Myanmar (Burma) is a land where thousands of ancient religious stupas rise out of flat plains and floating-village life throbs upon Inle Lake. For a glimpse of old Indochina, there isn’t a more thriving destination than this mysterious country.
Burma is home to cultural, religious and historic sites, fascinating hill-tribe groups, and stunning natural beauty from mountains to lakes and an idyllic coastline. The country has flung its doors open to visitors, who will uncover a mix of British colonial-era architecture and magical temples, stupas and pagodas.
From exotic Mandalay’s cultural sites to Yangon’s history and the coastline’s stunning beaches, Burma surprises and delights at every turn. Cruise beautiful Inle Lake with its stilt homes, shop for colorful handicrafts in local markets and explore the plains of Bagan with their thousands of stupas.
While making great holiday in Myanmar, traverse through a land spiked with temples, with cities built on rivers edges and whole towns floating on a lake. Meet the friendly people at markets, villages and monasteries, for an insight into life in a land which has been mostly cut off from Western influence for so long. If you are seeking colonial architecture, countless temples, stunning landscapes and locals welcoming you with open arms, this is the trip for your autumn holiday.
Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, was the capital of Myanmar, is known for its colonial architecture, which although decaying, remains an almost unique example of a 19th-century British colonial capital. Friendly street vendors, traditionally dressed local people, attracting old Chevrolet buses and trishaws, all make a feel like a museum of Yangon downtown life.
Shwedagon, the heart of Yangon, is the most profoundly honored pagoda in the country and interesting history behind. Towering to a height of 326 feet above the city, Shwedagon Pagoda is the famous landmark noticeable from miles around. It is one of the wonders of the world and the most revered pagoda in Southeast Asia.
Bagan is the place where the heart of the country ancient architecture lies. More than 2,000 temples and stupas are located in the area and can be found along the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River. Pagodas can be found mostly covered in reddish color and religious monuments which were built more than 1,500 years ago and it can be said that Bagan, is the most memorable place for visitors coming to Myanmar.
The most interesting fact about Bagan is where visitors can observe and learn about the changes of traditions and cultures in different dynasties where those had been recorded as picture gallery around almost every Pagodas’ walls with the form of ancient paintings. Moreover, for those who love the fine arts of the local architecture, they can bring back along to home in different forms such as lacquer-ware, bamboo arts and local tradition clothing. Local people have been maintaining the unique architecture for centuries and those mementos will always reminds the visitors of how beautiful Bagan.
Mandalay is located between one of the most historical Ayeyarwaddy river. The location itself is considered the center of Myanmar culture. As it can be said that, Mandalay is nearer to Bagan and also the central of the country itself, as a result, various traditions and cultures can be found in the city itself which is why, every visitors should always go to Mandalay when they are in Myanmar not just only for sightseeing purpose but visitors can also see and observe different cultures and traditions of Myanmar in one place.
Inle Lake, located in the Shan Hills in Myanmar is a freshwater lake with numerous villages against the foggy mountain ranges. The weather of Inle Lake differs from other places in the country as the air is a bit cooler and drier. The unique culture which visitors can find in Inle Lake is, fishermen have tendency to row boats using their legs and it is also a part of the Inle tradition itself. Other significant scenery that one can expect to see in the Inle Lake such as: floating tomatoes fields around the lake, gardens of flowers properly anchored to the lake bed with bamboo poles.
Kyaing Tong, is a town in eastern Shan State, Myanmar. The weather in this area is particular cooler than compare to the tropical area of Myanmar which is a suitable place for those visitors who would like to enjoy plenty memorable sceneries in the chilling weather. There are plenty of shifting fields and most local community maintains their unique culture where visitors can see traditionally built huts on the mountain slopes. As it is interconnected to the golden triangle, and where diverse ethnics group inhabitant, therefore; visitors can expect to see other cultures and traditions as well.
Kyaing Tong has plenty of hiking, mountain climbing trips in a trekking pilgrimage to nearby mountains to visit the villages of different Shan ethnic tribes, enjoy the breath-taking sceneries along the way while admiring the pagodas along the way.
Golden Rock is one of the breath-taking and also a sacred place for Myanmar people. It is perched on the highest mountain of Paunglaung mountain range. The pagoda is the third most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma. A glimpse of the “gravity defying” Golden Rock is believed to be enough of an inspiration for any person to turn to Buddhism. It is the best place for those who would like to have a legendary pilgrimage because the Golden Rock itself is placed on top of the mountain. As the golden rock gleams in different shades from dawn to, pilgrims’ chants reverberate in the precincts of the shrine. Due to the culture and belief in the Buddhism, most Buddhists offers lighting candles and some meditate and the offerings to the Buddha continues throughout the night.
Monywa has many places to visit and one of many attractions is the Poewindaung mountain caves where visitors can observe the incredible stone curving and mural paintings all over the cave. Thanboday pagoda is also another major attraction of Monywa. Being able to enjoy a one-thousand banyan trees with Buddha images together in one place within one’s eyesight is a moment will never forget those who has been to Monywa. As the majority of people living in Myanmar are Buddhism, for those who are interested in the Buddhism can observe the history of the biggest standing Buddha image all over the world is located in a village known as Khatakan Taung village in Monywa.
Putao was once the site of World War II British Fort Hertz. It is popular for having rare orchids which grow naturally in the area. Obviously, it is the place for those who love orchid to visit and a rare orchid specie name called “Black Orchid” grow in the mountains western and eastern of Putao.
Mrauk U, is an ancient city and it is also one of the most important site for archaeologists to observe different artifacts in the area. It can be said that Mrauk U is another ancient city with lots of pagodas spreading over the land just as it is in Bagan but with entirely different architecture which were built in different times back in ancient Myanmar history.
One significant pagoda which was built by King Minbin (1535 – 1533 A.D) was the Shwedaung pagoda where the pagoda itself is surrounded by other eighty thousand pagodas. Those are not the end of what Mrauk U has to offer to the visitors but also for the pilgrimage and Buddhism, Pukkanthein, Lemyethna temples and the Andaw pagodas were built and enshrined with a tooth of Buddha from Sri Lanka. Therefore, the ancient city Mrauk U undoubtedly gives the feeling of how people had inhabitant in the history of Myanmar and various sort of ancient architecture.
Ngwe Saung Beach is situated near Yangon. Though, the beach itself was recently opened, due to the incredible quality of the beach, water and sand, it is getting more and more attention from tourists. It is not just that the beach is good in quality but it also has incredible vistas and breathtaking view of the Bay of Bengal especially during the evening when the sun goes set.
Ngapali Beach is one of the loveliest places in Myanmar. It is also one of the most unspoiled beaches in the world, with miles of pure white sands skirting the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Actually, Ngapali is not one single beach but it is a series of beaches interconnected with small fishing villages stretching from Mazin. There is no doubt the Ngapali is the perfect place for those who would like to enjoy the beauty of mother earth in one place where all the natural and marine animals like to inhabitant.
Discover the great attractions of Myanmar and enjoy your holidays in this autumn comprehensively. Let us devise your upcoming autumn dream trip into the heart of Burmese civilization.
