Top Things to Do in Myanmar
Previously known as Burma, Myanmar is a nation in Southeast Asia that is gradually acquiring popularity among travelers. As a result of good availability from land borders, tourists from Thailand and the rest of its nearby nations in Southeast Asia commonly frequent these lands trying to find off-the-beaten-path adventures.
Although not large, there are still stacks of locations to see in Myanmar Extraordinary historical sites, stunning all-natural landscapes, and a large selection of cultural landmarks, Myanmar is a country that I urge every person to put on their bucket lists. Below's a listing of locations in Myanmar (Burma) that deserve seeing.
Places to Go To in Myanmar.
Yangon
The capital city of Myanmar, Yangon is growing to be a busy urban city where old colonial buildings meet ancient pagodas. There are sights like the Shwedagon Pagoda which is among the most important historic sights in all of Myanmar. The round train is additionally an amazing experience where you can observe the local culture.
Sule Pagoda and Shwendagon Pagoda
Known for its mystical pagodas, no trip to Myanmar is complete without going to Sule Pagoda and also Shwendagon Pagoda. These two pagodas are so stunning, especially during daybreak and also sunset.
Sule is smack in the centerof Yangon. It is 48 meters high as well as was used by the British as the core of their grid pattern plan for Burma in the 1880s. Sule, unlike other pagodas, is a octagonal-shaped pagoda.
The 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda enshrines strands of Buddha's hair and various other holy relics. It is a must see. Shwedagon Pagoda is covered with numerous gold plates and also its stupa is encrusted with 4531 diamonds.
Ride Yangon's Circular Railway
The Yangon Circular Train is something you definitely need to experience. You won't just experience a day in the life of residents, but likewise get to take fantastic pictures of the outskirts of the city.
You'll see people moving up and also down the train selling things, and likewise meet individuals of all kinds getting on and also off the trains. Business owners, market vendors ... it is just one of those things that enables you to experience Myanmar of what it actually is.
Outside Yangon
Mt Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock)
Picture Credits: World Atlas.
Mt Kyaiktiyo is a popular pilgrimage trip for devout Burmese Buddhists and is usually filled with devotees who take a trip from around the country to pay homage to this religious site. From Yangon, this gold rock is accessible by bus or train.
The pagoda itself is composed of a large gold rock which is stabilizing beside the cliff. We suggest seeing during sunset as the gold rock shines, even more, when the skies becomes different shades of orange as well as purple. Although it is a religious site, it has likewise come to be really commercialized but nonetheless, a sight to see.
Where to stay in Yangon
Budget: Little Yangon Hostel
Budget: Pickled Tea Hostel
Mid-Range: Jasmine Palace Hotel
Mid-Range: Hotel Grand United (21st Century Downtown)
Luxury: Sule Shangri-La
Luxury: The Savoy
Getting to Yangon.
By Air: Yangon has an international flight terminal and also offers the largest number of locations both within as well as outside the nation.
By bus: Yangon is also very well linked by both bus and also train routes. It's from Yangon that you will have the greatest option of areas to take a trip to.
By train: Yangon is a significant stop on the country's train system. Do understand that trains are not what you 'd discover in developed countries. There are hard seats and no or inadequate a/c. Train travel is also a lot slower than bus. Nonetheless, if you desire a local experience, train is the means to go.
Bago
If you want even more pagodas, an impressive reclining Buddha and also a wine monastery, you will wish to travel to Bago.
Bago is only a number of hours away from Yangon, making it an easy day excursion.
According to legend, the Buddha that when travelled in the location saw a couple of Hintha birds flying across the waters looking for a resting area. The male bird came down on the only available place which was simply big enough for one bird, upon which the female perched in addition to the male bird. Upon seeing this, the Buddha foretold that one day a city would thrive at this area.
Shwemawdaw Pagoda.
Called the "Gold Temple" this stupa is the highest in Burma.
Credits: Wikipedia.
Kyaik Pun Paya
This is home to the renowned Four Seated Buddha temple.
