What to See in Myanmar: 10 Unmissable Attractions

10 top tourist attractions in Myanmar

Myanmar, the official name of the Southeast Asian nation more commonly known as Burma, is a must for travellers who love Buddha and beaches, though not necessarily in that order. The country contains thousands of Buddhist temples. It also has unspoilt white beaches along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The country is slowly opening up to foreign tourism, so travellers who want to experience a more traditional Burma may want to visit now. An overview of the main tourist attractions in Myanmar:

10Shwemawdaw Paya

Shwemawdaw Paya took its name, the Great Golden God, because the gleaming gold that covers it can be seen for miles around. The diamond-studded roof is also responsible for some of the reflections. At almost 114 metres high, it is the tallest pagoda in Myanmar. It is particularly important for Buddhism because it contains several relics belonging to the Buddha. Located in Bago, the 1,000-year-old complex is highly decorated with smaller pagodas that are also covered in gold, statues and pavilions.

9Ayeyarwady River Cruise

Myanmar's longest river, the Ayeyarwady, also known as the Irrawaddy, begins high in the Himalayas, cutting Myanmar in half as it heads towards the Andaman Sea. It is navigable by large ships and boats in its lower reaches and is rapidly becoming a popular river cruise destination. Cruises run between Mandalay and Bagan; both cities offer numerous temples, pagodas and Buddha statues. Between the two terminals, cruisers will see river villages and Irrawaddy dolphins, and pass through jungles and deep gorges.

8Shwenandaw Monastery

Shwenandaw Monastery is a historic Buddhist monastery in the city of Mandalay. Known as the Golden Palace, this important building is located in the centre of Myanmar. It was originally part of the Mandalay Palace complex as the royal apartment of a king, but his son moved it out of the palace after his death, believing it was haunted by the king's spirit. It later became a monastery. At one time the building was covered in gold, but the gold is mostly on the inside. The exterior is covered with ornate teak carvings depicting Buddhist myths. Ornate carvings made with other materials such as stone can be found throughout the structure.

7Ngapali

Ngapali combines two worlds in this Southeast Asian country. It is Myanmar's main tourist resort, with white-sand beaches lining the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal and luxury hotels. It's a great place to relax. The contrast comes from its fishing-village atmosphere, with local restaurants serving the catch of the day and ox-drawn carts serving as taxis. Locals believe the town takes its name from Naples in Italy. Most people visit Ngapali from November to March; the rest of the year it's a sleepy little seaside town.

6Mrauk U

Mrauk U is an important archaeological city. It was originally thought to be a fortress because of its thick walls, but the walls were made to protect the temples from fierce winds, not from invaders. Stone temples can be found throughout the area. The medieval city was once an important Arakanese capital and was a major trading town. Reaching this remote location involves a boat trip of four to seven hours on a tributary of the Kaladan River. Travellers had better bring rain gear; it rains almost 1.2 metres a year.

5Inle Lake

Vast and serene Inle Lake is one of the main tourist attractions in Myanmar. Besides its remarkable natural beauty, the lake also draws tourists for the Intha stilt houses, descendants of the Mon people from the far south-east. A typical day trip on the lake, taken in a long, narrow boat with a noisy outboard motor, will stick to the northern stretches of Inle Lake. These trips also include visits to small workshops in stilt-house villages, various pagodas and probably a market. Travellers are also likely to see fishermen pushing their boats using a distinctive leg-rowing technique, and other Intha lake residents selling fruit and vegetables in the floating gardens.

4Taung Kalat

Built on top of an extinct volcano, the Buddhist monastery of Taung Kalat is one of the most incredible sites in Burma. To reach the monastery, visitors must climb 777 steps to the top. Along the way is a multitude of macaque monkeys waiting for treats. From the top of Taung Kalat you can enjoy a panoramic view. You can see the ancient city of Bagan and the massive, solitary conical peak of Mount Popa, the volcano that actually caused the creation of the volcanic plug.

3Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda, or Great Dragon, is considered the most sacred site of Buddhism in Myanmar because it contains a lock of the Buddha's hair and other religious relics. The 2,500-year-old pagoda stands on Singuttara Hill in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city. Over the centuries, the pagoda has grown from 8 metres to 99 metres. The origins of Shwedagon have been lost in antiquity, but it is estimated that the pagoda was first built by the Mon during the Bagan period, between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. It is covered in gold leaf; the stupa is encrusted with 4,531 diamonds. Numerous temples, statues and stupas can be found at this unforgettable site. Visitors to the pagoda are required to follow a dress code and enter the temple barefoot.

2Golden Rock

The Golden Rock, or Kyaiktiyo Zedi as it is known locally, is an absolutely fantastic spectacle: a pagoda (zedi) sitting on top of a huge boulder that looks as if it is about to fall off the edge of a cliff. Both are covered in gold leaf. Locals believe that the boulder, which sits 1,100 metres above sea level, is held in place by a miracle of the Buddha; the pagoda is said to contain a lock of his hair. Visiting here is a pilgrimage for the Buddhists of Burma. The Golden Rock is about five hours by car from Yangon and also involves a long walk. A staircase leads to the pagoda complex, which houses several viewing platforms and Buddha shrines.

1Bagan

Travellers with a passion for Buddhist temples, pagodas and stupas should have a field day at Bagan, as it is fuller of them than any other place in the world. The most popular destination in Myanmar, Bagan was the capital of the first Burmese empire from the 9th to the 13th century. The site that Marco Polo once described as the "golden city" was home to around 13,000 Buddhist temples at its 11th-century peak. Thousands of temples, stupas and pagodas remain, including the famous Ananda Temple with its gleaming golden spires.