Tourist Attractions in upper Myanmar
Mandalay, the last capital of Myanmar Kings, is located in Central Myanmar. It is situated 668 km north of Yangon on the Ayeyarwady River with about half a million inhabitants. Today, it is the second largest city boasting its rich cultural heritages. Mandalay, one hundred and forty two years old city is the historical ancient capital of Myanmar culture, Buddhist Sasana and Myanmar traditional arts and crafts.
Famous Destinations in Mandalay
It is the most ancient Buddha Image in Myanmar and it is a very magnificent Buddha image covered with gold and the coating of gold thickness is 5.9 inches. Whoever visits Mandalay from local areas or from abroad unfailingly come and pay homage to the Maha-myat-muni Buddha Image.
Mandalay Hill
The Mandalay Hill is situated to the north-east corner of Mandalay Royal Palace. It lies from north to south, its altitude being 236.5m above sea level and its height going up to 167.64m. One famous Buddha Image on the Mandalay Hill is the Image of Standing Lord Buddha at the top of the hill. The iron statues of the two snakes are well known to the visitors of Mandalay. Like a Tower given by nature, the Mandalay Hill offers a panoramic view over the golden city of Mandalay. One can take a breath taking view towards the Yan Kin Hill, the Sagaing Hill, the Min Wun Ranges, the glimmering Ayeyarwaddy and San Yoma Ranges.
Mandalay Palace called Mya-nan-san-kyawShwenandawstands today as the evidenceof Myanmar’s finest architecture. It was built by Myanmar King Mindon in 1857 and the finely built palace walls, the four gates with their crowning wooden pavilions and the surrounding moat still present an impressive sense of majestic palace.
This pagoda was built by King Midon at the same time as the royal palce.Kuthodaw Pagoda is also known as “The World’s Largest Book” for its 729 upright stone slabs on which the Buddhist Scriptures (Tripitaka) are inscribed. The stone slabs are housed in its own individual small stupa.
Visitors will see the masterpiece of Myanmar woodcarving techniques in ShweNandawKyaung. At a time, it was a part of the Royal Palace and King Mindon used it as an apartment. After his death, King Thibaw rebuilt it in 1880 as a monastery. It is said that King Thibaw used the building for the meditation, and the couch can still be seen.
Attractive Spots around Mandalay
Amarapura is the ancient capital of Konbaung Dynasty Myanmar and it is 11 km south of Mandalay. Although there are little remains of old palace area, other impressive attractions like Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, U Bein Bridge across the amazing Taunthaman Lake, Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, Nagayone Pagoda, Mahagandayone Monastery and cotton and silk weaving cottage industry.
This 1208 meter long bridge was built with teak and this appealing and simple 200 years- old bridge is the longest teak structure in the world. Stretching along the beautiful Taungthamanlake makes an impressive view and amazing.
After the fall of Bagan, Inwabecame the capital of Myanmar Kingdom for 400 years. Places of tourist occupied include 27 meter high Nanmyint Tower, MahaAungmyaeBonzanKyaung, Bagaya Monastery which bare witness the art and architecture of Myanmar.
Sagaing lies in the western bank of Irrawady River and it is famous for its plenty of pagodas scattered over the Sagaing Hill. Once an ancient capital, Sagaing lies 21 km southwest of Mandalay.As Buddha Sasana is shining brightly all over it, the Sagaing Hill becomes a spiritual recluse for Buddhist studies and meditation. The Soon-oopon-nya-shin pagoda, KaungHmudawPagoda(a copy of the Mahaceti Pagoda in Serilanka) and Ywahtaung Village (home of silver craftsman) are well worth visiting.
The 11 km boat trip from Mandalay lies Myanmar Ancient City of Mingun on the western banks of Irrawady River. The trip to Mingun will offer you a marvelous and breathtaking view of the river. At the end of this trip, you will find the world’s biggest ringing bell called Mingun Bell weighing 90 tons and Mingun Pagoda, the unfinished work of King BodawPhaya. Although it was not finished, it still remains as the world’s largest unfinished brick pile of a Pagoda.
