Bagan Travel Guide: Trip of a Lifetime
Part 3
{You may access Part 1/Day 1 of our stay in Bagan here and Part 2/Day 2 here.}
The rugged stones sitting muted by the roads, watching every traveller, and allowing weary ones to rest on them for a while ~ have many stories to tell. The playfully swaying trees have their own testimony of the changing scenes of Myanmar’s Bagan. The shy huts scattered around the region have housed families who are not just residents but protectors of the rich heritage held by the town. Yes, Bagan has several enchanting tales to tell. In the plainness of the lives people lead here, in the joyfulness traveller’s experiences, and in the poignancy with which tourists leave this small town ~ Bagan simply does not stop to amaze its visitors!
My advice would be to plan a trip that allows you to relish your moments in Bagan without hurrying through your itinerary. This ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site really is where you breathe deeply and let experiences unfold one after another at their own pace; allowing you to enjoy every moment. Additionally, make it a ritual to watch the sunrises and sunsets here because they are the most beautiful moments of the day!
Day 3
A lacquer making workshop sounded fitting for our last day here, especially since Vikram and I were so intent on taking back a part of Bagan with us! A traditional lunch followed by a sunset river cruise and dinner at the Aye Yar River View Resort rounded up our day with the most spellbinding views and delicious food!
By the third day of our trip, we were acquainted with the town and knew just the place to catch the last rising sun of our visit to Bagan ~ Bulethi. The proximity of the pagoda to the point from where the hot-air balloons take off makes it a great place for someone trying to capture the breathtaking views through their lens ~ camera and eyes. Losing ourselves in the magic of the sunrise, we gently leaned against the ancient walls forgetting everything else around us as if we were in a magical trance.
These are the perks of picking a temple away from the well-traversed path. Fewer people to share the place with equals more magic and more romanticism in the air. With the balloons dotting the skies and the sun colouring the sky in the most uplifting tones, we knew that the quietude of the place served as a catalyst to increase the beauty of the view.
Watching the sun rise over Bagan while the balloons fly over at Bulethi Pagoda.
I have put together a few tips for taking pictures of sunrises and sunsets for those of you who are planning a trip to Bagan:
- Don’t sulk over early morning alarms; you will find that the early morning views make your trip to the temple sites a more fulfilling one. Staying late is equally rewarding.
- When it comes to the perfect shot, a lot is left on chance. But patience usually pays its dues.
- A tripod and lens make for excellent companions, but they aren’t a necessity.
- Enjoy every sunrise and sunset from a different temple; it allows you to enjoy different views and capture various angles of each moment.
- Take a lot of pictures, but don’t forget to enjoy the sunrise or the sunset itself. Even amateurs end up with some of the most beautiful shots here.
Bagan’s Lacquerware ~ A Wonderland of Remarkable Workmanship
There is something universal about the search for beauty. Beauty is objective. It defies a limited meaning by changing itself according to the eyes that see it. Poets have written endlessly about the eternal way in which beauty touches our souls ~ sometimes in everyday things and sometimes in the most surreal of ways.
I travel to explore. Explore the country I travel to. Explore the people. Explore cultures. Explore how routine lives differ in diverse regions of the world. And in all my explorations, I have realised that no matter which corner of our planet I travel to ~ every community strongly feels the need to beautify their environment, decorate the architecture, and adorn themselves in ways that are fitting to their culture.
Take Burmese lacquerware for example: it is one of those mediums through which the beauty of everyday items is transformed into richly decorated objects. Hardly a matter of a single day’s work ~ beautiful lacquerware is usually the product of seasoned artisans.
Visiting the U Ba Nyein Lacquerware Workshop in Bagan, taught us the basics and immersed us in the meticulousness of the artisans. Imagine an unassuming piece of bamboo being transformed in the hands of the craftsmen into a thing of immaculate beauty. That is exactly what happens every day in Myanmar’s lacquerware shops.
With intricate patterns carved carefully on bowls, plates, jewellery holders, and pieces of furniture ~ lacquer work is a fascinating process. I returned home with a small piece of beautifully crafted artwork, and now it serves as a memory of rendezvous with the masters of the art.
