Top things to do in Bagan
December is one of the best months to plan your trip to Bagan, with 27 sunny days and the pleasant and cool temperatures. Scenery, especially at sunrise and sunset, is awesome. It's a great time for outdoor activities, such as fun local festivals.
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1. Take a carriage tour
When visiting Bagan, a carriage tour is good fun, cool and exciting. Having two people per carriage is the best option, with the carriage reducing time needed between pagoda visits. Of course, an experienced driver is highly recommended if you want to know more about the history of the pagodas.
The driver will take you from one pagoda to another at an easy pace and will explain the history at each stop.
Take a carriage tour in BaganYou can enjoy the views along the way, and observe what local people do in their daily lives. You can stop the horse-drawn carriage any time you see something special, when you want to spend more time taking photos.
Even though they're not the fastest or most comfortable way to explore Bagan, carriage tours are popular among tourists. Wear a mask, though, as it will be dusty. Find out how to get around Bagan.
2. Enjoy a sunset from the Shwesandaw Pagoda
The Shwesandaw Pagoda is a 328-foot-tall pagoda built in 1057 by King Anawrahta, founder of the Kingdom of Pagan. It's also known as Ganesh or Mahapeine, after the elephant-headed Hindu god whose images once stood at the corners of the five successive terraces.
There is a legend stating that King Anawrahta invaded and conquered the Mon kingdom of Thaton.
Shwesandaw Pagoda in BaganThen he brought strands of hair of the Buddha back and enshrined them in Shwesandaw Pagoda; “Shwesandaw” means “golden holy hair”.
Known as the “sunset temple”, the pagoda attracts many tourists every day. When the sun goes down, the scenery in Bagan gradually changes from red to dark. At that time, the top of the pagoda will be crowded with people.
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3. Boat trip on the Irrawaddy River
Originating from the Kachin River, the Irrawaddy River is the longest river in Myanmar and the Chindwin River is one of its five tributaries. Many people live on the banks of the river. Also, ancient kings of Burma built many pagodas alongside the river.
In the past, the Irrawaddy was the main means of transportation and an important trade route between India and China.
Boat trip on the Irrawaddy RiverIt also served as a route for exporting rice to meet the economic needs of the British. French people needed to cross the Irrawaddy if they wanted to reach China.
Apart from its important roles in economics and transport, the Irrawaddy River is also an indispensable feature of tourism. A boat trip on the Irrawaddy will leave you with many good memories.
On such a trip you can enjoy a spectacular sunset, observe the lives of local people on the riverbanks, and catch a glimpse of many fabulous pagodas.