About 1010 meters above sea level and 67 kilometer east of Mandalay, PyinOoLwin is a popular hill station with cool and pleasant weather. It is well known for its colonial-style buildings that still remain in good condition like Purcell Tower, the Clock tower and Church of Immaculate as well asever blossoming flowers add the beauty of the town. The air is always cool and fresh as pine trees, fir trees, eucalyptus and silver oak are surrounded this beautiful town.PyinOoLwin’s National Kandawgyi Garden is 175 hectare wide and you can find natural forests with walking trails, various kinds of flowers, a number of ponds, a variety of wildlife and birds. Other tourist attractions are PweKauk, Dat-taw-gyaint and Ani-sakhan waterfalls, Peik-Chin -MyaungCave, Goteik Viaduct and MahaAnk-htoo- kan- tha Buddha Image.
About 136 km to the west of Mandalay is Monywa, the commercial city of Chindwin Valley. Well worth visiting places in Monywa are Than-bok-de pagoda with over 500,000 buddha images, Bodhi-ta-htaung, LediKyaungtaik Monastery where Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on the 806 stone slabs and Kyauka Village known for its own style of lacquerware.
Bagan
Bagan is the main tourist attraction in Myanmar and it is also one of the richest archaeological treasure houses in Asia. Bagan was founded in 849 AD and it was the capital of the first Unified Kingdom as well as the first Multinational Union of Myanmar. It is located in the east bank of the Ayeyarwady River with the span of 42 square kilometers where over 2000 pagodas are concentrated. Visitors can find the Myanmar’s excellent art and architecture of that time and these countless numbers of pagoda as well as the breathtaking view of sunset makeBagan famous as one of the world wonders.
Popular Tourist Attractions in Bagan
The gilded Shwezigone Pagoda is the first monument built in Myanmar style, the prototype for later pagodas. It was first built by the King Anawrahta and completed by King Kyansittha in 1087.
The Ananda Temple was built after the Shwezigone Pagoda in 1090. It is the masterpiece of the early style temple architecture. Inside the temple are four huge Buddha images in the standing position and eighty reliefs depicting the life of Buddha from his birth to his Enlightenment. It is one of the few hollow pagodas and is perfectly proportioned temple that holds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period.
Thatbyinyu Temple
The Thatbyinnyu Temple, a white stucco building, is the Bagan’s highest pagoda. It was built by the King AlaungSithu in mid -12th century. The view from its terraces is spectacular both at dawn and dusk.
This 13th century temple is like Thatbyinnyu, about 60 meters high with a fine view of the Bagan plains.
The Dhammayangyi Temple was built by the King Narathu in 1176 and it is the most massive temple in Bagan. This Temple was not finished but it remained as the finest brickwork.
This early 13thcentury temple displays a strong influence of Indian culture. Inside are the wall paintings and 28 Buddha images in sitting position.
King Anawrahta built this pagoda in early 11th century displaying a strong Mon influence with a steep stairway directly to the terraces for a superb view from the upper level.
Sularmani Temple
The Sularmani temple built in 1181 by King Narapatisithu is known as for its murals dating from 11th– 12th century.
Other tourist attractions in Bagan are MingalaZedi, Manuha Temple, LawkanandaPagoda, Buphaya and Bagan Museum.
Mount Popa
Mount Popa lies 50 kilometers southeast of Bagan. Its name represents that “The Mount with various kinds of flowers.”This1,500-meter high Mount Popa was once an extinct volcano and the legendary home of the “Nats” or “Spirits”. Popa is said to be the Oasis of the dry zone as the weather is moderate and it is also a unique place for those who loves hiking and trekking in mountains.
It is a small town about 15 km south of Bagan, down the Ayeyarwaddy River. U Pone Nya Museum exhibits antique laquerware, wooden reliefs and a large standing gilded Buddha Images. Another place to visit is Tha-ta-naKyaung (Keythar Monastery) where Tipitaka texts are housed in a large red lacquered cabinet.
