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(A) Yangon (formerly Rangoon) (B) Kyaiktiyo (C) Lake Inle’ (D) Bagan  (E) Mandalay

Tidbits

Currently, travel to Myanmar is not advised. Please check the advisories issued by your country. When it’s safe, tourists have typically used buses, trains, private cars with drivers and motorbikes to get around. Walking is a good option in many places.

In Myanmar the power plug sockets are of type C, D, F and G. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The best adapter to take along would be Type G.

Currency used in Myanmar is the Kyat. The ATM fees are very high. Many establishments accept the US Dollar. There is not always a guarantee that credit cards will be accepted or will work but it usually will in higher end tourist places. Be aware of any foreign transaction fees charged by your credit card company. It is advised that one carry cash to most places whether it is the Kyat or the USD.

While the native language is Burmese, tourists can easily manage with English which is spoken and understood easily.

When to visit? You absolutely must avoid the rainy season of June to August as it is very heavy rains that at times cause havoc. November is a popular season. Here is a month-to-month weather guide with events too.

About the blog

Thanks to Divya Trivedi from Sydney, Australia for her writing and pictures in the Vegetarian Food and Narrative sections.

All blog pages are best viewed on a laptop/large screen versus on the phone, especially for any serious travel planning, to minimize scrolling and to appreciate its larger-than-life pictures. Depending on the device you are using, hover or hold down on an image for its name/location. Note: There are other similar websites and so don’t miss the s and the u in Travels to Savour (travels to savour 🙂 ).

Myanmar Highlights

Many of us have know Myanmar as Burma for as long as we can remember. In 1989, the military government of the country officially changed its name from Burma to Myanmar. Myanmar is the name used by the locals in their native language. Both names have been used interchangeably.

Yangon

• • Shwedagon Pagoda: This iconic 2500 year old golden pagoda is the most famous religious and old site in Yangon. Covered with gold leaves and diamonds, it is spectacular at sunset.
  • Sule Pagoda: In the heart of the busy city, the Sule Pagoda is said to be over 2,000 years old.
  • Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market): This bustling market has traditional handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, and other souvenirs. It’s a great place to shop.
  • National Museum of Myanmar: If you are into history and culture, this museum is a treasure trove of artifacts, art, and exhibits that showcases Myanmar’s rich heritage.
  • Kandawgyi Lake and Park: A picturesque lake and park. You will get a view of the Shwedagon Pagoda across the water.
  • Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda: This pagoda is famous for its colossal reclining Buddha image.
  • Yangon Circular Train: Takes you around in a loop and is an excellent way to observe local life.
  • Yangon River Cruise: Enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Yangon River and also see the city’s skyline.

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock)

• • At a distance of 200 kms from Yangon, it is a popular day trip from the city. It is a gravity-defying golden boulder balancing on the edge of a cliff and is considered one of the holiest sites in Myanmar.

Lake Inle’

Lake Inle, located in Shan State, Myanmar, is a stunning freshwater lake known for its scenic beauty, unique way of life, and vibrant culture. To get a more immersive experience, you could rent a kayak or a bicycle to explore around the lake.

• • Floating Gardens and Villages: One of the most distinctive features of Lake Inle is the floating gardens, where local farmers grow crops on large beds of water hyacinths and aquatic plants. You can take a boat tour to explore the floating gardens and visit the stilted villages built on the lake.
  • Intha Fishermen: Lake Inle is famous for its unique rowing style used by the Intha fishermen. They stand at the stern of their boats on one leg and wrap the other leg around the oar to propel the boat forward, leaving their hands free to handle the fishing nets.
  • Nga Hpe Kyaung (Jumping Cat Monastery): This wooden monastery is worth a visit for its beautiful architecture and collection of ancient Buddha images. There are no jumping cats.
  • Indein Pagoda Complex: This complex consists of hundreds of ancient stupas dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. There is a scenic hike through a bamboo forest to reach the hilltop area where the stupas are located.
  • The local markets around Lake Inle are bustling and great places to experience the local culture, buy traditional crafts, textiles, and fresh produce.
  • Shan and Intha Villages: Take a boat tour to explore the traditional Shan and Intha villages around the lake. You can observe the local way of life and traditional crafts like lotus silk weaving.
  • Hot Springs: Nyaungshwe, the gateway to Lake Inle, is home to hot springs, if you want to relax and unwind.

