Burmese religiosity has always been based on a commitment to redemption. In Bagan, wealthy and fearful believers continue to erect pagodas in hopes of winning the benevolence of the gods.
Bagan
How to go
Plane:
Several Myanmar companies provide connections to Nyaung U (the Bagan access village) from Yangoon, Mandalay and other major cities in the country. It is the case of Air Bagan, from Air Mandalay, from Myanmar Airways and yangoon airways for from €50 each way.
Train:
Nyaung U has its own train station where trains from the main cities stop. Myanmar trains are, however, desperately slow.
Ship:
For those who have already arrived in Mandalay, a very popular way to get to Bagan is on one of the boats that descend the Ayeyarwady River.
Bus:
Most long-haul buses that provide the usual journeys between Yangon and Mandalay do not pass at Nyaung U. Some special services are, however, organized to fill this gap in high season, especially from Yangon, Mandalay and Lake Inlé.
Taxi:
It is a valid way to get to Bagan, but also more expensive, especially advantageous if the taxi is divided by 3 or 4 passengers.
Must Do's
- Ananda Paya
- Shwesandaw Paya int
- Dhammayangyi duck
- Thatbyinnyu Temple
- tharabar gate
- Shwezigon Paya
- Nyaung U Market
Explore
The village of Nyaung U serves as a base for discovering the Bagan Plain. Most of the accommodation, Internet houses, bars and restaurants, tour agencies and other businesses are concentrated there.
Bike, bus, chauffeur-driven car, horse-drawn cart or boat trips on the Ayeyarwady River are alternative ways to explore Bagan independently. Mini-bus tours turn out to be a far less versatile solution.
Hot air balloon rides from Old Bagan shortly after dawn have also become popular.
When to go
The best time to visit Myanmar in general but also Bagan is from November to February, during the dry season when it hardly rains in the region and the sky is almost always clear. From mid-March onwards, the heat can be quite intense, with maximums exceeding 40°C. From June onwards, this heat is associated with an increase in humidity. The monsoon season lasts from June to October. Despite flooding various parts of the country, it usually does not substantially affect the Bagan region.
Money and costs
ACCOMMODATION: It can cost between €50 or more per night at reputable hotels within the walled area of Bagan, overlooking the temple plain and the river. Between €20 to €30 at the most modern hotels in the New Bagan area, or as little as €3 or €4 per night in the guest houses for Nyaung U backpackers.
MEANS OF TRANSPORT: Renting a bicycle (with basket and lock) costs around 1000 kyats per day, around €1. Carts cost around 12000 kyats (about €10) and a car with a driver between €15 and €20. Boat trips on the Ayeyarwady River of about 1 hour, departing from the Old Bagan jetty, cost between €3 for one person and €5 for up to four people.
FOOD: Traditional meals in family restaurants in Nyaung U or Old Bagan hardly cost more than €5 per person.