Bagan, Myanmar,Best travel destinations

 Bagan, Myanmar,Best travel destination

Bagan formerly known as ‘Pagan’ is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar (Burma).Bagan is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruinsin the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.The shape and construction of each building is highly significant in Buddhism with each component part taking on spiritual meaning.From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan, the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar.This kingdom was the first to unify the area that is now Myanmar, establishing the Burmese culture andethnicity, as well as Theravada Buddhism, in the region.Over this period of rule, as the city and kingdom grew in influence and stature, over 10,000 temples were built on the plains surrounding the capital next to the Irrawaddy River.

Today, seven centuries later, approximately twenty-two hundred remain standing.

This temple town is one of Myanmar’s main attractions. The area known as Bagan or, bureaucratically, as the ‘Bagan Archaeological Zone’, occupies an impressive 26-sq-mile area, 118 miles south of Mandalay and 429 miles north of Yangon. The Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River drifts past its northern and western sides.

The area’s most active town and main transport hub is Nyaung U, in the northeast corner. About 2.5 miles west, Old Bagan is the former site of the village that was relocated 2 miles south to New Bagan in 1990. Between the two is Myinkaba, a village boasting a long-running lacquerware tradition. One thing to keep in mind, particularly for travellers exploring the region, is that Bagan is not like Siem Reap or even Luang Prabang. It's an overgrown village and lacks anything resembling a night scene, although it does have basic traveller amenities. Plan your partying somewhere else.

Interesting Facts About Bagan:

1. Bagan Archaeological Zone is the main attraction to tourists in the city. It easily rivals Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

2. Bagan is fondly known as the 'sea of temples'. Some of this temples include; Ananda Temple, Thatbinnyu Temple, Htilominlo Temple, Myinkaba Gubyaukgyi Temple, and Shwezigon Pagoda among many others.

3. Bagan has a relatively stable climate that ensures more sunshine than any other Myanmar city.

4. Bagan Cuisines are said to be the best in Asia. They combine the exploits of Indian, Chinese, and Thai culinary genius with some of their own to come up with the best food you can taste anywhere in Asia.

5. Bagan is as traditional a city can get. In fact, there is not a single form of modern entertainment in the city. There are no discos there.

6. Although walking the narrow streets among the temples and pagodas is the best way to see the city of temples, there are hot air balloon rides that will make the rides in any other city you know look like child play. The city is best photographed from hot air balloon.

7. The best way to see Bagan is on a temple hopping tour. However, don't plan on seeing all of them. Choose the most popular.

8. The best time to visit Bagan is November through to May when the rainfall is limited.

9. To get around Bagan, you can either board a flight to Nyaung U Airport which is a few minutes’ drive from the city or you can catch a bus or train from Mandalay or Yangon to get to see more of the country.

10. Bagan is one of the cheapest tourist destinations. Meals here will cost you $1-$5, and mid-level accommodation at $40 - $60.

If you love photography, old sites, and religion, the only alternative as good as Angkor Wat in Cambodia is Bagan in Myanmar. Good luck on your journey.