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Myanmar (formerly Burma) was a wonderful country as it has Not become too Tourist yet. It has plenty variety of historic and cultural sights. One week period is never enough to explore it all!

Do visit this country now as it’ll not be the same again in the future as more tourist discover this beautiful country.

In this post, I’ll just put the summary of the Travel Itinerary and hotel that we stayed. So watch out for my upcoming post for the detail review of the Itinerary.

We fly by Airasia from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. It’s compulsory to transit at Bangkok for 3 hours before heading to Mandalay International Airport.

So there’s No direct flight from  Kuala Lumpur to Mandalay. However, it has direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Yangon.(Rangoon). The distance between Yangon and Mandalay is around 7 h 24 min (624.9 km) by car via Ah Myan Lan, according to Google.

There were 11 of us from Kuala Lumpur and we hired a van with a local driver. It cost us around RM2,500.00 each for 6D5N all in inclusive of promo flight ticket, Visa, Hotel, Food, Transport, Minimal Shopping etc.

One Week in Myanmar – Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon

A tour of the three most popular tourist destinations in Myanmar – Bagan, Inle Lake and Yangon. An informative video for people planning to travel to Myanmar or for those who are just curious about the country.

 

We took the first flight(AK 890) at 6.45am to Bangkok. After transmit, we reached Mandalay International Airport around 12:15pm. Our driver was there waiting for us.

The first place we were going was to have a good local lunch.

Places that we went to:

Day 1:

1) Sagaing Hill

Sagaing Hills mandalay

 

view from Sagaing Hill (near Mandalay)

 

Burmese Journey: Mandalay to Sagaing Hills

A pleasant 12 mile ride from Mandalay down the new route along the shores of Royal Lake and hugging the east bank of the Ayeyarwady bypassing Amarapura and over the new bridge yet to be opened officially to Sagaing Hills ending at Aye Myo Jaong, a community of Buddhist nuns at the bottom of the hill that bears the Shinbin Nangaing Pagoda at its summit overlooking the bridge and the river.

 

2) U Bein Bridge

U Bein Bridge, Mandalay, Myanmar

200 Year Old Teak Bridge

 

Miss Golden Land Myanmar 2015 Trip @ U Bein Bridge, Mandalay.

Miss Golden Land Myanmar 2015 Angels visited U Bein Bridge in Mandalay to promote Ecotourism site of Myanmar on 29 May 2015. Then, MGLM Family continued the Charity Trip to Bagan.

 

U Bein Bridge, Burma Sunrise Timelapse

Timelapse of sunrise at U Bein Bridge at Amarapura outside Mandalay, Burma on 6 December 2012.
U Bein Bridge is the longest teak bridge in the world at 1.2km long. The bridge has been standing for over 150 years and monks still use the bridge every morning to commute to ‘work’ at the monastery.
Created using CHDK on a Canon Powershot SD980 IS / Ixus 200 IS and Adobe Lightroom. The timelapse consists of 250 images taken over a 25 minute period.

 

Myanmar Mandalay U bein Bridge

U Bein Bridge-Mandalay:
U Bein Bridge is a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura in Myanmar. The 1.2-kilometre (0.75 mi) bridge was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. Construction began when the capital of Ava Kingdom moved to Amarapura, and the bridge is named after the mayor who had it built. It is used as an important passageway for the local people and has also become a tourist attraction and therefore a significant source of income for souvenir sellers. It is particularly busy during July and August when the lake is at its highest.
The bridge was built from wood reclaimed from the former royal palace in Inwa. It features 1,086 pillars that stretch out of the water, some of which have been replaced with concrete. Though the bridge largely remains intact, there are fears that an increasing number of the pillars are becoming dangerously decayed. Some have become entirely detached from their bases and only remain in place because of the lateral bars holding them together. Damage to these supports have been caused by flooding as well as a fish breeding program introduced into the lake which has caused the water to become stagnant. The Ministry of Culture’s Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library plans to carry out repairs when plans for the work are finalised.
From 1 April 2013, eight police force personnel have been deployed to guard the bridge. Their presence is aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour and preventing criminal activities, with the first arrest coming in September 2013 when two men were reported for harassing tourists.Wikipedia

 

3) Mandalay Hill for sunset

Mandalay Hill, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Mandalay Hill, Myanmar

 

