Sightseeing in Bagan - what to see. Complete travel guide

Long time ago, people founded a settlement and called it Bagan. This ancient city in Myanmar is also famous as “the city of a thousand temples”. It is a miracle that this historical site has survived until our days. In modern times, more and more tourists become interested in visiting Myanmar and Old Bagan. What are they searching for? This is an absolutely unique place with a magical atmosphere.

Historians think that Bagan was founded in 850. This was a period of time full of bloody battles for the throne. The palace coups became so frequent that they turned into a real disaster for local people. Two centuries after the foundation of the city, Anawrahta became the king of the region. He was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Thanks to his reign, the empire was growing in size by conquering the adjacent territories. Anawrahta wanted to develop the Pagan Kingdom and make it superior to other kingdoms. For this purpose, he was inviting talented masters who were creating true masterpieces for the city.

When the king died, many kings were changing each other. The life in the city was changing as well. Bloody battles came to the prosperous land, bringing chaos and disorder. The Pagan Empire ceased to exist at the end of the 12th century. The country’s population decreased significantly, and many landmarks were destroyed in fire. Only magnificent old temples still stand as reminders of the past glory. A devastating earthquake happened in the region in 1975. It almost completely ruined the city. There were attempts to restore the temples in the 90s of the previous century, but these attempts caused even more harm. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In Bagan, tourists can attend an incredibly interesting excursion for foreign guests – a tour to Phowintaung (or Po Win Taung). This is a Buddhist complex consisting of more than 900 caves. According to a legend, a medieval alchemist (mage) called Po Win lived in these caves. He knew the secret of turning any metal to gold and could make every wish come true with a simple swing of his magic wand. The labyrinth of caves is 25 kilometers long. Nowadays, visitors can participate in an exciting and very interesting quest in these caves. During the quest, the participants search for the Holy Grail manuscripts. In order to participate, visitors need to come at noon. When the time for pilgrims is over, tourists can play the quest game.

Some tourists might wonder whether there are still any landmarks in Bagan since the city was destroyed. This is a logical question. Despite the tragic events of the past, the city is still worth visiting. There are still thousands of stupas and temples that create a mystical atmosphere and add a secretive charm to the area. The ruins look quite gloomy, but no tourist feels down or depressed here. Local temples look very different from the usual buildings. They are nothing similar to oriental temples and western churches.

To admire a panorama of Bagan and enjoy some striking views, head to the viewing platform. It is hard to control excitement right from the moment when you start climbing up. While going up on sunlit steps, you will feel how tender sun embraces you. Having reached the top, you will have an opportunity to fly over the ancient city in a hot air balloon.

During the period of prosperity of the Pagan Kingdom, almost 4,500 Buddhist stupas, temples, and monasteries appeared in the Bagan plains. Many of them were destroyed, but it is still possible to see more than 3,800 of them. Moreover, some temples are in great condition. No wonder why Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, tourists can see numerous stupas, the local name for pagodas or chedi. Perhaps, the Shwezigon Pagoda is the most notable temple in Bagan. This is a giant building with a golden cupola. The height of this stupa is 99 meters. Near the temple, there are smaller buildings that are older than the city. The Sulamani Temple was built in 1181. This building is a fabulous example of early and medieval Burmese architecture. The first style is reflected in flat horizontal objects. The second architectural style is clearly visible in vertical elements. This combination of details adds uniqueness to the building and makes the Sulamani Temple a must-see attraction for all tourists who visit Bagan. The inner décor is an elegant blend of carved ledges, attics, and walls with paintings. Talented craftsmen could restore the inner décor of the building, so tourists can see the exact temple that masters created centuries ago.

Not all countries have a direct connection to Myanmar. It may be easier to fly to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore first and then take a flight to Yangon. It is easy to reach Bagan from Yangon. Tourists, who don’t want to make airplane rides, can reach Myanmar by land from Thailand. In this case, they will need to get a short-term Thai visa as well. There are regular bus rides from Yangon to Bagan. Mandalay also offers ship rides to Bagan, but the time in transit will be longer in this case – up to 12 hours.