Bagan, Myanmar, Southeast Asia: Photos, Best Things to Do, Tours

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Bagan “UNESCO Site”

Bagan is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar.

Misty morning in Bagan, Myanmar.

Balloons, Bagan.

From the 9th to 13th centuries, the Bagan city was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan.

Ox cart walk in front of Bagan temple

Temples of Bagan, Myanmar.

Bagan lies in the middle of the "dry zone" of Burma, the region roughly between Shwebo in the north and Pyay in the south.

Bagan overview

Bagan is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mandalay’s Region of Myanmar. This ancient city, also known as “the archaeological city,” has served as Myanmar’s capital for the past 230 years. Until now, the site has preserved over 2000 temples and pagodas, many of which can be compared to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Borobudur temple in Java, Indonesia.

This city is divided into three sections: Old Bagan, New Bagan, and Nyaung-U. The pagodas, temples, and stupas make up the Old Bagan area. Tourists are only permitted to visit these sites from the outside and are not permitted to go inside.

The area of New Bagan contains many large hotels and restaurants, and it is home to many locals who have relocated from the area of Old Bagan to preserve this ancient area.

Best time to visit Bagan

The city is hot for most of the year, with the best months to visit being November to February, when the average temperature ranges around 30°C. The hottest months are March to May with temperatures can reach 42°C. The wettest months are June and October.

Things to do in Bagan

1. Discover the unique temples in this ancient city by renting a bicycle or E-bike.
2. Fly in a Hot-Air Balloon Over Bagan must experience.
3. Watch the Sun Set Over the Irrawaddy River, Shwesandaw, or Dammayangi Depending on whether you’re staying and visiting in the summer or winter, the sun will set between 5:40 and 6:15 p.m. We recommend arriving at your destination at least an hour early and spending the time exploring the grounds.
4. Catching a sunrise in Old Bagan at the following: Bagan Tower
Utrecht Temple
Sunrise Pagoda
Ta Wet Hpaya Temple
From a hot air balloon
5. Shop for the best lacquerware in workshops.
6. Explore Mingalar Zedi Pagoda.
7. Take a look at Temple Plain.
8. These temples should not be missed: Sulamani Guphaya Temple
Dhamma Yangyi Temple
Ananda Phaya Temple
Shwegu Gyi Temple
Shwesandaw Temple
9. Experience a local market and try the traditional foods at famous restaurants such as Weather Spoon’s Bagan Restaurant in Nyaung-U town, Queen Restaurant, Golden Emperor Restaurant, or Yar Pyi Vegetarian.
10. Take part in Bagan’s Biggest Festivals such as the Ananda Pagoda Festival from the 8th to 17th of January, and the Shwezigon Pagoda Festival from the 16th of November to the 8th of December.

How to travel to Bagan Myanmar?

By bus: it is reasonable and convenient to get to this ancient city from Yangon, Mandalay, or Inle Lake by bus. You can take high-quality and clean buses for these routes, such as JJ Express or Elite Express, for about 16,000 Kyats.

By plane: A one-hour flight from Yangon to Bagan’s Nyaung U Airport/NYU costs between $100 and $130, depending on the airline (Air Bagan, Air Mandalay, Air KBZ, Yangon Airways, or Asia Wings).

The main modes of transportation in this city are horse wagon, car, and bicycle. However, tourists prefer horse-drawn carriages, which cost about 25,000 Kyats/day. Because the riders are locals, they will provide you with free tour guides.

Tourists love bicycles here because it is easy to transfer between tourist attractions and even stop at local homes to meet and chat with locals.

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