Taunggyi
Taunggyi, the capital city of Shan State in the Eastern part of the Myanmar, is known as for its scenic beauty and pleasant climate. The weather is cool and pleasant all year round and the area is colorful with lovely flowers, Pine trees and green orchards. Being situated over 1400 meters above sea level, Taunggyi is ideal for the holiday-makers during the summertime.
Attractions around Taunggyi
Taunggyi Market
It is the most fascinating place to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. The market on every fifth day is crowded with ethnic minorities in their traditional costumes, selling their luscious vegetables, fruits and flowers.
It is the ethnographic museum in which one can see the life-size statues of minorities with the respective colorful dressing, their traditional weapons and utilities in addition to the dress of the late Shan Sawbwars (Dukes or Lords).
Inle Lake
InleLake, the treasure of the Shan State, is located about 30 km to the south of Taunggyi. This vast, marvelous and picturesque lake is 900 km above the sea level, stretched 22.4 km long and 10.2 km wide. It has a population of 150,000 and many of them live on floating islands of vegetation. InleLake is famous for its unique leg-rowers, floating islands and colorful markets. One can enjoy the boat trip to feel the peace and tranquility of the Inle Lake. The beauty of this natural and unpolluted lake matched with the amazing Shan mountain ranges will definitely occupy the heart of the visitors.
The largest village on the Inle Lake, with some beautiful teak houses built on large wooden poles driven into the lake bed. The main attraction of this place is the floating market.
It is the one of the principle shrines in Myanmar and five small Buddha images are housed in this pagoda. Once a year, in the end of September or October, there is a pagoda festival during which the four Buddha images are rowed around the lake in a colorful barge.
A large and bustling market where one can find a real local atmosphere with a variety of products from the lake. Other interests in the lake are PayaPauk Pagoda, Zakah village and Ngaphe monastery.
Kalaw
Kalaw is a little town on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. It was a popular hill station in the British days and it still has an atmosphere of the colonial area. It is located over 1400 above the sea level and 70 km west of Taunggyi. Kalaw is famous for its cool and pleasant weather, colourful flowers around the year as well as for its colonial buildings.
About 45km drive from Kalaw is Pindaya that is well known for its extensive limestone caves. The caves are set deep in the hillsides and there stands at the entrance, a 15 meter high Shwe U Min Pagoda. Thousands of centuries-old Buddha images of various sizes are seated in this cave.
Kakku Pagoda, a hidden treasure and unusual, magnificent collections of Buddha Stupa, is 26 miles south of Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State. More than two thousands stupas are packed in ranks covering an area of approximately a square kilometer. The annual pagoda festival is held in the mid of March (Harvest Festival) and thousands of pilgrims from all part of the Shan State come there to participate.
Beaches in Myanmar
Ngapali is one of the most beautiful beaches in Myanmar, located on the Rakhine Coast near Thandwe. It is only 45 minutes flight from Yangon and by overland, it is r hour drive along the narrow winding road over the RakhineYoma (mountain range). This unspoilt beach is very fantastic with arttractive white sand and clear water. One can taste the various kinds of seafood, take a rest under the peaceful palm shaded housesand feel the sense of tranquility.
Chaung-tha Beach is located 40 km to the west of Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy Division. It is very convenient to drive from Yangon via Patheintaking about 5 hours and so most of the local people come to visit it rather than other beaches.
This unspoilt beach stretches 15 kilometers of white sand and blue sea. As it is opened later than other beachs in Myanmar, visitors can stay in newly constructed bungalows equipped with modern facilities. Fringed with palm trees, most of the hotels face the beach.
Kantharyar Beach
Kantharyar beach is accessible by an 8 hour drive from Yangon over forested mountain road. It is Located 290km from Yangon near Gwa on the Rakhine coast.
