Mon State
You approach this mixed Mon and Kayin village of wooden stilt houses perched over the Ye River along a road that winds through betel nut, rubber and…
Must-see attractions in Myanmar (Burma)
Yangon
Covered in silks and strewn with sweet-smelling petals, the mausoleum of India's last Mughal emperor is a place of pilgrimage for Indians, Muslims and…
Rakhine State
About 7 miles north of Mrauk U are the barely discernible remains of the kingdom of Wethali. It was founded in AD 327 by King Mahataing Chandra, according…
Sagaing
Five miles northwest of central Sagaing, Kaunghmudaw Paya is a vast gilded pudding of a stupa rising 150ft high. It was built in 1636 to commemorate Inwa…
Bagan
About 1300ft south of Manuha Paya, this 11th-century temple with a Sinhalese-style stupa was supposedly built by Kyanzittha’s Bengali wife Abeyadana, who…
Northern Myanmar
The pottery district stretches a mile south of town beyond the Ayeyarwady bridge site. A block or two inland, several ‘factories’ are housed in bamboo…
Bagan
In Myinkaba village stands this active and rather modern-looking pagoda (although it dates from 1059). It is named after Manuha, the Mon king from Thaton…
Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary
Myanmar (Burma)
This wildlife sanctuary deep in the delta offers the chance to experience traditional life in the Ayeyarwady region and see rare species including wild…
Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar has several temples where real live snakes are worshipped – the humongous Burmese python at Bago's is reputed to be over 125 years old. At least…
Myanmar (Burma)
Before exploring the ancient ruins of Thayekhittaya, it's worth stopping by this three-room museum at the entrance to the site. Inside, you'll find a…
Bagan
On the dirt road 500ft east towards the dominating Thatbyinnyu, the Pahtothamya (or Thamya Pahto) was probably built during the reign of Kyanzittha,…
Myanmar (Burma)
The best marble in the country comes from Marble Mountain (otherwise known by the village name of Sakyin), 36 miles north of Mandalay (on the way to the…
Myanmar (Burma)
The design of this 'Great Stupa', with its stairways leading high up the structure, is unusual for southern Myanmar and certainly one of Bago's more…
Bagan
Dating from the 13th century, during the latter period of temple building at Bagan, this huge, impressive pagoda used to be a superb and popular sunset…
Myeik
Directly opposite Myeik's harbour, this island is named for its two prominent hills. There are no beaches on the island. Instead, a large, hollow…
Myanmar (Burma)
One of the three Pyu city states (along with Thayekhittaya and Halin), the crumbling ruins of Beikthano are well off the beaten track, but will reward…
Museum in Commemoration of Opium-Free in Special Region 4
Eastern Myanmar
In 1997 Mong La's ethnic militia ruler declared the region 'drug-free', and this surreal, temple-like museum was opened with much fanfare in a not very…
Bagan
Slightly south of Abeyadana and across the road, this elegant and well-preserved temple was built by Kyanzittha. The main buddha image is twice life-size…
Myeik
If you want to see an island of the Myeik Archipelago without taking an expensive tour, catch the ferry from Sake Nge Jetty to Kadan Island, an hour from…
Bagan
Built by Alaungsithu in 1131, this smaller but elegant pahto (temple), 650ft north of Thatbyinnyu, is an example of Bagan’s middle period of temple…
Yangon
In late 2019, following a major heritage-restoration project overseen by the nonprofit Turquoise Mountain, this stately colonial building reopened. Much…
Yangon
This striking mausoleum houses the remains of General Aung San and the six comrades who were assassinated on 19 July 1947. The Soviet-style, red-painted…
Myanmar (Burma)
More or less at the heart of Nay Pyi Taw is this government-built, 165-acre grassy park boasting ponds, swinging bridges, gardens, fountains, kitschy…
Yangon
In desperate need of love and attention, this crumbling Italianate building, constructed by the Jewish-Baghdadi trader Isaac A Sofaer, still has original…
Eastern Myanmar
Dating back to 1912, this attractive monastery formerly served as the palace of Kayah's saopha (sky princes) until 1959. After the last saopha passed away…
Inle Lake Region
A wide channel leads south from Ywama to the village of Tha Lay and Phaung Daw Oo Paya, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. Enshrined…
Myanmar (Burma)
Dee Dote Waterfall, a fairly picturesque spot 24 miles southeast of Mandalay (on the road to Pyin Oo Lwin), opened to foreigners several years ago. Water…
Mon State
Known to the locals as 'Banana Mountain', there's no hill to climb here. Instead, it's an ever-expanding Buddhist complex of shrines and an attractive…
Yangon
This overly glitzy ‘world peace’ zedi (stupa), about 5 miles north of the city centre, was built for the 1954–56 Sixth Buddhist Synod which coincided with…
Yangon
This gigantic time capsule of junta-era propaganda is a mind-bending experience. It vilifies the effects of class A drugs on Myanmar's society while…
Myanmar (Burma)
This lovely modern pagoda features a gold zedi (stupa), a large gilded buddha and many glass mosaics. There's also a not-very-convincing model replica of…
Rakhine State
Andaw Thein takes the form of an eight-sided monument with a linear layout: rectangular prayer hall to the east, multispired sanctuary to the west…
Myanmar (Burma)
Possibly Myanmar's most forgotten ancient capital, Pinya rose to prominence in 1303 in the aftermath of the last wave of Mongol attacks. Its founder was…
Yangon
Supported by a Hokkien association, this is Yangon’s largest and most attractive Chinese (Taoist) temple. The ornate dragon- and lantern-festooned…
Mandalay
At the heart of this large 19th-century complex is a 900-tonne buddha, 26ft tall and dressed in royal attire. Carved from a single block of marble, it…
Myanmar (Burma)
Twante's pottery sheds produce everything from small pots to vessels big enough to house a small human. The pots are used to store rice and water as well…
Bagan
A nice set of chinthe (half-lion/half-dragon deities) guards the stairway leading up to this small, square monastery platform, constructed in 1174 by…
Myanmar (Burma)
This massive museum complex is a self-created shrine to the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military). There are three huge hangars set around a lake, one each…
Myanmar (Burma)
This temple stands atop what was once the only place in this vast area that rose above sea level, so it was the natural spot for the hamsa of legend to…
Myanmar (Burma)
Modest and rather kitschy, Paleik's biggest attraction earned its name from its three resident giant pythons. They appeared from the nearby forest in 1974…
