Destinations to visit in Myanmar

Myanmar is a mesmerizing land with charming sceneries, appealing visitors from all over the world. No matter what destination tourists come to, they can catch up with magnificent temples, pagodas and monasteries. You will see some of the must-see destinations when traveling to Myanmar listed below.

Mandalay

U-bein bridge- Mandalay

Mandalay is the old royal capital and the second biggest city of Myanmar, located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River. Although being a peaceful city with a slow pace of life, Mandalay still attracts lots of tourists coming to discover impressive spots. Visiting Mandalay, you should not miss these four destinations. They are Mandalay Hill, Mandalay Palace, Ubein Bridge, and Mingun Ancient Village.

Mandalay Hill

• Located in the Northeast of Mandalay.
• It is regarded as a sacred hill in not only Mandalay but also Myanmar as well.
• It is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists due to varieties of pagodas around the hill.
• You will have a chance to experience the gorgeous view of the whole city, the Irrawaddy River when you climb to the top of the hill.
• Become a guest of the Sutaungpyei Pagoda in the summit of the hill and chat with monks.

Mandalay Palace

• Located in the North of the main city of Mandalay, built by gilded teak wood.
• This is the last royal palace of the of Myanmar’s last king; therefore, the design inside the palace has the traditional style of the ancient kingdom.
• Coming to Mandalay Palace, you can explore the unique architecture of the last century
• Walking around to visit the Longlife palaces and building with featured heights in the palaces’ campus will be an unforgettable experience. Let’s enjoy Mandalay Palace in your way!

Ubein Bridge

• It is the world’s oldest and longest teakwood bridge, stretching 1.2 kilometer
• With the traditional style, the bridge has become an iconic destination in Myanmar.
• In the dry season, the water level of the river drops significantly, you can pass through farmer’s small gardens.
• The time appealing most people is at sunset when the sun goes down behind the hill. You will see spectacular reflection images, on a fresh green background. Sitting on a boat and watching the beautiful sunset will be a memorable thing in the trip to Myanmar. If you do not have time for sunset sightseeing, you can also take advantage to see the sunrise in the morning.

Mingun ancient village

• It is located in the north of Mandalay, at the bank of Irrawaddy River.
• From Mandalay, you will travel to Mingun by boat and sightseeing different views in two banks of Irrawaddy River. One side of the river is the crowded city while the other side is the small villages and quiet sandbanks.
• Hsinbyume Pagoda is the first place to visit after you arrive in the Mingun port. You will be impressed by its charming architecture of white terraces. There are seven layers of wavy corridors surrounding the temple representing seven mountains.
• Mingun is famous for its relic of gigantic Mingun Bell, the only intact hanging bell in the world until now. The bell is the second largest ringing bell in the world. You will find it on the way from Hsinbyume Pagoda to Mingun Paya. Mingun Paya is an incomplete stupa and being served as a tourist attraction now.

In addition to these among attractions, you will have a great experience when cycling around the city, visiting the golden leaf factory, stone carving workshop, Mahamuni Pagoda, taking a boat trip in the river and many other activities waiting to be explored.

Bagan

Located in the bank of Irrawaddy River, Bagan is one of the most unique and mystical cities in Southeast Asia, attracting lots of tourists. Bagan used to be the metropolis of Myanmar and until now, it has become a religious epicenter of the country. At present, there are about 2,000 temples remained in 10,000 ancient architectures built from the 10thcentury in Bagan. Once setting foot on this charming city, you should visit some of these featured pagodas, temples here. They are the Golden Pagoda Shwezigon, Ananda temple with four golden Buddha statues in four directions, Thatbyinnyu temple which is the highest temple in Bagan.

Shwezigon Pagoda

• It is one of the oldest and most impressive monuments of Bagan.
• The pagoda was built for the storage of Budda’s tooth relics and images.
• Visiting the pagoda, you will be astonished by its architecture and structure. The main temple is in the middle, four sides of the temple are four rows of stairs leading to the main tower. At four corners of the temple, there are four golden statues of the lion, looking like the guards of the temple. The whole of the main bell-shaped stupa in the center is inlaid with gold and placed on a square base. The top of the temple has the umbrella-like structure that you can see in most of the pagodas, temples in Myanmar. Due to the gold plated and the structure, the pagoda is extremely outstanding and glistening in the sunshine or at night when dozens of lamps and candles are lit. Let’s come and discover this dazzling temple in your way!

Ananda Pagoda

It is regarded as the most beautiful and well-known temple in Bagan. The temple was built in 1105, the pagoda is regarded as an architectural masterpiece of pagodas at that time and still well-preserved the original until today. Ananda Pagoda has a unique structure, impressing any tourist from the first time seeing. The most distinctive feature of the pagoda is the gold-plated “Sikhara” placed in the center. “Sikhara” in the ancient language of Myanmar means “the summit of the mountain”. In the highest top of the tower, gems, diamonds and rubies are placed like most of the temples in Myanmar. Four gold-plated Buddha statues about 10 meters high being put inside the pagoda facing out to four directions is also another impressive point of the pagoda. Ananda Temple has amazingly beautiful works of art and sculptures. The stone carvings, paintings on the walls, ceilings and roofs of this temple depict the life of the Buddha from birth, growth, enlightenment and nirvana. All of them have contributed to the unique shades of the temple.

Leaving Ananda Pagoda, walking for some steps, you will see Thatbyinnyu temple, the highest and one of the first two-story structure in Bagan.

The temple is divided into five floors. The first and the second floor are the accommodation for monks, the third floor is the meditation space, the fourth floor is the library, and the fifth floor is the place in which Buddha statues are located.