Myanmar Mandalay (Highlights) Hill

Mandalay Myanmar
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located 445 miles (716 km) north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one and half million,and is the capital of Mandalay Region.Mandalay is the economic hub of Upper Burma and considered the centre of Burmese culture. A continuing influx of Chinese immigrants, mostly from Yunnan, in the past twenty years, has reshaped the city’s ethnic makeup and increased commerce with China.Despite Naypyidaw’s recent rise, Mandalay remains Upper Burma’s main commercial, educational and health center.The city gets its name from the nearby Mandalay Hill. The name is likely a derivative of a Pali word although the exact word of origin remains unclear.
Around the city:
Atumashi Monastery: The ” Atumashi Kyaung “, which literally means the inimitable monastery, is also one of the well known sights. The original structure was destroyed by a fire in 1890 though the masonry plinth survived. It was indeed an inimitable one in its heyday. The reconstruction project was started by the government on 2 May 1995 and completed in June 1996.
Buddha’s Replica Tooth Relic Pagoda: One of the Buddha’s Sacred Replica Tooth Relics was enshrined in the Mandalay Swedaw Pagoda on Maha Dhammayanthi Hill in Amarapura Township. The pagoda was built with cash donations contributed by the peoples of Burma and Buddhist donors from around the world under the supervision of the Burmese military government. The authorities and donors hoisted Buddha’s Replica Tooth Relic Pagoda Mandalay’s Shwe Htidaw (sacred golden umbrella), Hngetmyatnadaw (sacred bird perch vane) and Seinhpudaw (sacred diamond bud) on 13 December 1996.
Kuthodaw Pagoda (The World’s Biggest Book): Built by King Mindon in 1857, this pagoda modeled on the Shwezigon Pagoda at Nyaung U, is surrounded by 729 upright stone slabs on which are inscribed the entire Buddhist Scriptures as edited and approved by the Fifth Buddhist Synod. It is popularly known as “the World’s Biggest Book” for its stone scriptures.
Kyauktawgyi Pagoda: Near the southern approach to Mandalay Hill stands the Kyauktawgyi Buddha Image built by King Mindon in 1853–78. The Image was carved out of a huge single block of marble. Statues of 80 Arahants (the Great Disciples of the Buddha) are assembled around the Image, 20 on each side. The carving of the Image was completed in 1865.
Maha Muni Pagoda: The Image is said to have been cast in the life-time of the Gautama Buddha and that the Buddha embraced it 7 times thereby bringing it to life. Consequently, devout Buddhists hold it to be alive and refer to it as the Maha Muni Sacred Living Image. Revered as the holiest pagoda in Mandalay, It was built by King Bodawpaya in 1784. The image in a sitting posture is 12 feet and 7 inches (3.8 m) high. As the image was brought from Rakhine State it was also called the Great Rakhine Buddha. The early morning ritual of washing the Face of Buddha Image draws a large crowd of devotees everyday. The Great Image is also considered as the greatest, next to the Shwedagon Pagoda, in Burma. A visit to Mandalay is incomplete without a visit to Maha Muni Pagoda.
Mandalay Hill: The hill has for long been a holy mount. Legend has it that the Buddha, on his visit, had prophesied that a great city would be founded at its foot. Mandalay Hill, 230 metres in elevation, commands a magnificent view of the city and surrounding countryside. The construction of a motor road to reach the hill-top has already been finished.
Mandalay Palace: The whole magnificent palace complex was destroyed by a fire during World War II. However, the finely built palace walls, the city gates with their crowning wooden pavilions and the surrounding moat still represent an impressive scene of the Mandalay Palace, “Mya-nan-san-kyaw Shwenandaw”, which has been rebuilt using forced labor. A model of the Mandalay Palace, Nanmyint-saung and Cultural Museum are located inside the Palace grounds.
Shwenandaw Monastery: Famous for its intricate wood-carvings, this monastery is a fragile reminder of the old Mandalay Palace. Actually, it was a part of the old palace later moved to its current site by King Thibaw in 1880.
Yadanabon Zoological Gardens: A small zoo between the Mandalay Palace and Mandalay Hill. It has over 300 species and is notably the only zoo to have Burmese Roofed Turtles.

 

4) Check in to Hotel Rama Mandalay

No.54,28th Street (Between 73rd & 74th Street),
Chan Aye Thar Zan Township,Mandalay,Myanmar.

