Bagan is truly beautiful, one of the most famous places for visitors. When our friend suggested we go visit Myanmar. We had not heard much about Myanmar and we did not know anyone who has been there at that time. Our trip to Myanmar was incredible in many ways. Keep reading this write up for the best ideas about what to do in Bagan.
Get a Bicycle and Visit Pagodas and Temples
It was super early in the morning, when we first landed in Bagan. We grabbed an old Japanese bike from the hotel and biked around the entire Old Bagan. You can also rent an e-bike if you are unable to pedal too much. The streets were peppered with thousands of temples, left and right, and all you have to do is choose which one to turn in to. Apparently, there are over 2000 temples in Bagan. The place is mostly flat, so riding on a bicycle so much easy there. We did have to get off the bike and push on certain routes though because the roads were not paved and our bikes couldn’t ride on the soft sands.
Enjoy The Sunset
Shwesandaw is one of the bigger and taller pagodas on the plains of Old Bagan. The pagoda is taller than the other ones in Bagan and offers an awesome unblocked view of the entire plain. Which meant you have found a spot to watch the sunset! Not going to tell a lie, sunset is an extremely crowded time at Shwesandaw. While there was almost nobody earlier that day, by sunset the entire west-facing side of the temple was filled.
Get-Up Early For Sunrise!
Would you like to enjoy the amazing scenery of sunrises? And of course, seeing how fantastic the sunset was from Shwesandaw. We knew it would be a popular spot, so we made sure we got there by 5:30 am to reserve a good space. It was pitch dark, cold, and we started to wonder what we were really waiting for out there. But once the sun and the hot air balloons come out, the million-dollar view made it all worthwhile!
Go To Mount Popa
Mount Popa is a volcano and it is located 50km from Bagan. This gonna be a great trip for you if you go there. The amazing thing to do in Mount Popa is not the mountain itself, it is visiting the Buddhist Monastery that is dramatically perched on top of Taung Kalat, a volcanic plug 657 meters above sea level. If you are staying in Bagan for more than a day, we recommend hiring a car and get yourself out here! You can book this Mount Popa Day Tour, which includes an English speaking guide, or you can just arrange a car from your hotel if you don’t want a tour.
Give a Try The Burmese National Delight: Mohinga
One of the dishes we loved from Myanmar was Mohinga, a comforting rice noodle soup made with fish stock. The soup is normally had for breakfast or light afternoon snacks. You will discover Mohinga practically everywhere in the country, but the best is when you spot a group of people slurping away on their bowl of soup on a low plastic stool. Wanna have it?