Thatbyinnyu temple is the second Buddhist temple in Bagan with a huge brick statue in the tower and Pali stone carvings on the tower's walls. It used to be the best place to watch the sunrise and sunset, but now to protect the tower, visitors are no longer allowed to go to the upper floors but only on the first floor.

Except for these above destinations, you can spend your time climbing Mount Popa in which you can see local people paying respects to the Nat Spirit shrine. You will have to climb nearly 800 steps to reach the top of the mountain to admire the glittering view of the surrounding plains and farmlands. Besides, flying in a hot air balloon over Bagan is also a great experience to see the best view of Bagan. Also, boating along the Irrawaddy River to see the sunrise or sunset, exploring the local market, and visiting the lacquerware workshop to learn about the traditional method for crafting are some other interesting activities to do when you come to Bagan.

Inle Lake

Inle Lake, located in the Nyaung Shwe town in the Shan State, is a pearl of Myanmar with charming scenery and unique culture you cannot miss when you travel to Myanmar. Inle Lake’s life is regarded as a forgotten ancient world, completely separate from the hustle and bustle life of outside.

Boating around Inle Lake, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the life of local people in the lake. This lake is not only a pristine river but also inhabited by some ethnic groups. They live in the floating villages and cultivate right on the lake. The gardens are made from the naturally tangled root of water hyacinth plants and reed, making it a specialty of Inle Lake.

One thing you cannot find in any other place except for Inle Lake is the picture of Intha fishermen standing in a small boat by one leg. They use one leg for rowing, one leg for balancing and they can release their hand to throw the net and catch fish.

Kayan Village or “long-necked” village is also a featured point of Inle Lake. This village will be an interesting stop on your trip to Myanmar. You will catch up with the image of long-necked women sitting by the framed window waving brocade patterns. These women are so-called due to the special necklaces worn to enlarge their neck from the age of five. They are ready to talk and laugh for hours with visitors without hesitation. When visiting a long-neck women's house, you can try to wear bracelets, take pictures, buy souvenirs, etc.

Boating near the bottom of the West end of the lake, you can make a stop at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. This is the biggest temple in the Inle Lake area, storing five ancient images of the Buddha that are completely covered in gold leaf. The temple is surrounded by the center of the locals in the Inle Lake area. The outdoor space behind the temple turns into a "Friday Market" every Friday, bigger and more bustling than the regular floating market.

Besides, visiting Inpawkhon Weaving Village to learn how local silks, linens, and lotus fabrics are traditionally made and Nampan Village to see how cigars are packed and rolled should also be listed in your itinerary.

Yangon

Yangon, the ancient capital of Myanmar, is one of the most attractive destinations in Asia. Coming here, tourists will be astonished by clear blue lakes, shady parks, and lush tropical plants. This is the reason why Yangon is regarded as “Garden of the East”. Besides the beauty of nature, Yangon also appeals to tourists by its colonial-era buildings and exotic mix of spiritual heritage and colorful street life. Let’s come and enjoy Yangon’s atmosphere on your own and discover the below attractions.

Shwedagon Pagoda

The pagoda is believed to store four Buddha treasures including hair relics of the Buddha, making it one of the most sacred pagodas in Myanmar. Another noticeable point of the pagoda is eight statues in eight directions representing for seven days of the week. Each of the statues has the form of different animals. Myanmar people will pray to the statue equivalent to their date of birth, burning candles, incense, and pouring water to the statue for luck.

Visiting the pagoda, you will be astonished by its gold-plated architecture with 1000 small temples surrounding the 99-meter high center stupa. The central tower is a unique work of art, covered with 9,300 gold leaves. Also, the stupa is decorated with thousands of gems, diamonds, and rubies, along with hundreds of golden bells. At the top of the tower, you can see a flag made entirely of gold, encrusted with diamonds and gemstones. There are many Buddha towers with prayer halls, sculptures and temples around the main tower complex. You will have a chance to see colorful Buddha images, fine wood carvings, and murals.

Sule Pagoda

Sule Pagoda is among the most famous religious attractions for both Myanmar and foreign tourists. The pagoda is located in the center of Yangon, at the crossroad of Sule Pagoda Road and Mahabandoola Road.

Sule Pagoda is unique in its architecture. The 48-meter-high pagoda has a gilded dome and the top is a golden spire with mostly octagonal architecture. Looking from the bottom, the pagoda looks like a twisted line extending to the horizon. From above, the temple glistens with gold like a royal palace in fairy tales, attracting all eyes.

The architecture inside the pagoda is also one of a kind. The pagoda is decorated with unique cultural patterns, intricate carvings and extremely splendid, making every tourist surprised and overwhelmed when coming to. Coming to Sule Pagoda, you will have a chance to admire the large footprints made of marble at the four large temples in the pagoda and ten bells placed in different positions around the pagoda.

With peaceful and quiet space, Sule Pagoda has become a great stop for travelers who want to relax from the soul.

From Sule Pagoda, you can walk on nearby streets and see many vestiges of colonial times with European –style architecture. The Secretariat or Ministers Office, Strand Hotel, Yangon City Hall are some of the featured colonial architectural works.

Bogyoke Aung San Market

Besides, there are a lot of other goods from fashion clothes to craft, foods and household goods. Going for a walk in the market, watching the stalls and choosing your favorite items for a souvenir will be an exciting experience.

In addition to these above attractions, Myanmar has a lot of other temples, pagodas and stupas you can discover and immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere.

Our Myanmar small group and individual tours cover all these big 4 destinations as well as the fewer visit destinations in Myanmar.