| Day 1 |
Yangon
Arrival in Yangon
Transfer
Sightseeing Yangon
Yangon lies in the fertile delta of southern Myanmar, on the wide
Yangon River. The city is filled with shaded boulevards, while
shimmering stupas float above the treetops. The city became the
capital only in 1885, when the British completed their conquest of
Upper Myanmar and Mandalay's brief period as capital of the last
Burmese kingdom ended.
SHWEDAGON PAGODA: the highlight of any visit to Yangon, this
pagoda dates back about 2500 years and was built to house eight sacred
hairs of the Buddha. Its original shape has changed beyond all
recognition over the centuries. Its bell-shaped superstructure,
resting on a terraced base, is covered in about 60 tons of gold-leaf,
which is continuously being replaced.
NATIONAL MUSEUM: a museum with several interesting exhibits,
especially the 8 meter high Sihasana Lion Throne, used by King Thibaw
Min, the last Burmese king, and returned to Burma in 1908 by Lord
Mountbatten. The main floor contains jewellery, old black and white
photos of Mandalay Palace and Yangon, royal relics, Hintha opium
weights and inscribed tablets.
SULE PAGODA: this 48 meter high golden dome was used by the
British as the nucleus of their grid pattern for the city when it was
rebuilt in the 1880s. The pagoda's peculiarity is its octagonal-shaped
stupa, which retains its shape as it tapers to the spire.
Overnight in Yangon. |
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| Day 2 |
Yangon - Bagan
Transfer
Flight from Yangon to Bagan
Transfer
Sightseeing Bagan
Bagan is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwaddy
River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although
human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the
Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest
of Thaton in 1057 AD.
SHWEZIGON PAYA: King Anawrahta started the construction of the
Schwezigon Pagoda to enshrine some relicts of Buddha. The construction
was finished by his successor, King Kyansittha between 1086 and1090.
Originally the Shwezigon Pagoda marked the northern end of the city of
Bagan. The stupa's graceful bell shape became a prototype for
virtually all later stupas over Myanmar.
GUBYAUKHYI TEMPLE at Wetkyi-Inn: This Temple was built in the
early 13th Century and repaired in 1468. The great colorful painting
about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture
make this temple an interesting site for a visit. This temple is not
to be confounded with the Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkabe.
ANANDA PAHTO: one of the finest, largest, best preserved and
most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around
1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds
the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the
Middle period.
GUBYAUKGYI TEMPLE at Myinkaba: Built in 1113 by Kyanzittha's
son Rajakumar, this temple is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos
from the 12th century on the outside walls. The magnificent paintings
date from the original construction of the temple and are considered
to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan.
MANUHA TEMPLE: The Manuha Temple was built in 1059 by King
Manuha, the King of Thaton, who was brought captive to Bagan by King
Anawrahta. It enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one
reclining image Buddha. It is said that this temple was built by
Manuha to express his displeasure about his captivity in Bagan.
SHWESANDAW PAYA: In 1057 King Anawrahta built this Pagoda
following his conquest of Thaton. This is the first monument in Bagan,
which features stairways leading up from the square bottom terraces to
the round base of the Stupa. This Pagoda is ideal to watch Bagan's
magnificent sunsets.
MYINKABA: this tiny village, only two kilometers from Bagan, is
known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar. Stop by one of
the workshops and learn about the painstaking process of laquerware
making and decoration.
Watch sunset over Bagan
Enjoy a panoramic view of the sun setting over the plain of Bagan from
one of the pagoda platforms.
Overnight in Bagan. |
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| Day 3 |
Bagan - Mandalay
Transfer
Flight from Bagan to Mandalay
Transfer
Excursion to Sagaing
SAGAING: located on the right bank of the Ayeyarwady River, it
is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar. It is popularly
known as 'Little Pagan' as the Sagaing ridge is crowded with around
600 pagodas and monasteries in which there are more than 3000 monks.
There are also around 100 meditation centers in the area.
THABYEDAN FORT: fort built by the Burmese as their final
resistance against the British forces in the third Anglo-Burmese war
in 1886.
KAUNGHMUDAW PAYA: this is Sagaing's most important temple. It
was built by King Thalun in 1636 and styled after a Ceylonese (Sri
Lankan) pagoda in commemoration of the re-establishment of Ava as the
royal capital.
TUPAYON PAYA: constructed by King Narapati of Inwa in 1444,
Tupayon is of an unusual style for Myanmar: it consists of three
circular stories each encircled by arched niches.
AUNGMYELAWKA PAYA: situated on the river front, this zedi was
erected by Bodawpaya in 1783 on the site of his home before he became
king. It is built of sandstone and based on Shwezigon Pagoda.
DATPAUNGZU PAYA: a comparatively recent pagoda which houses
many relics from other older temples that were demolished when the
railway was built through Sagaing.
HSINMYASHIN PAYA: built in 1429 and known as the Pagoda of Many
Elephants because of the elephant statues stationed at each
entrance-way.
Visit Maha Gandayon Monastery to offer food for the monks
Sightseeing in Mandalay
Visit Mandalay Palace
Visit Mahamuni Paya
MAHAMUNI PAYA: originally built by King Bodawpaya in 1784 when a
road paved with bricks was constructed from his palace to the paya's
eastern gate. The centerpiece of the shrine is the highly venerated
Mahamuni image that was transported to Myanmar from Mrauk U in
Rakhaing in 1784.
Visit Shwe In Bin Kyaung
Shwe In Bin: A Chinese merchant, U Set Shwin, married a local
Burmese lady and with his newly acquired fortune built a monastery for
his religious wife. It is built of teak, has Burmese carved doors and
paintings depicting General Prendergast negotiating with court
ministers prior to King Thibaw's exile.
Overnight in Mandalay. |
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| Day 4 |
Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake
Transfer
Flight from Mandalay to Heho.
By vehicle from Heho to Inle Lake
Transfer by boat
Excursion by boat on Inle Lake
INLE LAKE: Inle Lake, located in Shan State, is beautiful, with
very calm waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation and
fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on all sides. The lake's shore
and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha
people. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe the skilled
fisherman using their "leg-rowing" technique to propel themselves
around the lake. Visit the floating gardens, a floating market and a
Intha village around the lake (please note that no markets take place
on full moon or new moon days). The day's sightseeing also includes a
visit to the PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA and the NGA PHE KYAUNG, or the
MONASTERY OF JUMPING CATS.
Overnight in Inle Lake. |
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| Day 5 |
Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon
Transfer by boat
By vehicle from Inle Lake to Heho
Flight from Heho to Yangon.
Transfer
Afternoon at leisure
Overnight in Yangon |
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| Day 6 |
Yangon
Transfer |
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