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Here, travelers can marvel at hot air balloons in the ancient city of Bagan, experience sunset at U Bein Bridge, and visit some of the main temples in Yangon and Mandalay.
Discovering the Buddhist Landscapes on a Myanmar Journey
When mentioning Myanmar's beauty, many travelers immediately think of hot air balloons soaring at sunrise over the ancient city of Bagan, the capital of the Pagan Kingdom. This was the first kingdom to unify the regions of present-day Myanmar. During a reign that lasted 250 years, the Pagan kings and the people built over 10,000 religious monuments on an area of 104 km². Today, only about 2,200 temples remain. The brick stupas truly impress visitors with their simple and natural charm. Travelers will ride horse carts to visit the towering stupa temples, the pride of the Myanmar people.
In November each year, the largest hot air balloon festival of the year, Tazaungdaing, takes place here. In the Myanmar language, Tazaungdaing means 'Festival of Lights'.
In the fourth quarter, Myanmar opens its doors to tourists in the region. Countries with good control over the pandemic such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand are among the top choices.
The architecture of traditional Buddhist temples in Myanmar often features stupas with pointed spires reaching towards the sky. Some others take on pyramid shapes. Myanmar's history tells that stupa architecture emerged and flourished during the Pagan dynasty.
The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is considered the most sacred temple in the country. Here, revered relics for Buddhist followers are preserved, including eight strands of hair believed to belong to Gautama Buddha. The gold-plated stupa of the temple stands at a towering height of 98 meters, adorned with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, with a diamond-encrusted top weighing 76 carats (15 grams). The temple sits atop Singuttara Hill, offering a panoramic view of Yangon city.
In the land of stupas, travelers may be charmed by the endearing simplicity compared to neighboring countries, such as rudimentary means of transportation for women, monks, and students.
In Myanmar, especially in Yangon, travelers won't find motorcycles. Only government officials, postal workers, and electric utility workers are permitted to use this mode of transportation.
Cars are designed with steering wheels for both left-handed and right-handed drivers. This is a distinguishing feature in vehicular traffic in the Southeast Asian region.
Traveling in Myanmar, tourists will often encounter many men wearing longy taipon, a type of traditional sarong. They wear it anytime, anywhere, not just on holidays, and without regard for social class.
The Kuthodaw Temple is situated in Mandalay, the second-largest city and the final royal capital of Myanmar on the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy River. It comprises numerous temples, small stone stupas known as Kyauksagu.
Here, the Tripitaka scriptures are preserved, made of stone with 1,458 pages, each leaf measuring 1.5 meters in height and 1 meter in width. The entire process of carving the scriptures began on October 14, 1860, and was completed on May 4, 1868. It took 450 consecutive days, with 8 hours of reading each day, for people to be able to read and understand the entire book.
From the 12th to the 19th century, Buddhism became the state religion of this country. Despite the historical upheavals, Myanmar is still known today as the land of Buddhism, of temples, and pagodas. Many boys become monks at a very young age. It's not difficult to see monks everywhere. They are always respected by the people.
Set within a vast 413-hectare compound, the Mandalay Royal Palace is surrounded by a system of sturdy walls and meticulously designed moats.
This palace was constructed from 1857 to 1859, mostly using wood, when King Mindon moved the capital from Amarapura to Mandalay. Based on calculations of astronomy, position, and feng shui, the palace was built right at the foot of Mandalay Hill. The last two kings, Mindon and Thibaw, resided in this palace.
Traveling in Myanmar, don't forget to stroll along U Bein Bridge or capture photos of the bridge at sunset before concluding your day's journey. The 1,200m-long bridge is a pedestrian bridge made of teak wood spanning Taungthaman Lake, Myanmar. Over a long period, the wooden bridge still gracefully curves across the serene lake surface. From Mandalay, you can easily reach U Bein Bridge by car, motorbike taxi, or bus, just about a 45-minute drive from the city center.
Inle Lake in Shan State is a destination for Myanmar travel enthusiasts who love to explore the life of ethnic minorities. One of the most famous ethnic groups is the Intha, known for their tradition of rowing wooden boats and fishing with one leg. The best time to visit the lake is at sunrise or sunset.
Source: Thanh Thu/Vnexpress.net (Photo: Tran Trung Hieu)
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourJuly 9, 2020
