Bagan

Bagan Overview

Bagan - the ancient city located in the south of the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. In 2019, it was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known as one of the most important archaeological zones.

In order to understand the significance of Bagan, one has to look back to the reign of the Bagan Empire. The culture of Bagan was dominated by religion, which explained why the capital and cultural heart of the Bagan Kingdom - Bagan back then was filled with over 10,000 religious monuments, which were a belief in Buddhism that building a temple could earn merit.

Nowadays, more than 2,200 temples and pagodas survived the time and are preserved or have been restored, some of which receive regular visits from tourists in and outside of the country.

Bagan overview Myanmar

A trip to Bagan would be absolutely perfect for those who want to have an absolutely different traveling experience. If you have any questions about Bagan tour or Myanmar tours in general, please feel free to contact Asia Private Travels and we’re always ready to assist you!

What To Do And What To See In Bagan?

Despite the blooming in tourism to Bagan, it still preserves its majestic atmosphere. This is because of the thick history that the city preserves, as well as thousands of big and small temples and pagodas scattering this place, giving tourists a glimpse of the glorious past of where was once a prosperous cosmopolitan.

Ananda Temple

The Ananda temple is one of Bagan's best-known and most beautiful temples. It was one of the first great temples to be built in Bagan and is well preserved. The temple is found near the Tharabar gate, the only gate remaining of the original 12 in the old Bagan city walls.

Ananda Temple, Bagan in Myanmar

Thatbyinnyu Pagoda

The pagoda is located less than 800 meters southwest of Ananda Temple and was built by King Alaungsithu in the 12th century. It is also known as the "Two Pagodas of Bagan" with Ananda Temple. The pagoda is divided into 5 floors. The first and second floors were once the residence of the monks. The third floor is the space for meditation. The fourth floor is the library. As the second largest Buddhist pagoda in Bagan, there is a huge statue in bricks in the pagoda. There are Pali stone carvings on the wall of the pagoda. In order to preserve the pagoda and prevent it from harm, visitors are only allowed to visit the first floor.

Thatbyinnyu temple in Bagan Myanmar

Shwezigon Pagoda

The Shwezigon Pagoda is the oldest temple in Bagan, it is also the only pagoda built in stone in Bagan and is listed as one of the four sacred pagodas in Myanmar. The pagoda was built during the period of two kings: Anawrahta (1044-1077) and Kyansittha (1084-1113). It was the founding pagoda of the Bagan dynasty and a typical representative of the early architecture of Bagan.

Admiring Shwezigon Pagoda in Myanmar

Htilominlo Temple

Htilominlo Temple was built in 1218 by King Htilominlo. It is the last temple in Burmese style with a history of more than 700 years in Bagan and is said to be the youngest ancient temple in Bagan.

Gubyaukgyi Pagoda

Gubyaukgyi Pagoda is a Buddhist temple built in 1113 AD. The style of the temple includes both Mon and Indian elements. There is a well-preserved ancient monument next to the golden pagoda, which depicts the construction of the ancient temple in Indian style. It contains more than 500 well-preserved frescoes telling the legend of the Mon. Gubyaukgyi Pagoda as a group of pagodas consists of many large and small pagodas around it.

Visiting Gubyaukgyi in Myanmar

Myinkaba Village

Myinkaba Village is located between New Bagan and Old Bagan and is about 1 km from Old Bagan. It is a famous village producing lacquerware, especially lacquerware in the Mon style. So if you visit this village, don’t forget to have some lacquerware as souvenirs.

Dhammayangyi Pagoda

Dhammayangyi Pagoda is the most majestic pagoda in Bagan. It can be seen anywhere in Bagan and is the representative of pagodas in bricks. It is built in a plan similar to that of Ananda Temple. However, because the king was assassinated when the construction of the pagoda was not finished, the top of the pagoda has not been built yet. Because there is no top of the pagoda, it resembles a pyramid and is very different from many other pagodas of Bagan in appearance.

Discovering Dhammayangyi Pagoda in Myanmar

What To Eat And Drink In Bagan?

The environment and availability of ingredients influence culinary style; most recipes have seasonal vegetables and light flavors to combat the heat. Furthermore, because the majority of people are Buddhist, there are more vegetarian options accessible.

Lahpet Thoke (tea leaves salad)

To be able to make this attractive salad, people only choose the best tea leaves and ferment them, then the tea leaves will be soaked in sesame oil and mixed with fried garlic, peas, peanuts, roasted sesame, crushed dried shrimp, chopped ginger, and chopped coconut.

Burmese Curry

There is curry rice in almost all the tropical regions where spices are abundant. Myanmar is no exception. The staple food of curry rice can be any meat such as chicken, fish, or beef. The Burmese curry rice can be quite oily but the curry sauce of this dish is very delicious.