A Traditional Burmese Meal
My experience of Burmese cuisine was limited to the one time that I visited a Burmese restaurant in Mumbai and the few times that I had food over at a Burmese friend’s place. But the food that I had tasted was just a prelude because the actual story of Myanmar cuisine unfolded during my trip to this beautiful country.
While we are quick to associate rice, boiled vegetables, curry, and tea to the cuisine ~ it took me a trip to the country to understand the actual flavours, the use of spices, and the cooking techniques used by the locals.
I like elements of the unknown which is very well played in restaurants here, since you don’t really place an order. Instead, you simply wait for several items of food that have been cooked for that day to be brought to your table. There were several dishes on our table, but quite to our amazement, nothing seemed too much. The meal was just perfect, and the availability of condiments in small bowls helped us augment the tastes of those dishes with new twists of salty, sour, sweet, and spicy. My favourite was a bowl with dark green leaves which had been pickled with some very flavoursome spices.
Stuff your bag with tamarind flakes, and then send me some!
Tamarind flakes are so addictive, that when you are given a few of these flakes wrapped in white tissue after lunch, you end up starting with one and ending with nothing in your hands but the tissue ~ all in just a few minutes! This is why I like to call them my “Burmese addiction.” 🙂 And, as for the beer in the country ~ Myanmar Beer ~ my husband sings its praises even after our return.
Palm Sugar “Factory”
With a fulfilling meal sitting smugly in our tummies, we were ready to begin our onward journey to the Aye Yar River View Resort. But before we could reach our destination, our guide made an unplanned stop at a popular tourist attraction which had nothing to do with ancient monuments or beautiful sceneries; The Palm Sugar Factory as we came to know of it, later on, had a different kind of experience lurking in its conventional methodologies.
A cow was strapped on to a manual machine which acted as a mortar and pestle. The cow went around in circles and this resulted in the extraction of palm oil. Intrigued by the orthodox processes used in the factory, a part of us also realised how much of the country remained untouched by the evolution of technology.
We stuffed our already-full tummies with some very delectable palm sugar desserts before taking a look around the factory. The dessert bore some similarities to the chikki sweet back home which is also made of palm sugar, peanuts/sesame, and coconut.
Here’s the most interesting part of our visit: we witnessed a local worker glide up the palm tree and collect sap like a pro.
Sunset Cruise on Ayeyarwady
Nestled in the bountiful banks of the Irrawaddy River, the Aye Yar River View Resort is just the place to be when you are hoping to spend a relaxing evening watching the sunset. It offers excellent views of the river and the mountains crafting a ragged horizon in the distance. With a refreshing drink in our hands, and the most mesmerising views captivating our senses, we knew that our trip was coming to a beautiful close.
In an attempt to gather more experiences in the last few hours of our stay in Bagan, we decided to go for an hour-long cruise in the Ayeyarwaddy River. Immersed in the beauty of nature and the untainted splendour of the views we enjoyed, I realised how much I was going to miss these sunrises and sunsets when we returned home to a city where buildings compete with each other to reach the sky. All we had here was the greenery of Bagan’s flora and the exquisite addition of age-old pagodas in the skyline. No big buildings interrupting our view.
As the sun softly murmured its goodbyes dipping behind the Tangyi Mountains and the ombré sky reflected its motley moods, Vikram and I forgot for a moment that we were still on Earth. It was heavenly, in all senses. A perfect ending to a magical trip!
Tip: This cruise does not require pre-planning. Walk down to the Ayeyar jetty and someone will approach you. It is best to reach early, so plan to be in the water by 4 PM. This will give you enough time to enjoy the sunset on the Ayeyarwaddy.
Come next morning, we were ready for our journey to Mount Popa ~ our next destination.
To conclude: Every time I tell a friend about my trip to Myanmar, I find myself inevitably talking excitingly about my chats with the warm locals of the country. Tourism is still in its infancy, and the rare sight of tourists piques the interest of the locals very quickly. I was glad to sit for long chats with them because it helped me get to know so much more about their way of life.
