Yangon (Rangoon)
In late 2007 Yangon was the centre of huge nationwide fuel protests, which were led by Buddhist monks.
In late 2007 Yangon was the centre of huge nationwide fuel protests, which were led by Buddhist monks.
The natural focus of Mandalay (မႏၱေလး) is an abrupt hill, rising above a vast moated and walled square.
Thazi crops up on travellers’ itineraries for one reason only – the town marks the intersection of the Mandalay–Yangon rail line and the highway towards Inle Lake and the Thai border.
Around three miles east of Mandalay, this pagoda-dotted hillside lacks the historical pedigree of other regional attractions but makes a pleasantly simple, untouristy short excursion from Mandalay.
At 11am daily, local families and tourists converge on Paleik’s modest temple, the rather kitschy Yadana Labamuni Hsu-taung-pye, to see the bathing and feeding of three giant pythons, which give it the widely used nickname, the Snake Pagoda (Hmwe...
Home to a trio of unique pagodas, Mingun (admission Sagaing/Mingun $3 ticket) is a compact riverside village that makes a popular half-day excursion from Mandalay.
For over half of the past 650 years, Burma’s royal capital was Inwa (Mandalay $10 combo ticket required).
Linking Sagaing and Amarapura are two parallel bridges, each with multiple metal-framed spans.
Myanmar’s penultimate royal capital, Amarapura (pronounced amuRA-puRA) means ‘City of Immortality’, though its period of prominence lasted less than 70 years (from 1783).
Like Tanintharyi (Tenasserim) Division in the south, Kayah State (ကယားျပည္နယ္) is yet another one of those uniquely Burmese destinations that’s open to foreign tourists, but not really open.
Located on the northwestern shore of the lake, 5 miles from Nyaungshwe, Kaung Daing (ေခါင္တိုင္) is a quiet Intha village.
Arranged in neat rows sprawling over the hillside, the 2478 stupas at Kakku are one of the most remarkable sights in Shan State.
It’s no Bagan, but this ancient site, about 5 miles east of Pyay centre, can make for a fun few hours of laid-back exploration, often in isolation.
This small town about 9 miles south of Pyay, via the road to Yangon, contains the famous Shwemyetman Paya (Paya of the Golden Spectacles), a reference to the large, white-faced sitting buddha inside the main shrine.
Carved into cliffs overlooking the Ayeyarwady, about 19 miles downstream from Pyay, are dozens of buddha images at Akauk Taung (Tax Mountain).
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