Hotel Rama, Mandalay,

Property Location Located in Mandalay, Hotel Rama is convenient to Yadanarpon Diamond Plaza and Mandalay Palace. This property is within close proximity of Man Myanmar Plaza and Zegyo Market.Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 39 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and LED televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Make use of convenient amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access, babysitting/childcare, and tour/ticket assistance.Dining Enjoy a meal at a restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the property’s room service (during limited hours).Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include limo/town car service, express check-in, and express check-out. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request), and free self parking is available onsite. Details: Check-in: 2:00 PM Check-out: 12:00 PM

 

Day 2:

1) Check out from Hotel Rama Mandalay and  heading to Bagan. The whole day will be Sightseeing around Bagan. It took about 5 hours travelling from Mandalay to Bagan(330km)

Bagan Vacation Travel Video Guide

Travel video about destination Bagan in Myanmar.
Bagan is a famous royal city in today’s Myanmar that is full of myth and legend. In the days of the legendary Birman monarchy the metropolis covered an area of forty square kilometres and today the numerous majestic buildings of Bagan provide an unforgettable insight into its history.The development of the city was not only influenced by logical planning but was also designed according to religious and mystical ideals and was eventually built to reflect the structure of the Buddhist cosmos. The impressive temple complexes were designed to be a “paradise on earth”, a place that lay between Earth and the realm of the gods. As the first Burmese kingdom expanded the former territories of the Mon Tribe were gradually conquered. However, militarily the Mon Tribe proved to be inferior to that of the rising realm of Bagan. The Burmese troops captured not only many precious cultural and religious treasures but also more than thirty thousand prisoners from the capital of the Mon Thaton. Almost the entire spiritual elite of the Mon were brought to Bagan and the captured monks, scholars, master builders, blacksmiths and stone masons soon determined the character of the Burmese capital. The city’s temple ruins and sanctuaries are still worshipped in today and have a mystical appeal. Although archaeologists and historians have revealed much of the history of this fascinating metropolis it is likely that part of the splendid history of Bagan will remain a mystery forever.

 

Balloon Flight Over Bagan, Myanmar

The sunrise view from hot air balloon of thousands of temples spread in the Bagan valley is one of the most impressive views to enjoy.
Bagan was the capital of the first Myanmar (Burma) kingdom from the 9th to 13th centuries. It has the largest concentration of Buddhist temples and ruins in the world. At its highest point, the area had more than 10 thousand temples, of which less than 3 thousand remain today.
Recorded February 2015 in 4K (Ultra HD) with Sony AX100. Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

 

What’s Bagan Like?

Moods and imagery of stunning Bagan in Myanmar (Burma) and a lingering look at the magnificent Bagan sunset. In an old Lonely Planet it said that there are still more temples than tourists. But it is such a draw all that will change. Here it is at a time when hardly anyone steps into your shot.

 

2) Check in Hotel Blazing, Thiripyitsaya 4th Street, Toe Che Ward, Nyaung Oo, Nyaung U, 11011 Bagan, Myanmar

 

Day 3:

1) Check out from Hotel Blazing and heading to Inle lake. (310km, about 5 hrs from Bagan)

 

2) Red Mountain Estate – Inle Lake (Myanmar) Winery

Red Mountain Estate – Inle Lake (Myanmar) Winery

The Red Mountain Estate is on the side of Inle Lake. The general climate of Myanmar is tropical, but the Inle Lake is located in the mountains of Shan state, at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. The year in two seasons:
– Dry season: from October to March. Cold temperatures during the night and very sunny days. No rains during this season.
– Wet season: from April to September. High temperatures and rain falls.
As there is no real winter, the plants never go to a dormancy stage. The plants are always growing and they have to control the vegetative cycles by pruning. There are two vegetative cycles per year, 6 months each. The artificial vegetative cycles start 2 weeks after pruning.
The winery produces 200,000 bottles a year mainly for consumption in Myanmar as more wine drinking tourists visit (they also do some exporting to Thailand now)

Bottling wine at Red Mountain Estate

 

3) Check in Paramount Inle Resort Inle Lake Nga Phe Chaung Village, Inle, Shan State.

Myanmar Nice Resort Paramount Inle

 

Boat trip from Nyaung Shwe to Novotel Inle Lake 2015

Day 4:

1) Half Day Boat Sightseeing in Inle lake

Myanmar/Inle Lake 1(relax boat tour)

