Forgotten Land of Myanmar
Myanmar may come accross as a Field Guide to Buddhism – a country seeped in Buddhist history, architecture, culture & traditions – including the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is known to hold eight strands of Gautama Buddha’s hair. However, to the modern day traveller, it offers lot more – pristine white beaches along the Bay of Bengal, river cruises, lakefront resorts, gastronomy & world class hospitality. We definitely recommend paying a visit, before the country tips over into mass tourism!
Trip Highlights
- Begin your trip in Mandalay and visit Sagaing Hill often considered a religious center of Myanmar
- Go off the beaten track in Monywa and explore the Hpo Win Daung Caves complex
- Visit the largest collection of Buddhist temples, shrines and stupas in the world at the ruins of Bagan – a breathtaking spectacle extending for over ten square kilometers, amid ancient monasteries and lavishly frescoed buildings
- Unwind on the serene Inle Lake and check out its famous five day moving market and the interesting village of Maing Tauk – half of which is in water, and the other half on land.
- In Yangon, marvel at the majestic 2500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda which enshrines strands of Buddha’s hair
Which Visa Do I Need
Indian citizens require a visa to visit Myanmar.Â
Length of Stay
We recommend at least 9-10 days for this itinerary. There are no direct flights to Myanmar, so almost a full day is spent in getting there and back.
Best time to visit
Nov-Feb is the best time to visit Myanmar
buddhist culture, pagodas & temples, monasteries, floating markets, caves, puppet theatre
Did you know
- In Myanmar, you can eat tea. Tea leaves, lahpet, are fermented and eaten in the nation’s most beloved dish, lahpet thohk – tea leaf salad
- Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred of sites is believed to hold, among other relics, eight strands of Gautama Buddha’s hair.
- Those chalky swirls you see on the cheeks of women and children is thanaka – a cosmetic paste made from the bark of selected trees. The wearing of thanaka has been happening for at least 2,000 years; it is said to keep skin smooth and protect against sun damage.
- Myanmar is one of only three countries in the world not to use the metric system. For example, weight is expressed with viss (peittha) equal to 1.68 kilograms (3.5 pounds).
- Myanmar has the world’s finest rubies. Untreated rubies from Mogok in the Mandalay Region and Mong Hsu in Shan State are high in chromium and low in iron, giving them high fluorescence and that coveted ‘pigeon’s blood’ hue.