I am hoping that these posts about Myanmar help you imagine the beauty of the country and encourage you to plan a trip there. My memories of Myanmar will be cherished for a long time because it is rare to come across a country so other-worldly where foreigners are still so few, nature still so cared for, and hospitality deeply treasured.
My trip to Myanmar has been split into several posts; you may access them here: Myanmar Travel Guide / Myanmar Packing Guide / Inle Lake Travel Guide / Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort / Yangon Travel Guide / Vintage Luxury Yacht Hotel. Stay tuned for my review of the luxurious Aureum Palace Resort in Bagan.
Have you visited Bagan before? If so, which was your favourite experience there? If not, is it on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This review was done on an invitation from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar. Due judgment and care have been applied by the author to remain objective and unbiased in the review.
What an amazingly unique part of the world! A detailed post, featuring everything a prospective traveller would need to know. Thank you for sharing, and looking forward to many more such fabulous travel posts, Tanya!
Thank you, Bhawna. I was really quite surprised by how beautiful Bagan was!
Bagan truly is a spectacular place! In fact, Myanmar is a fascinating country. Pagodas dot the landscape, farmers tend to their emerald green rice paddies and the pace of life mirrors the slowly changing seasons…
…it’s also home to friendly, welcoming people. 🙂
Superb post! And your photographic captures are stunning, Tanya! This mysterious land of ancient pagodas, spectacular ruins and diverse scenery is so high on my list of “must-see” places…
I really hope you can make it to Myanmar soon, Taarak.
Such a heartwarming post! ❤️ Bagan seems to have a number of equally astonishing landmarks – old and new. Myanmar has been on my bucket list, and I am happy to have stumbled upon your blog! Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure, Ambika. For more inspiration on what to see and do in Myanmar, read my blogs linked here which feature both the best known and some of the more obscure highlights of the country. 🙂
You have understood this town’s sentiments so well and have followed it’s spiritual path so diligently, Tanya! I was in Bagan earlier this year and fell totally in love!! I wound up staying an additional couple days simply wandering around on the e-bicycle… which I believe was the highlight of my trip!
I think it was one of our favourite places to visit, Gayatri. As soon as we left we wanted to go back…
Such a beautiful snapshot in words, with wonderful travel tips! I can definitely see myself chasing sunrises and secret temples in Bagan… ❤️
The ancient golden spires and scarlet robed priests are a memorable introduction to the country, Shaik.
Wow, such a beautifully curated post! And, Bagan seems to be is a great place for my photography! I will be visiting next month and think I’ll give some of your recommendations a go. 🙂
A place that has captivated travellers for centuries… we just loved Bagan, Vikhyat! Have a great trip!
You make my jaw drop with each post, Tanya! This would definitely etch in any ardent traveller’s mind. I can hardly wait to go!
So happy to hear your affectionate sentiments on this post, Nikita.
Beautiful post! I’m definitely in the “toning it down would be best” camp when it comes to travel… as in – more time in less touristy places. Also, for me, the best experiences are those that are impromptu. 🙂
We did enjoy the less crowded ones more than we did the ones that were more popular with tourists, Pallavi. That being said, Bagan is incredibly beautiful and not to be missed!
Wonderful share, Tanya! My husband and I spent four nights in Bagan and it was the highlight of our trip to Myanmar! And I wholeheartedly agree that adding more time to whatever is planned is a great idea. 🙂
I would like to re-visit and explore the country more in-depth, Annie… away from the well-trodden tourist trails.
Beautiful post with lovely pictures… value your stamp of wisdom too, Tanya! I will be travelling to Bagan at this end of this month, and I hope I can stand the heat! 🙂
It can get HOT there but we would go out early in the morning or late in the afternoon… and just hung out by the pool at the resort during the day, Rushali.
I guess you took the sunset boat trip from Ayeyar Jetty? I went by the jetty on my last trip in September, and was surprised at how bustling with activity it was!
Yes, we did Krishna. We so enjoyed the boat cruise.
You covered it all in these three posts, Tanya . Well done and incredible photography!