Bagan

Bagan is an ancient city in Myanmar, known for its vast archaeological site that features thousands of well-preserved pagodas and temples dating back to the 9th to 13th centuries. This historical wonder is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Myanmar’s most iconic destinations.

• • Bagan Archaeological Zone: The entire area is amazing with over 2,000 ancient temples and pagodas scattered across the plains. Can be explored by hot air balloon too for breathtaking views.
  • Ananda Temple: One of the most revered and architecturally impressive temples in Bagan.
  • There are several temples and Pagodas of different names and can be checked in the Narrative section and also here.

Mandalay

Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar and a cultural and historical hub.

• • Mandalay Hill: A popular spot to watch the sunset, offers a panoramic view of the city and surrounding landscapes. You can either climb the 1800 or so steps to the summit or drive to the top.
  • Kuthodaw Pagoda (Maha Lawka Marazein Pagoda): Known as the “World’s Largest Book,” this pagoda houses 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist scriptures. There are many other Pagodas too in Mandalay.
  • Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery): This teakwood monastery is famous for its intricate carvings and used to be part of the Mandalay Royal Palace before being moved to its current location.
  • Mandalay Royal Palace: The last royal palace of the Burmese monarchy, the palace has been rebuilt and offers a glimpse into Myanmar’s history.
  • Sagaing Hill: Across the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay, Sagaing Hill is known for its numerous pagodas and monasteries. It offers a peaceful and picturesque setting.
  • Inwa (Ava): Take a boat ride across the river to visit the ancient city of Inwa, which was once the capital of Myanmar. Explore the ruins, monasteries, and historical sites by horse cart.

Vegetarian Food in Myanmar

My first visit to Myanmar was 15 years ago and I clearly remember low traffic, the amazing Shwedagon pagoda, food and people. This beautiful experience made me want to go there again few years ago. What changed since 2005 was the increase the traffic and more cars on the road but the food and people remained the same.

Myanmar cuisine is a perfect combination of Indian, Malaysian, Chinese and Thai cuisines and flavors. The dishes can are typically not vegetarian but one can get a good selection of vegetarian food like curries, rice, salads and noodles. A vegetarian Know Suey, made of noodles and coconut milk is very flavorful. Stir-fried Okra and Chickpeas curry are common. Must try the tea leaves salad and avocado juice. The vegetarian Mala Hin might appeal as well. Another drink which some of us have had in South India can also be had in Myanmar. It is the fruit of the palm tree made into wine and molasses. Our go to place was a restaurant chain called Feel Myanmar Food, street food. It’s a Buffet style food with vast range of curries, salads and accompaniments. Very popular place and is get extremely busy. A dish which is must have while you are visiting Myanmar is Mohinga, Soup /broth dish usually had for breakfast. It is a complete food with veggies, noodles, meat (which you may be able to get without) boiled Egg, and coriander as garnish . The best place to eat Shan noodles in Yangon is in 999 Shan Noodle, serving bowls of steaming noodles which are accompanied by vegetables, herbs, and a range of sauces to customize your dish. It is recommended that one eats at the 999 Shan Noodle eatery in the city of Yangon, it is nothing fancy but the line of locals eating here proves the popularity of their food amongst the locals. When we visited tourist places outside Yangon, we ate in hotels and restaurants suggested by hotel staff.  We also had the privilege of having a local with us who suggested we eat all their famous foods- Stuffed mince parathas, Burmese biryani, Khaosay Thote (form of noodles with flavored chilli, ask for vegetarian version) and Falooda, Due to huge Indian influence in Myanmar , vegetarians will not go hungry and can choose from Indian Thali with Burmese flavors, Dosas, Curry and rice, Tofu and of course, amazing Salads. There are international food chains in Yangon if you prefer to not to try local food. All 4-5 star hotels offer  Western cuisine. No matter what your tastebuds crave, the food here is AWESOME! Check out this vegetarian friendly guide to Burma. It tells you to use the magic word thathalo to convey that you want vegetarian. And this Happy Cow blog.

