Myanmar Things to do and see

YANGON
Yangon, the capital city, is the main gateway to Myanmar. Evergreen and cool with lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes, Yangon has earned the name of : The Garden City of the East". Yangon was founded by King Alaugnpaya on the site of a small settlement called Dagon when he conquered Lower Myanmar in 1755. The name Yangon means "End of Strife" which was anglicized as Rangoon by the British. The present day Yangon convers 400 sq km and has a population of over 4 million.

The main attraction of Yangon is the would-famous Shwedagon Pagoda. the Shwedagon, believed to have been built more than 2500 years ago, is a much-revered shrine whose cultural splendor never fails to enchant. Towering 100 metres above the green cityscape of Yangon, the Shwedagon is a landmark visible from afar. Other tourist attractions include: the 70-tre long Reclining Buddha of Chauk-tat-gyi Pagoda; Kaba Aye (World Peace). Pagoda and Maha Pasana Cave; giant lmages of Buddha's Earlier Livese at Maila-mu Pagoda; Mahawizaya Pagoda; National Museum; Bogyoke Aung San Park and Kandawgyi Lake; People's Square and People's Park; and Zoological Garden.

AROUND YANGON

Bago (Pegu)
Bago, ancient capital of the Mon Kings of the 14 th to 16 th  century and the second Myanmar Emprie created  by king Bayinnaung, is located only 80km from Yangon. The Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Kalyani Thein (Ordination Hall), the 55-metre long Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha, the four giant Buddha images of Kyaikpun Pagoda and the reconstructed Kamboza-thadi Place of Bayinnaung are some of the highlights.

Thanlyin (Syriam)
Only 30 minutes' driver from Yangon across the Bago River, Thanlyin was a marjor port from the 14 th to the century, untill it was displaced by Yango in 1755, and was briefly controlled by the Portuguese adventures de Brito at the beginning of the 17 th century. The ruins of a Catholic Church built by an Italian Baunabite missionary in the 18 th century can still be seen in Thanlyin. Kyaikkhauk Pagoda in Thanlyin and Yele Pagoda at Kyauktan are some of the places of interest.

Twan-te
Twan-te, a small town on Twan-te Canal is two hours away by boat from Yangon. The boat trip provides a view of life along the canal while Twan-te itself provides interest as a centre of pottery and hand-woven cotton cloth.

Allied War Memorial Cenetery
The Cemetery is located at Htaukkyant, 32km from Yangon on the road to Bago. Its beautifully kept grounds has 27,000 graves of Allied soldiers who died in Myanmar during World War II.

Let-Khok-Kone Beach
Located 30Km from Yangon. Let-khok-kone is the nearest beach and a popular weekend picnic site. It is reached by ferry boat ride to Dallah followed by a 3 hours' driver.

MANDALAY
The last capital of the third Myanmar Empire, Myanmar 668 Km due north of Yangon and is both a bustling commercial center and a repository of ancient culture. With the remains of the old Royal City and with many old monasteries, Mandalay is a showcase for Myanmar art and architecture of the 19th century. It is also noted for woodcarvings, silverware, tapestries, silkcloth, and other traditional craft products.

Myanansankyaw Golden Palace, Mandalay Hill, Shwenandaw, and Atu-ma-shi Monasteries, Mahmuni, Kuthodaw and Kyauktawgyi Pagodas are some of the tourist attactions of Mandalay.

AROUND MANDALAY

Sagaing
Sagaing lies 21Km south-west of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. The Sagaing Hills are noted as a religious retreat and has over 400 monasteries and munneries. About 10Km from Sagaing is the Kaunghmudaw, an enormous dome-shaped pagoda built by King Thalun in 1636. At the nearby village of Ywataung, one can see silvermiths making silverware by traditional methods.

Amarapura
Situated about 11km south of Mandalay, Amarapura is one of the capitals of the third Myanmar Empire. A 1208-metre long wooden bridge built by Alderman U Pein spans Taung thaman lake, and at its farther end is Kyauktawgyi Pagoda.

In-wa (Ava)
In-wa, built in 1364, is another ancient capital, and for a time, Myanmar was know to early travellers, as Inwa. It is noted for the Maha Aung Mye Bonzan (Ok Kyaung), one of the few monasteries built in brick.

Mingun
Located about 11km upriver on the western bank of the Ayeyawaddy, River, Mingun has a gigantic unfinished pagoda, 50 metres high, overlooking the river, and the 90-ton Mingun Bell, the largest ringing bell in the world.

Monywa
About 136km to the west of Mandalay is Monywa, the commercial center of the morthwest. Bodhi-ta-taung (one thousand Bo trees), Thanbokde Pagoda, Po-win taung Hills and Kyaukka village are some of the interesting places to visit.

Pyin-Oo-Lwin (Maymyo)
The principal hill station and summer retreat of the colonial period: Pyin-Oo-Lwin is 67km away from Mandalay. It is over 1000 metres above sea level and has a pleasantly cool weather all year round. The 142-hectae Botanical Garden, Pwekauk Waterfalls, and Chinese Temple are places worth visiting. Nearby are Peik-chi-hmyaung Cave and Gokteik Rail Bridge.

BAGAN
The main tourist destination in Myanmar is Bagan, capital of the first Myanmar Empirs; one of the reached archaeological sites in South-east Asia. Situated on the eastern bank of the Ayeyawaddy River, it is reached by a 90 minutes flight from Yangon. The 42sq km area of Bagan contains over 2000 edifices, the well-preserved pagodas and temples representing the rich cultural heritage of the 11^th 13^th century. Among the significant temples and pagodas are:

Ananda Temple
Built by king Kyansittha in 1090, the Ananda Temple is the masterpiece of early style temple architecture. There are four huge Buddha images in the standing position at the four faces and a series of eighty relief depicting the life of the Buddha.

Thatbyinnyu Temple
Over 66 metres hight: the Thatbyinnyu Temple, built by King Alaugsithu, in the middle of the 12^th century, overtops all other monuments and its terrace affords visitors a magnificent panorama of the Bagan plain.

Gubyaukgyi Temple (Wetkyi-in)
A 13^th century temple with a spire resembling the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodha Gaya in India: the Gubyaukgyi is noted for its wall paintings, depicting scence from the previous lives of the Buddha.

Htilominlo Temple
Built by King Nadaungmya in 1211: the 50-metres high Htilominlo is one of the largest temples of Bagan; and is noted for its fine plaster carvings.

Dhammayangyi Temple
This massive temple: built by King Narathu in the 12^th century, displays the finest brickwork in Bagan.

Shwezigon Pagoda
Built by King Anawrahta, founder of the first Myanmar Empire, and finished by King Kyansittha in 1084; the Shwezigon was held in special reverence by successive kings and become the prototype for later Myanmar pagoda.

AROUND BAGAN

Mount Popa
About 67km southeast of Bagan is Mount Popa, an extinct volcano over 1,500 metres hight, rising out of the plains. It is famed as the abode of the Mahagiri Nats or Spirit gods to whom the Kings of Bagan paid annual homage and their shrines can be seen at a nearby rocky crag.