A little over a decade ago, many locals in Myanmar could swear about seeing a foreigner as rare as a supermoon. Today, that rarity has become a commonplace occurrence—after Myanmar had opened its doors to tourism in the last several years. Travel to the country formerly known as Burma had become so easy, as long as travelers from other countries (except those from neighboring Southeast Asian nations) booked their Myanmar visa there before they flew to either Yangon, Bagan, or Mandalay.
Country in Focus: Myanmar | Why You Should Visit it Now
History and Culture Aplenty
Wherever one started their journey in Myanmar, heaps of historical and culturally rich regions would definitely satisfy all wanderlust curiosities. From the marvelous architecture of post-colonial buildings in Yangon to the centuries-old temple and pagoda ruins of the ancient city of Bagan, stretching to the laid-back and olden vibe of Mandalay and Inle Lake, one could only scratch the surface of the many hidden historical and cultural gems of that country.
Timeless Bagan
Twice, I had been to Bagan, and not once did I feel a déjà vu of sorts because each trip was entirely different. On Journey Number One, I went with a group of friends, all traveling to Myanmar for the first time. So we explored the historic plains of that ancient city with wide-eyed wonder, crisscrossing with wild abandon aboard a bicycle and on a tight schedule. In a way, that trip gifted me with fascinating insight into the storied past of Bagan through each temple and pagoda we visited.
We viewed the sunrise and sunset on different days and felt the magical vibe feeding through our souls, like a spiritual zest—while we bonded over our kindred-ship over the love of traveling.
On my return trip to Bagan, I took my time spread out for almost a week. Renting an e-bicycle, I charted toward the more secluded temples, passing through dirt roads and even getting lost a couple of instances.
That particular journey further endeared me to the dreamlike plains of Bagan, which were not only spoilt with significant structures dating back to the Kingdom of Pagan in the ninth century but also inhabited by some of the friendliest people I had encountered throughout my history of personal travels. Because of my memorable dual trips to Bagan, I saw a big reason why a third trip back was necessary.
Mandalay and Yangon
The former Royal capital of Myanmar, Mandalay was a smaller, older, and more laid-back version of Yangon. It had a compact city center where much of the hustle and bustle happened. I arrived there late in the afternoon, just as the sun was setting over the horizon of the Irrawaddy River. I remembered walking toward the moat-enclosed Mandalay Palace and catching the sunset fusing spectacularly with the silhouette of the Palace. A breathtaking sight ensued for a few minutes until darkness took over.
The next day, I biked and hiked atop Mandalay Hill to visit the temple and survey the amazing view of the city. At the foot of the hill, I also visited the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which housed hundreds of Buddhist statues and scripture-inscribed marble slabs. I found Mandalay to be a perfect place to visit after becoming templed-out in Bagan. A few days of sparse exploration and lengthy chill-time should have helped one get their Myanmar travel mojo back.
Yangon’s colonial charms and street scenes would remind one of some cities in India, where a multitude of locals converged in busy streets dotted with appealing colonial buildings brimming with a variety of architectural characteristics. A walk through the downtown part of Yangon was a must for every visitor. The skyline-dominating, 326-foot Shwedagon Pagoda also provided some eye-candy and bits of fascinating history.
Although Yangon had changed much from my first visit there compared to my second trip there in 2016. More modern establishments such as KFC, Shangri-La Yangon, and many more had popped up during the last few years. Despite that, the character of Yangon remained, and for how long, I had no idea. That alone made coming to Myanmar today a wise decision.
Places in Myanmar to Go Next
The hill town of Kalaw, located fifty kilometers from Inle Lake, appeared to me as an ideal place to chill—not only because of its cool weather, as it was situated 1,300 meters above sea level, but also because of the lush set of nature surrounding it. Imagining quaint towns between patches of forests and winding roads, I could see myself indulging in long day walks and cycling around to witness the various ways of life of the locals.
Inle Lake was another place I missed out on during my previous two visits to Myanmar. That time, I would make sure to pass by that location on my planned third trip to Myanmar.
From the mountains, I was also planning on setting my path to the beaches of Myanmar. I had read about quite a few spectacular locations where the glittering fine golden sands of the country’s seashores stretched to charming countrysides and pleasant little towns in between.
There was Ngapali beach, which, according to CNN Travel, was “a dream beach with seven kilometers of white sand fringed with palm trees,” where a marvelous sunset was sure to take your breath away.
Other beaches included Ngwe Saung or the Silver Beach, Chuang Tha Beach, and Kanthaya Beach.
Despite visiting Myanmar twice in the past, I still had a lot of reasons to come back. History, cuisine, culture, heritage, and the lovely people of Myanmar also added to the motives that drove me to fly back to that wonderful country. For whatever political turmoil was still happening in the country, it was still important to look beyond it and try to discover all the beauty and learn to know the people of that country better.