It truly is a magical world, Darius! I had trouble picking just a few images for these posts…
Such wonderful insights, Tanya! I will have the misfortune of being in Bagan in May/June 2018. I guess I will miss all the fun and stroll around in the rain, battling slushy streets!
I hope my posts come in useful, Eeshita. Although half the fun of exploring Bagan is making your own {secret} discoveries. Either way, enjoy!
Beautifully articulated, Tanya! And this is such pretty scenery! My family and I are spending 3 days and 3 nights in Bagan and so, this share (and the previous) is much appreciated!
Bagan is truly beautiful! Have a wonderful trip, Madeeha!
I’ve read and appreciated all there posts… We found our very own temples too, and watched the sunrise and sunsets from Bagan every morning. It was absolute magic to enjoy the serene silence and watch the hazy sunlight wax and wane across the tops of the ancient temples… ❤️❤️❤️
So glad that you were encouraged to discover your own path…
Lovely writing and beautiful scenery! ❤️ Keep writing and sharing with us… you are like a lighthouse, Tanya!
Such a wonderful thing to say, Mishti. Thank you very much!
What an emotional and enriching way of sharing your experience in Bagan! Travel is truly a way of aesthetic meditation… So very glad to follow your blog, Tanya.
Thank you for resonating with this and your warm appreciation, Pakhi.
You are elegance personified, Tanya… in the manner that you write, as well as your photography! I hope more travellers follow this important fact of supporting culturally and historically rich destinations, which you so beautifully did!
Thank you very much, Nikita! I’m touched.
Wow ~ your photos add a unique beauty to it all! Meaningful post accompanied by useful travel advise… ✨✨✨
Thank you, Ananya. So nice of you.
I love the stillness of this beautiful #myanmar sunrise over the dusty plains of Bagan… it also seems to be the best place to watch the balloons flying over the temples in Bagan… Hugs to you for this post!
The sunrise was very beautiful, Harsha ~ and there were a number of other people gathered to watch the balloons flying over the temple ruins…
I enjoyed Bagan and the e-bikes so much! I was fortunate to do a hot air balloon whilst there – first 2 mornings cancelled, went up on our 3rd and final morning. Amazing experience! ❤️
I’m so glad you got to fly … it is amazing to see Bagan from the air! So beautiful!
Outstanding images that evoke a metaphysical mood … I love the depth in your words too! Being a central location for Buddhism, the strong history and focus on religion can be found at every turn in Bagan! I too, would highly recommend visiting the highly underrated Myanmar for its ancient wonders!
Thank you for your kind words, Karthika. I appreciate it!
WOW – these photos are amazing! You are very lucky Tanya, that travelling is your passion… you’ll be surprised how fast you’ll collect countries and memories! Adding this to my list of places to visit!
Bagan has my heart ❤️ and it is now on the list of places I will DEFINITELY be going back to!
Let the Nature Heal Your Soul…
Beautiful gallery that let’s me feel your magical moments ❤️ and this place is a hidden gem! Such natural beauty there, and such detail in everything they do!
The whole experience is even more spectacular in real life that in the photos, Hansia.
Bagan is magical – and this is a wonderful post! You look gorgeous, too! Having an interest in any form of art (travel writing included) adds a great character to our journey of self establishment. ❤️
Thank you, Radhika. It is rather sensitive of you, to resonate in this manner.
❤️ Great captures! Although I did not get to experience this, but cycling around and seeing all the pagodas of the ancient city of Bagan is an experience I’ll never forget!!
They really are and there are so many that it’s takes your breathe away!
Woah! One of the most spiritual and artistic locations on earth indeed. That’s a wonderful message and the serenity suits you well! I love everything about this post… and I’d love to visit Bagan someday!
The most unique experience of my life! Take me back to Bagan!
You have had the privilege of travelling the world these past few years, and I appreciate your wanting to share stories of the places you’ve visited with the mission of spreading positivity, unity and giving people hope for a more aware future! ✨✨✨
Thank you, Sukhada. My mission is to bring people together in the spirit of our earth’s beauty…