Inle Lake:
Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District of Shan State, part of Shan Hills in Myanmar (Burma). It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles (116 km2), and one of the highest at an altitude of 2,900 feet (880 m). During the dry season, the average water depth is 7 feet (2.1 m), with the deepest point being 12 feet (3.7 m), but during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet (1.5 m).
The watershed area for the lake lies to a large extent to the north and west of the lake. The lake drains through the Nam Pilu or Balu Chaung on its southern end. There is a hot spring on its northwestern shore.Although the lake is not large, it contains a number of endemic species. Over twenty species of snails and nine species of fish are found nowhere else in the world. Some of these, like the silver-blue scaleless Sawbwa barb, the crossbanded dwarf danio, and the Lake Inle danio, are of minor commercial importance for the aquarium trade. It hosts approximately 20,000 brown and black head migratory seagulls in November, December and January.
The people of Inle Lake (called Intha), some 70,000 of them, live in four cities bordering the lake, in numerous small villages along the lake’s shores, and on the lake itself. The entire lake area is in Nyaung Shwe township. The population consists predominantly of Intha, with a mix of other Shan, Taungyo, Pa-O (Taungthu), Danu, Kayah, Danaw and Bamar ethnicities. Most are devout Buddhists, and live in simple houses of wood and woven bamboo on stilts; they are largely self-sufficient farmers.
Most transportation on the lake is traditionally by small boats, or by somewhat larger boats fitted with single cylinder inboard diesel engines. Local fishermen are known for practicing a distinctive rowing style which involves standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar. This unique style evolved for the reason that the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting. Standing provides the rower with a view beyond the reeds. However, the leg rowing style is only practiced by the men. Women row in the customary style, using the oar with their hands, sitting cross legged at the stern.
Fish caught from the lake – the most abundant kind is called nga hpein (Inle Carp, Cyprinus intha) – are a staple of the local diet. A popular local dish is htamin gyin – ‘fermented’ rice kneaded with fish and/or potato – served with hnapyan gyaw (literally twice fried – Shan tofu). In addition to fishing, locals grow vegetables and fruit in large gardens that float on the surface of the lake. The floating garden beds are formed by extensive manual labor. The farmers gather up lake-bottom weeds from the deeper parts of the lake, bring them back in boats and make them into floating beds in their garden areas, anchored by bamboo poles. These gardens rise and fall with changes in the water level, and so are resistant to flooding. The constant availability of nutrient-laden water results in these gardens being incredibly fertile. Rice cultivation is also significant.
Hand-made goods for local use and trading are another source of commerce. Typical products include tools, carvings and other ornamental objects, textiles, and cheroots. A local market serves most common shopping needs and is held daily but the location of the event rotates through five different sites around the lake area, thus each of them hosting an itinerant market every fifth day.[2] When held on the lake itself, trading is conducted from small boats. This ‘floating-market’ event tends to emphasize tourist trade much more than the other four.
The Inle lake area is renowned for its weaving industry. The Shan-bags, used daily by many Burmese as a tote-bag, are produced in large quantities here. Silk-weaving is another very important industry, producing high-quality hand-woven silk fabrics of distinctive design called Inle longyi. A unique fabric from the lotus plant fibers is produced only at Inle lake and is used for weaving special robes for Buddha images called kya thingahn (lotus robe).

 

A (touristy day) on Inle lake, Shan State, Myanmar

A day of sights on Inle Lake, including Fishermen, traditional crafts (Very Touristy!).
Some rare Burmese cats, Floating crops, Tourist shops which follow you around! And “lucky money” (where the shop person smacks all the goods with the money from the first sale of the day and says “lucky money”). Also a short visit to an amazing Pagoda where the small Buddha statues are covered in so much gold leaf they no longer look very Buddha like (think snowmen)

 

Boat cruise on the Inle lake and jumping cats (Myanmar / Burma)

Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the mountains of Shan State in Myanmar (Burma). It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 sq miles and one of the highest at an altitude of 2900 feet. During the dry season, the average water depth is 7 feet, with the deepest point being 12 feet, but during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet. It is widely renowed across Myanmar and in the world for it’s traditional leg-rowing boat style.
The people of Inle Lake (called Intha), some 70,000 of them, live in four cities bordering the lake, in numerous small villages along the lake’s shores and on the lake itself. The entire lake area is in Nyaungshwe township. The population consists mainly of Intha, Shan, Taungyo, Pa-O (Taungthu), Danu, Kayah, Danaw and Bamar ethnicites. Most residents live in simple stilt houses of woven bamboo and are largely self-sufficient.
Most transportation on the lake is by small, generally flat-bottomed row boats, or by somewhat larger motor-driven boats. Local fishermen are famous for practicing a distinctive rowing style which involves standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar.
Lake-caught fish are a staple of the local diet. In addition to fishing, locals raise vegetables and fruit in large gardens that float on the surface of the lake. These gardens rise and fall with changes in the water level, and so are resistant to flooding. The constant availability of nutrient-laden water results in these gardens being incredibly fertile. Rice cultivation is also prominent. Manual production of goods for local use and trading is another source of commerce. Typical products include tools, carvings and other ornamental objects, textiles, and cheroots. A local market serves most common shopping needs and is held daily. The location of the event rotates though five different sites around the lake area. When held on the lake itself, trading is conducted from small boats. This ‘floating-market’ event tends to emphasize tourist trade much more than the other four.
The best time of the year to visit is during September and October. The ceremonial Phaung Daw U festival, which lasts for almost three weeks, is closely followed by the Thadingyut festival. Inthas and Shan dress in new clothes and celebrate Buddhist Lent. Traditional boat racing is famous.
Inle Lake is a tourist attraction, and this has led to some development of tourist infrastructure. Many small and large privately owned hotels and tour operations have arisen during the past few years. Local shops are flooded with consumer items, both local and foreign. The nearest airport is Heho which is 35 km away. There are flights from both Yangon and Mandalay. Yangon is 660 km distant by road, Mandalay 330 km.