Burmese chicken and sweet potato curry

Shan Tofu Noodle

Shan tofu noodle is the most unique and traditional dish of the Shan tribe in Myanmar. The main ingredient of this dish is Shan tofu, which is a thick soup made from yellow lentils and chickpeas. This yellow soup is poured onto the noodles, added with chicken or pork, and a little satay. This dish is served with pickled vegetables and broth.

Mohinga (fish soup rice noodles)

Mohinga is a traditional food in the northern part of Myanmar and has become popular in the Bagan area. Unlike the rice noodles in other countries of Southeast Asia, the rice noodles in Mohinga are very soft. The soup of these rice noodles is made of fresh fish so the taste is very fresh.

Enjoying Mohinga fish soup rice noodles- a special cuisine in Myanmar

Myanmar Tea Mix

In Bagan, you can see tea shops everywhere. The signature tea that every tourist to this region has to try is called “Tea Mix”, which is made by mixing condensed milk with tea that has a little black bean taste. If it is a Chinese-owned tea shop, the tea is often sold with snacks, which are sweet dumplings made from red beans and green beans.

When To Visit Bagan?

Bagan is mostly hot all throughout the year, its weather can be divided into three seasons: hot season, rainy season, and cool season. Hot season is from March to May, as the name suggests, the weather during this time is extremely hot and the temperature can reach over 40°C. Rainy season is from June to October, and the weather during this season is hot and humid due to continuous rains. Cool season is from November to February and is considered the best time to visit Bagan. However, even during cool season, the UV radiation is still very strong and so it’s necessary for tourists to have careful sun protection methods, which include using sunscreen and wearing long sleeves.

The Tours From Bagan

Bagan sightseeing on a hot air balloon

The absolutely best way to go sightseeing in Bagan is by hot air balloon. You will be able to see the glorious beauty of nature in the ancient city. Watching over the temples, the sparkling river, as well as the mountains of Bagan will sure leave you a long-lasting impression.

Experiencing hot balloon air in Bagan

Bagan cycling tour

Temple sites are usually too big to visit all on foot, so if you want to further explore them, you can either rent a bike to go on your own or hire a tour guide if you want to make sure that you won’t be lost or accidentally enter prohibited areas.

Bagan - Mount Popa Monastery

Only about 50km to the south of Bagan is Mount Popa. The mountain is an inactive volcano and is considered the Olympus of Myanmar by local people, on the top of the mountain is the sacred Taung Kalat Monastery and temple complex, making it a famous pilgrimage site for Myanmar people in general. This is also the home of more than 37 spirits known as nats, whose statues are depicted in human forms and placed at the bottom of the staircase. Visitors have to climb a total of 777 steps to reach the monastery while trying not to get pickpocketed by monkeys living along the staircase.

Exploring Mount Popa Monastery

Bagan - Salay

Salay, a charming small town with a lovingly quiet atmosphere is about 120 kilometers north of Bagan. Salay was the home of the famed writer and poet of the-Bagan era Salay U Pon Nya whose works are still studied and revered by modern Myanmar scholars. In this renowned village also lies the 130-year-old Yokesone Monastery known for its exquisite wood carving decorations.

Bagan - Mandalay

The distance is only about 180km so if you like to experience a river cruise trip, this route will be the chance for you to do so. Cruising along the Irrawaddy River and witnessing the sunset of Bagan is truly a magical moment that you won’t be able to forget. When the cruise reaches Mandalay, you can continue with your religious trip like you’re on a pilgrimage, or visit Amarapura - “The Immortal City” and the former capital of Myanmar.

Bagan - Yangon

More than 500km away from Bagan is Yangon. Yangon means “End of Strife”, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city in Myanmar, the place has a great amount of important architectural and cultural monuments.

Visiting Yangon in Myanmar

As your trip to Bagan will let you pay a lot of visits to temples and pagodas, and also because of the heat and strong UV rays, here are some tips to ensure you have a great experience in Bagan:

●    Dress modestly in long-sleeved shirts and pants. While T-shirts and shorts are allowed on the streets, you will not be allowed to enter temples with bare shoulders or knees.

●    Remove shoes and socks before entering temples and Burmese homes. 

●    Check with tour guides or research carefully because some temples might not allow women to enter.

●    Do not touch monks and nuns, this includes handshaking. If you want to respectfully greet them, just bow.

●    Make sure you are healthy enough or completely able to climb steps as those are usually extremely steep. You should also bring along food and water if you decide to climb.

Want to explore more of Myanmar? Check out other tours by Asia Private Travels!