Credits: 123RF. com.
Shwethalyaung Buddha
One of the largest lying Buddha images in Myanmar.
Credits: Renown-travel.com.
Bagan
Popularized by the numerous sweeping pagodas and also stupas, Bagan is a cultural joy and is considered a need to visit by everybody that comes to this nation. With over 2000 ancient ruins, you can spend a couple of days traveling around the area hopping from one historical site to the next. If you're searching for a wonderful experience, you can ride a hot air balloon over the temples during daybreak. The sun glimmering as it rises on top of these ancient ruins is a view to see as well as is something that deserves doing during your time there.
Apart from seeing the ancient ruins, you can likewise check out Mount Popa and also the monk monasteries.
Mount Popa
Where to stay in Bagan
Budget: Ostello Bello, Bagan
Mid-Range: The Hotel at Tharabar Gate
Luxury: Bagan Lodge
Getting to Bagan
By Air: The local airport is Nyaung U, which is just a couple of miles from old Bagan. It is a domestic terminal only.
By bus: Bagan is well connected by bus:
Inle Lake (10 hours).
Yangon (9 hours).
Mandalay (7 hours).
By train: Bagan is on Myanmar's rail network and you can connect with Yangon (16 hours) or Mandalay (8 hours).
Inle Lake
Take a day trip on the stunning Inle Lake discovering the waterways with its stilt residences, markets, floating gardens, pagodas, local traders and also restaurants. This is an excellent area to see the sun set and also the sun rise over the water. Seeing how the locals in Inle fish using conelike sphere like nets as they guide their boat with one foot is also rather amusing to see.
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Where to stay in Inle Lake
A lot of the accommodation is located in close-by Nyuangshwe with a variety of budget to deluxe choices. You can also consider at the very least one evening on the lake for the dawn as well as sunset views.
Budget: Ostello Bello Hostel Nyangshwe
Budget: Song of Travel Hostel Nyangshwe
Mid-Range: Thanakha Inle Hotel Nyangshwe
Mid-Range: Aureum Palace Resort & Spa Inle Nyangshwe
Luxury on the Lake: Golden Island Cottages on Inle Lake
Deluxe in Nyuangshwe: La Maison Birmane Boutique
Getting to Inle Lake
By Air: The nearest airport terminal is Heho, which is about 45-60 minutes' trip from Nyangshwe by means of winding mountain roads. Expect to pay around $20 for your taxi (among the best deals you'll enter Myanmar for a taxi ride). Heho is a domestic terminal only. A stay on the lake is about an additional 20 minutes away from Nyuangshwe by boat (or an additional 40 or so minutes by road).
By bus: Inle Lake is well connected with buses travelling from:
Yangon (13 hrs)
Mandalay (10 hrs)
Bagan (10 hours)
By train: Inle Lake is not on Myanmar's rail network.
Trekking from Kalaw to Inle Lake
From being outside, taking pleasure in the amazing landscape, to staying in a local family's residence and tucking right into some home-cooked food, there's a lot to like about it. The most typical expeditions are either 2 or 4 days long.
Getting to Kalaw: The majority of people start in Kalaw and also expedition to Inle Lake instead of the other way around.
By air: If you're flying in to Heho, you're halfway there-- just take a taxi from the airport terminal. There is a train from the flight terminal (2 hrs) yet only daily in the early morning so you 'd require to co-ordinate your trip time.
By bus: there are buses from Mandalay (8 hours), Bagan (8 hours) and Yangon (12 hrs).
When should you go? High season (which is both the most prominent but likewise the driest period) is November to February. Myanmar has a wet period unlike most of the rest of SouthEast Asia-- it pours, often relentlessly (contrasted to the daily heavy showers of a lot of monsoons). This can produce some miserable trekking conditions.
