4. Inle Lake
The lake is one of Myanmar’s major tourist attractions
and it’s easy to see why when you arrive there. It’s a huge freshwater lake
that measures about 22 kilometers in length and 11 kilometers at its widest
point on a good year.
The main attraction of the lake are boat tours that travel to the most famous pagoda in the area (Paung Daw Oo), old Monastery, a number of cheroot ( Myanmar cigars) rolling workshops, silversmiths and weaving shops.
Tourists have a number of accommodation options open to them depending on their budget, with cheapish guesthouses available in the closest town of Nyaungshwe, luxury hotels on the water or resorts in the hills around the edge.
The main attraction of the lake are boat tours that travel to the most famous pagoda in the area (Paung Daw Oo), old Monastery, a number of cheroot ( Myanmar cigars) rolling workshops, silversmiths and weaving shops.
Tourists have a number of accommodation options open to them depending on their budget, with cheapish guesthouses available in the closest town of Nyaungshwe, luxury hotels on the water or resorts in the hills around the edge.
Commodities produced
Owing to the different industries on the lake,
visitors have many options regarding gifts to take back home from their trip
including cheroots gold or silver jewellery or items of Shan clothing. However,
excluding tourism, Inle Lake is famed for its tomatoes, which farmers cultivate
on ingenious floating gardens.
5. Mingun
About 11 kilometers along the Ayeyarwady River from
Mandalay lies Mingun, which houses a perception-defying brick pagoda, the
Mingun Bell and a host of other religious sites for visitors to explore.Construction of the Mingun Pagoda was initiated by King Bodawpaya in 1790, the same ruler who sacked Arakan and removed the Mahamuni Buddha image in Mandalay. Intended to soar as high as 150 metres into the air, work on the pagoda, built using bricks, stopped when the king died in 1819. An earthquake in 1838 killed any chance the site could be restarted and left huge cracks in the structure. Nevertheless, you can still walk up today.
Nearby the Mingun Bell, a vast 90-tonne bronze bell commissioned by King Bodawpaya in 1808.
Commodities Produced
Mingun is noted for the particularly aromatic and nicely coloured Thanaka produced in the area. The white or cream-coloured Thanaka paste is used by people as an all purpose cosmestic, sunscreen lotion and skin cream countrywide and is made by grinding the thin trunk of a tree and mixing it with water.
Mingun is noted for the particularly aromatic and nicely coloured Thanaka produced in the area. The white or cream-coloured Thanaka paste is used by people as an all purpose cosmestic, sunscreen lotion and skin cream countrywide and is made by grinding the thin trunk of a tree and mixing it with water.
6. Mrauk U
The old Arakan (now Rakhine) citadel of Mrauk U was the seat of the Arakan kingdom at the height of its glory in the early to mid 1500s and was known as a cosmopolitan trading city with links to the Middle East, Asia and even parts of Europe.
The old Arakan (now Rakhine) citadel of Mrauk U was the seat of the Arakan kingdom at the height of its glory in the early to mid 1500s and was known as a cosmopolitan trading city with links to the Middle East, Asia and even parts of Europe.
While little of the old city stands today, it’s still an amazing place to
behold and can easily be considered a viable competitor to Bagan. Like Bagan,
Mrauk U’s major attraction is Buddhist temples, although the number on show is
far fewer than the more popular Bagan. For visitors who make the journey via
Sittwe and a 6 or so hour boat ride up the Kaladan River, the payoff is a
scarcity of other tourists. The temples are spread across a hilly expanse,
which makes for perfect sunset and dawn photographs.
Mrauk U’s bigger temples, Shitthaung and Kothaung, meaning 80,000 and 90,000 in Myanmar language respectively and referring to the number of Buddha images said to be therein, evoke memories of the Indiana Jones movies, particularly deep within the structures where there is very little light and the images take on an eery presence.
Mrauk U’s bigger temples, Shitthaung and Kothaung, meaning 80,000 and 90,000 in Myanmar language respectively and referring to the number of Buddha images said to be therein, evoke memories of the Indiana Jones movies, particularly deep within the structures where there is very little light and the images take on an eery presence.
Commodities Produced
Farmers in the areas around Mrauk U grow and harvest a miniature potato that is famous across the country and can even be found in Yangon sometimes.
Farmers in the areas around Mrauk U grow and harvest a miniature potato that is famous across the country and can even be found in Yangon sometimes.
7. Ngapali Beach
Barely an hour by flight from Yangon on the coast of
Rakhine State lies Ngapali beach, Myanmar’s very own white sand seaside
getaway. Gentle waters, top-class resorts and a smorgasbord of local
restaurants round out the picture and make a trip to area a final destination
for many visitors.
For foreign visitors, a trip to Ngapali is strictly a fly-in, fly-out operation – catching the bus is a special effort that should only be attempted by the hardiest of travelers.
Activities during the day include boat trips to nearby islands and uninhabited beaches, snorkeling, fishing, walks along the beach or visits to the town of Thandwe by car, bus or motorcycle, which can be easily arranged by the hotels or restaurants. Or you could just relax on a chair and read a good book and admire the scenery.
Commodities produced
Souvenirs made from beautiful shells are readily available in the shops in front of resorts along the beach.
For foreign visitors, a trip to Ngapali is strictly a fly-in, fly-out operation – catching the bus is a special effort that should only be attempted by the hardiest of travelers.
Activities during the day include boat trips to nearby islands and uninhabited beaches, snorkeling, fishing, walks along the beach or visits to the town of Thandwe by car, bus or motorcycle, which can be easily arranged by the hotels or restaurants. Or you could just relax on a chair and read a good book and admire the scenery.
Commodities produced
Souvenirs made from beautiful shells are readily available in the shops in front of resorts along the beach.
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