Best And Famous Places in Myanmar for Travelers
Myanmar is a mysterious country in Southeast Asia, where time seems to have frozen many centuries ago, leaving unshakable its beauty, traditions and numerous sights of Myanmar. Only recently the years of self-isolation of this country have sunk into the past, and a modest flow of tourists began to gradually grow and gain momentum. Fans of real travels and vivid adventures will certainly find something to see in Myanmar - this is a unique architecture that conveys the rich history of the country, and centuries-old traditions, and pristine nature, striking in its beauty, and the ethnic diversity of the inhabitants, and abundant national cuisine.
What to see in Myanmar first
The list of main attractions should start with the main value that personifies the whole of Myanmar - numerous Buddhist shrines. That is why, choosing what to see in Myanmar in 1 day, it is worth making a trip to the main temples and monasteries of the country - they are the ones that open the rating of Myanmar attractions.
1. Yangon City
The best sights are opened by Yangon - the largest city of Myanmar, which was once its capital. Now Yangon is called the cultural capital of the country, since a huge number of museums, cultural and architectural monuments are concentrated here. You will have to work hard on choosing what to visit in Myanmar in the first place, if you find yourself in Yangon. Indeed, to see all the interesting places concentrated in this city, sometimes one trip is not enough. One of the traditional symbols of the city has become the Shwedagon stupa with a history of more than 2.5 thousand years.
2. Temples in Bagan (Pagan)
Among the most unusual places to visit in Myanmar, guides in Myanmar will definitely give recommendations to see with their own eyes the temples in Bagan - the capital of an ancient kingdom that was once located on these lands. Today, on the site of the ancient city, there is a valuable archaeological area with thousands of temples, monasteries, stupas, pagodas, most of which were built in the 11-13 centuries. During the months of the dry season, the shrines are restored, and during the rainy season, the entire area is covered with lush greenery, and it seems that all the ancient buildings are buried in the jungle.
3. Shwedagon Pagoda
A giant brick stupa 98 meters high is perhaps the most impressive landmark of Myanmar for its size and richness of decoration. It rises majestically on a hill in Yangon, almost all covered with gold, and only monks and male visitors can enter inside. An incredible amount of gold was used to finish the Shwedagon - about 8 tons, and its top is decorated with precious stones. The stupa is surrounded by other small pagodas, there are 64 of them in total, there are also tauzangs, in which numerous images of the Buddha are kept.
4. Thatbyinnyu Temple
Another majestic and highest temple of Bagan is Tatbinyu, built in 1150. In the Middle Ages, this pagoda was a whole monastic complex, which included, in addition to the monastery on the first tier, a library on the second tier, and a sanctuary with a stupa in the uppermost array. There is the most common assumption that the construction of Tatbinyu fell on the transitional period of Bagan architecture, this explains some of the inharmonious features of its execution.
5. Chaittiyo Pagoda (Golden Stone)
This small but very famous shrine is located in Mon State. The pagoda is famous for the numerous reviews of visitors who enthusiastically share their impressions of the stone, on top of which the structure is located. The fact is that a stone covered with gold leaf literally hangs on the edge of a cliff, but does not fall, contrary to all physical laws. Legend has it that this stone is kept on the edge thanks to the hair of the Buddha. Around the sanctuary on the mountain there is a whole complex for pilgrims. There are severe restrictions on the territory of the pagoda - non-believers cannot stay near the Golden Stone for the night, and women cannot approach the saints less than 10 meters at all.
6. Chautaji Pagoda (Reclining Buddha)
Most are accustomed to seeing the figures of the Buddha, depicted seated in the lotus position. It is rare to find an enlightened person lying on his side - this position personifies the moment of his earthly death and the transition to nirvana. One of the largest statues of the reclining Buddha is located in the Chhouthaji Pagoda in Yangon. The age of this ancient sculpture is about a millennium, and the dimensions are even more impressive: the length is about 55 meters, the height is about 15 meters. This imposing landmark in Myanmar has undergone numerous restorations, the last of which was carried out in 1966.
7. Sula Pagoda
Right in the heart of Yangon, at the crossroads of the main streets of the city, is the imposing 48-meter Sule Stupa. According to some descriptions, the age of this structure is about 2 millennia. The pagoda stands on a massive octagonal base - the number of sides of the pagoda corresponds to the number of days in a week. The fact is that the adherents of Buddhism divide the week not into 7, but into 8 days, Wednesday is divided into a “day” before sunset and a “day” after it. Each side has its own statue of the Buddha. Everyone who comes to bow to the Teacher chooses his Buddha according to the day on which he was born, and it is to him that worship is offered.