Mandalay
In comparison to the silent and subdued roads of Bagan, Mandalay is a huge city teeming with life. Busy roads filled with a variety of tea stores, fantastic Pagodas, and also numerous tourist attractions make this one of the most prominent areas to go to in Myanmar. Out of all the attractions, climbing up Mandalay Hill is possibly a huge crowd favorite as it permits you to sweeping views of the city as well as the Irrawaddy River shining from afar.
The U-bein Bridge and also Kuthodaw Pagoda is also a pretty popular attraction and is a great area to observe the culture of the locals.
Kuthodaw Pagoda
The Kuthodaw pagoda in Mandalay consists of a gilded pagoda, hundreds of shrines housing inscribed marble slabs and numerous pavilions. The pagoda is also called "the world's biggest book", named after the 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist teachings.
Credits: luxurymyanmarrivercruises.com
U-Bein Bridge
U Bein Bridge is thought to be the longest as well as oldest teak wood bridge on the planet as well as extends for 1.2 kilometers. The bridge itself plays a huge part in the day-to-day life of citizens with hundreds going across by either foot or bicycle to get to or the local markets. Since coming to be a popular tourist destination, several currently make their income from the bridge by supplying boat rides, selling food and water or by displaying their outstanding expertise of its history.
Credits: Rainforestcruises.com.
Getting to U-Bein Bridge: You can schedule a local driver to take you to the U-Bein bridge at sunset. Prices can be steep given it's just half an hour outside Mandalay. You can take a scenic tour as well as if you spend a bit more, you can find a scenic tour that will certainly give you a broader scenic tour of Mandalay including lunch.
Where to stay in Mandalay
Budget: Ostello Bello, Mandalay
Mid-Range: The Link 83 Mandalay Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort
Getting to Mandalay
By Air: Mandalay has an international flight terminal that is additionally well connected domestically. Nonetheless, realize that the flight terminal is about 20 miles outside the city, which can be time consuming (over an hour) as well as expensive as a result of the {raffic. Internationally, you will connect with more destinations by flying from Yangon.
By bus as well as train: Mandalay, like Yangon, connects with a lot of the traveler stops in Myanmar.
Hsipaw
Situated by the Shan state, Hsipaw is a sleepy village that is pretty well known for its trekking. From Hsipaw, you can head to either Namhsan and also Kyaukme. Namhsan is called the tea capital of Myanmar so anticipate to see lots of local| life. Although the {reks are not difficult, some parts are still restricted to tourists so it is ideally discovered with the guidance of a tour operator. Hsipaw is a trekking location that attracts individuals in and also keeps them there possibly due to the fact that it's cooler and the air cleaner than many other places in Myanmar.
Credits: diytravelhq.com
Trekking in Hspiaw
Reaching Hspiaw: Also on the railway, it takes 13 hrs from Mandalay or 7 hrs from Pyin Oo Lwin. There are buses from Mandalay (7 hrs), Pyin Oo Lwin (7 hours), Inle Lake (12 hours) and also Yangon (15 hours).
Ngapali Beach
If you're looking to loosen up by a seaside location, head to Ngapali Beach which is among the most widely known beaches in Myanmar. Located on the Bay of Bengal coast, this palm-fringed island has a couple of resorts established in the middle of fishing villages giving you an excellent comparison of both. Remarkably, there is a substantial quantity of tasks to do in this area with scuba diving, snorkeling, boat tours, and also kayaking. You can additionally just relax on the beach and also eat seafood caught by the local fishermen, and also take a field trip to Pearl Island.
Creidts: svietnamtravel.com
Do be aware that Ngapali almost shuts down throughout monsoon season (May to October).
Reaching Ngapali Beach
By Air: Flying to Ngapali beach will certainly be your best bet because all various other transportation modes are seriously limited. The local flight terminal is Thandwe and also is simply a few kilometres from the beach hotels. You can discover flights from and to Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Heho (Inle Lake). Nevertheless, these courses thin in monsoon season with cancellations on the day being common. Your most dependable path is in and also out of Yangon.
By bus: The only bus route going to Ngapali comes from Yangon and also takes about 11 hours.