon King Bayint Naung during the 16th century. An accompanying museum holds artefacts excavated from the original site.

Mandalay

Cyclying in Mandalay.

Mandalay, known as Myanmar’s second capital, is a major upcountry crossroads for trading and communication. It also holds great importance as a cultural and religious centre. As such, the city hosts many famous Buddhist monasteries and pagodas. The most well known is Maha Muni Pagoda.

According to legend, the gold Buddha image at the pagoda was once believed to speak at night, but decided to become silent because too many people were coming from far and wide to bother him.

Visitors will also not want to miss Mandalay Hill, which provides spectacular views beyond the city in all directions. This should inspire tourists to venture out to see some of the many places of interest in the towns around Mandalay, including Inwa, Sagaing, Amarapura and Mingun.

Bagan

Bagan, the ancient capital of Myanmar, was at the heart of a powerful kingdom that reached its peak during the 11th century. More than 2000 pagodas and temples dot the 40-square-kilometre plain adjacent to the Ayeyarwaddy River.

Bagan, the ancient capital of Myanmar, is at the top of every visitor’s list of places to see. Located in the centre of the country, it is a living treasure trove of Buddhist architectural beauty.

Bagan was at the heart of a powerful kingdom that reached its peak during the 11th century. The 40-square-kilometre plain adjacent to the Ayeyarwaddy River now features more than 2000 pagodas and temples dating back hundreds of years. Among the most famous are Ananda, Shwezigon, Sulamani, Gubyaukgyi, Abeyadana and Nagayon.

The Bagan Archaeological Museum is also worth a visit. On display are many stone and bronze artefacts from the area. Bagan is also famous for its lacquerware. Tourists can visit workshops to see how it is made, from the first step of weaving the shape with horse hair or bamboo, to carving intricate figures on the wood-fired lacquer.

A popular way to get around Bagan is by bicycle, which allows visitors to travel at their own pace and stop at the pagodas, shops or village teashops whenever they like. There are also horse carts and cars for hire.

One of the most memorable experiences of any visit to Bagan is watching incredible sunsets across the expansive plain of stupas and the Ayeyarwaddy River from the top of one of the pagodas.

Mount Popa

About 65 kilometres south of Bagan is an extinct volcano that rises to a height of about 740 metres above the surrounding area. Known as Mount Popa, it is a popular holiday destination for locals due to its reputation as a home for some of Myanmar’s nats, or spirits.

Represented by sculptures on many parts of the mountain, each nat has its own interesting background story, many of which are interrelated. According to legend, the chief deity of Mount Popa, Min Mahagiri (Lord of the Great Mountain), holds dominion over all families in Myanmar.

Every December there is a large festival at Mount Popa that attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the country, who walk to the top of the mountain to pay their respects to the spirits. Throughout the year the top can be reached on foot or by horseback. Bird-watching excursions can also be arranged.

Inle Lake

Located in Naungshwe township in Shan State, Inle Lake is a 22-kilometre-long body of water nestled among green mountains and inhabited by people of the Intha ethnic group.

Many of the Intha live on the lake in villages consisting of houses on stilts. They grow vegetables on manmade islands staked to the bottom of the lake, and catch fish using spears and cone-shaped nets. They are famous for propelling their flat-bottomed boats across the water using an unusual leg-rowing technique.

Inle Lake has many areas of interest, including floating markets where visitors can buy finely crafted silverware, lacquerware, iron tools, and Shan jackets, conical hats and paper umbrellas. The floating village of Ywama also features a market whose shops specialise in colourful hand-woven silk textiles.

There are also several religious sites on the lake, including Nga Phe Chaung Monastery. More than 100 years old, this teak structure is famous for its cats, which have been trained by the monks to jump through hoops.

Phaung Daw U Pagoda holds five Buddha images, four of which are taken on a tour of the 19 villages around the lake on a decorated barge during a 20-day festival held each year in October. The festivities also include entertaining leg-rowing races.

Beach Destinations

Ngapali Beach in Rakhine State is the most popular of Myanmar’s beach destinations. The three-kilometre-long beach is backed by swaying palm trees, as well as a wide range of accommodation options, including six private hotels licensed to accept foreigners.

With more than 1700 kilometres of coastline, Myanmar has plenty to offer in terms of white sand, palm-lined beaches and sunsets over the ocean. The most popular beaches – Chaungtha, Ngwe Saung and Ngapali – are located along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The peak season for visiting is October to mid-April.

Chaungtha Beach, about 250 kilometres west of Yangon in Ayeyarwaddy Division, can be reached by bus in five hours, or in less time by car. The journey passes through beautiful countryside and many rural villages, giving visitors a glimpse of the delta lifestyle.

Chaungtha differs from Myanmar’s other beaches in the wide availability of less expensive accommodation and the abundance of fresh seafood from a nearby fishing village. At one end of the beach is Kyaukpahto, a big rock containing a cave shrine. There are also two islands offshore, Thephyu and Hpogala, which can be reached by hired boat.

Not far from Chaungtha Beach and accessible from there by car or boat is Ngwe Saung, which is a relatively new beach development. Its main attractions are its white sand, clear water and lack of crowds.

Ngwe Saung has something to offer everyone, from resort-style accommodation to a wide range of outdoor activities, including snorkelling, scuba diving and jet skiing. Those who want to get away from the water for a few hours can head for the inland elephant camps to ride the large mammals through the region’s jungle-covered hills.

Visitors can also take a boat trip to the offshore Virgin Islands, or simply lounge on the beach and enjoy the spectacular sunsets.

Ngapali Beach in Rakhine State is the most popular of Myanmar’s beach destinations. It can be reached from Yangon by a 16-hour drive or a 45-minute flight to Thandwe Airport.

The three-kilometre-long beach is backed by swaying palm trees, as well as a wide range of accommodation, including six private hotels licensed to accept foreign visitors. Bayview Resort Hotel and the Sandoway Resort Hotel offer very good restaurants, with a mix of international and Myanmar cuisine.

Bayview Resort Hotel can arrange boats for foreigners to visit nearby islands for snorkelling and sea kayaking, and to watch local pearl production.

Catamarans and windsurfing boards are also available for hire.

Visitors can also take excursions to villages in the region to watch the production of traditional earthenware pots and Rakhine longyi, and to visit pagodas.