2) Check out from  Paramount Inle Resort Inle Lake and heading back to Mandalay (350km, about 5 hrs). Check in to the same  Hotel Rama Mandalay

No.54,28th Street (Between 73rd & 74th Street),
Chan Aye Thar Zan Township,Mandalay,Myanmar.

Day 5:

1) Planned to Take train to visit  Goteik viaduct. However the train service was stopped due to bad weather. So we just took a photo of Goteik viaduct from a village nearby.

Myanmar: from Pyin Oo Lwin by train across the Gokteik-Viaduct

Myanmar: from Pyin Oo Lwin by train. Train stations are wonderfully colourful places and Kyaukme’s train station is no different. It is a great place to watch people.
Eventually the train arrives.We sit on wooden benches. The landscape glides past us. The train makes many stops. Vendors at the stations with all kinds of eatables on the head walk along the train trying to sell something.
Along the track are a lot of yellow flowers, kind of large yellow daisies. The flowers grow very close to the rails. Sitting at an open window you are bombarded by petals and buds.
During this beautiful train journey through the Shan mountains you will cross the Gokteik-Viaduct, constructed by British colonialists in 1901. Gokteik was once the longest railway trestle in the world. Stretching 689 meters from end to end, the viaduct has 14 towers and is over 100 meters high.
The train moves walking speed across the bridge, which may have been the epitome of engineering when it was built but now it is a crumbling antique, which only adds to the white-knuckle high-wire act experience.
The engineer goes as slowly as possible to avoid the rocking motion that will further damage the bridge and, possibly, plunge the train into the river below. Crossing this bridge is an experience you will not forget easily!

 

Crossing the Gokteik Viaduct on the crazy train. Myanmar.

We cross the most famous railway bridge: the Gokteik Viaduct in Burma on a train that bumps around like a low-rider in Detroit… Scary, fascinating, awesome!

 

 

2) Heading to Pyin Oo Lwin

Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar – ASEAN ESC Award 2011

 

Myanmar Pyin Oo Lwin Market Ennio 2013

 

3) Explore National Kandawgyi Gardens and  Drive back to Mandalay

 

National Kandawgyi Garden (Pyin Oo Lwin)

 

Miss Golden Land Myanmar 2015 Angels visits Pyin Oo Lwin (28 May 2015).

Miss Golden Land Myanmar 2015 Angels visited Pyin Oo Lwin (Myanmar’s Highland City of Flowers) to promote Ecotourism sites of Myanmar on 28 May 2015. In Pyin Oo Lwin, National Botanical Garden (National KandawGyi Garden) which has great landscaping and scenic view serves as a recreation centre for the public and as a famous ecotourism site for the tourists.

 

Kandawgyi Gardens & Eye of the Tiger 2

 

Day 6: Check out and Transfer to Airport.

Mandalay, Myanmar in 4K (Ultra HD)

Mandalay was the last Royal Capital of Myanmar/Burma, founded in mid 19 century. Close to Mandalay are the remains of other royal capitals, spanning the history from early 14th century: Sagaing, Inwa (1364), Amarapura (1783). The most amazing site in the area is the great pagoda in Mingun, unfinished and later damaged by earthquake (1839).
In the video – Mandalay: Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Sandamuni Pagoda, Royal Palace, Mahamuni Temple. Mingun: Mingun Pagoda, Hsinbyume Pagoda, Settawya Pagoda. Sagaing Hill, U Bein Bridge in Amarapura.
Recorded February 2015 in 4K (Ultra HD) with Sony AX100. Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro CC

 

I hope you’ll like Mandalay and visited it too one day!