Narrative and Pictures

We visited Yangon, places around it, UNESCO listed Bagan and Lake Inle. If your vacation is about a week to 10 days, we would recommend doing the above three and skipping Mandalay. You will have to fly to each of these places as they are not close to each other. If you have the luxury of time you can take the road trip. Always check local political conditions and current happenings in the news.

Yangon

It is like any bustling Asian city but has pockets of beauty tucked away. We stayed at the Sedona business hotel with all facilities. Centrally located and good place to stay. Like any city traffic during peak hours can be tiresome. A must-visit is the Shwedagon Pagoda and keep time to sit there for half hour. Beautiful inlay of glass and gold. To move around in the city, pre-paid car and a guide is must as language can be a barrier. The lovely people of Myanmar often apply Tanaka – Sandalwood paste – on their cheeks to avoid sunburn. Its most definitely worth a try with this pleasant-smelling natural paste than the sticky chemical lotions of the West! In Yangon, most commonly women wear a Sarong and blouse which can be pretty stylish depending on the person wearing it or the occasion, and men wear a Lungi (like a Sarong) and a shirt. Shop at Aung San Market which has cobbled streets and the buildings too shows its Colonials past. There is an indoor section of the market where you can get Burmese souvenirs such as textiles, handicrafts and paintings, gifts and souvenirs of your trip. If you have never been to Chinatown in any cities around the world, do take a walk-through Chinatown. You can try the Yangon Circular Train which offers you the chance to take a three-hour trip into the outskirts of the city. As you ride on the train, you will enjoy watching green rice paddy fields and rustic villages dotting the countryside.

Kyailtiyo Pagoda is at a distance of 210 kms from Yangon and at an elevation of 3600 feet. It is a Buddhist pilgrimage site built on top of granite boulder covered with gold leaves. It is a day trip from Yangon but you can stay around it to avoid long drive.

A balancing act!

Sandalwood paste to avoid sunburn

Women from the Kayan tribe of Myanmar

​Lake Inle’

Lake Inle’ is an hour-long flight from Yangon. We flew local airline which was wonderful. Lake Inle’ is famous for its scenic beauty and unique leg-rowing of fishing boats (Inthas), gold glided pagodas and village in the lake. The clusters of Pagodas make an amazing sight. Other than the gilded Shwe Indein Pagodas, a little distance away is the Kakku Pagodas, the Dein pagodas, Sagar Pagodas and the Golden Stupa, all worth a visit as these pictures show. The boats and fisherman are also an interesting sight other than a boat ride itself.  We visited the people of Kayan Lahwi tribe in a village on the banks  of Lake Inle’. The women there wear brass coils/neck rings with the belief that it will lengthen their neck, the long neck being a symbol of beauty.

In the winery around the area is a must-try pineapple cheese grilled sandwich with the wine, a perfect combination to sit down and watch the sunset over the beautiful lake. You can cycle around the area if you are fit and energetic. Not much traffic around so its easy. Relax and enjoy spas and hotel hospitality.

Bagan

This is a UNESCO world heritage site. Place of 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries. Going around Bagan on scooter is a ‘must have’ experience but the place is not mapped accurately. If you get lost, explore the surroundings as there will always be a pagoda or a temple around. Guides in major language is easy to find at the airport. Since there are many beautiful temples, speak to the guide to prioritize, based on the time you have. Explore the beauty and gold leaf Shwezigon Pagoda, learn about Burmese Buddhist traditions. Visit the Ananda Temple and many surrounding temples. Other famous temples in Bagan such as Dhammayangyi Temple – the largest of all the temples in Bagan. If you have an extra day, you can visit a Buddhist monastery which is perched on top of Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 metres high. Mount Popa has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since earliest times. ​
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You must watch a sunset in Bagan as this is amazing . Beautiful orange hues with temples and pagodas dotting the skyline. Every guide knows the secret highest point to view the sunset from. The secret spot can get pretty crowded so make sure you are an early bird. You can also watch sunrise or sunset from a hot air balloon but book well in advance as it is booked out.

Chilling by the Irrawady river

Mandalay

While Mandalay is on the map on this page, it has been shown there just to give you an idea of its location, as it is another popular tourist spot. Due to time constraints, we were unable to visit. But we think we got a fairly in-depth tour of Myanmar even without it.