The Kyaikhtiyo Pagodais of the most famous and ancient pagodas in Myanmar. It is situated in Kyaikhto Township. The pagoda is said to have been built during the life time of Buddha over 2400 years ago. This mystical pagoda stands on a gilded boulder, precariously perched on the edge of the hill over 1100m above sea level. The pagoda is 160km from Yangon and 11km of hiking from the base camp at Kyaikhtiyo.Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda festival is very famous for its lighting celebrations during October to March every year. Because of its unusual position and scenic beauty, the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda is a place of worth visiting in Myanmar and the one who enjoys trekking and hiking in mountains should not miss this pagoda.
This 15th century ancient city of Rakhine Kingdom is known for its old temples with wall paintings of Indian cultural influences. Regular flights from Yangon to Sittwe take about one hour and thirty minutes. The Mahamuni Shrine, one of the famous pagodas in Myanmar, is situated 30km from Mrauk- U. one can find Myanmar’s ancient culture and architecture at ancient pagodas in Mrauk-U like Shitthaung Pagoda, Dukkanthein Pagoda and Andawthein Shrine and also well worth visiting.
Tourist attractions in Kachin State
Myitkyina is the capital and centrally located inKachin state. It is the northern most railway terminal, 919 miles from Yangon and 487 miles from Mandalay. One can pay a visit to Myit- sone, the confluence of Maykha and Malikha streams. Ayeyarwady, the most useful river in Myanmar has its source from this confluence and flows 1325 miles to the mouth of the river. The water over there is crystal clear and cool. The panoramic view of the scenario at Myit-sone with the unspoilt beauty of nature is beyond the expression of words and will definitely be a major tourist attraction.
Indawgyi Lake is the largest inland lake of Southeast Asia and it is two and a half hours south of Myitkyina. There are over 20 villages around the lake. Indawgyi Lake is within the confines of Indawgyi lake Wildlife Sanctuary, which was established in 1999 by the Ministry of Ecotourism. The Sanctuary, which is 300 square miles, contains a variety of animal species, including rare mammals and birds.
Putao is situated in the north of Myitkyina. The city is surrounded with snow peaked mountains and the weather is cold around the year. It is the nearest town to the base camp for climbing Mt. Khakarborazi (5889 meters), which is the highest mountain in Myanmar and in Southeast Asia. Putartao is a unique place for those who love adventurous trekking in the mountain.
Tourist attractions around Chin State
Mt. Victoria
Mt. Victoria is also known as Natma-taung National Park and located in Chin State.This 279 square mile wide National Park was established in 1994. There are different kinds of forest like Hill Evergreen forests, Moist Upper Mixed Deciduous forests, Pine forests and Hill Savannah. On the way to Natma-taung peak, one can find the natural trees, orchids, and especially “Rhododendron”. There are also a wide variety of birds in Natmataung National Park.
Tourist attractions around Kayin State
Mt. Zwegabin
The Zwegabin hill has a very unusual shape and rises about 650 meters steeply from the plains. It is locate in Pha-an, the capital of Kayin State. For those who are fit enough to walk up to the top, it takes about two hours to have a bird eye view over the river and the plains. There is also a pagoda and a monastery at the top of the hill and visitors can enjoy the peace and beauty of the surrounding sites from the top of the hill.
Kawgun Cave
It is located near the Kawgun village which is two miles from Pha-an. It is a natural lime stone cave of 200 ft height and 300 ft wide. The rock surface is profusely decorated with different kinds of clay Buddha images that seem to be the style of 15th century and votive tables. It is a rare cave in lower Myanmar.
BayinNyi cave is closer to Thaton and makes an ideal stop on the way to Yangon. This is another steep rock in the plains and there is hot spring with bathing possibility.
Thandaung
Thandaung is 200 miles far away from Yangon. It was a hill station in 1852 when the lower Myanmar was annexed by the British Colonies. It is 4000 feet high with lush virgin forests and cascading mountain streams. Thandaung is a beautiful hill station and one can find a breath taking view from the top of the hill. It is also a famous place for tea and coffee. It is said to be one of the most famous and marvelous landmarks of Kayin state.