Bagan Travel Guide
An ancient temple city on the Irrawaddy plain where over 2,200 Buddhist monuments survive from a 10,000-strong 11th-century complex, best explored by e-bike at sunrise and sunset.
🏛️ Sights and Attractions in Bagan
- Ananda Temple — One of Bagan's most revered temples, a perfectly proportioned 12th-century masterpiece with four standing Buddhas facing the cardinal directions.
- Shwezigon Pagoda — A golden bell-shaped stupa from the 11th century, the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas, with glazed terracotta plaques depicting Jataka tales.
- Thatbyinnyu Temple — At 61 meters, the tallest temple in Bagan, built in 1144 with two stories and sweeping views over the plain from its terraces.
- Dhammayangyi Temple — The largest temple in Bagan, built by King Narathu in 1170 with massive brick walls and interior corridors.
- Htilominlo Temple — A 13th-century temple with fine plaster carvings and glazed plaques, built by King Nantaungmya.
- Bagan Archaeological Museum — A museum near the Gawdawpalin Temple displaying artifacts from the Bagan period, including Buddha images, lacquerware, and stone inscriptions.
- Nanpaya Temple — A 12th-century sandstone temple with intricate carvings of Brahma, built by the captive Mon king.
- Manuha Temple — A temple built by the captive Mon king Manuha, with three giant seated Buddhas crammed into small rooms symbolizing his imprisonment.
- Gawdawpalin Temple — A large 12th-century temple on the Irrawaddy riverbank, partially damaged by the 1975 earthquake and rebuilt.
- Irrawaddy River — The mighty Irrawaddy River flows past Bagan, best experienced on a sunset boat cruise watching temples glow on the riverbank.
🥾 Trails and Hikes in Bagan
- Temple Plain E-Bike Circuit — A self-guided e-bike ride through the Bagan plain, hopping between temples at sunrise and sunset — the classic Bagan experience.
- Irrawaddy Riverbank Walk — A walk along the Irrawaddy River bank past villages, temples, and sandbars, best at sunset.
- Old Bagan to New Bagan Walk — A walk south through the temple-studded plain from Old Bagan to New Bagan.
- Mount Popa Day Trip Trail — A day trip to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano topped by the Popa Taungkalat monastery, climbed via 777 steps.
🍽️ Restaurants in Bagan
- The View Restaurant — A restaurant in New Bagan with sunset views over the temple plain and Burmese-international cuisine.
- Black Bamboo Garden — A cozy restaurant in New Bagan with Burmese curries, salads, and a garden setting.
- Sar Sabae Restaurant — A Korean-Burmese restaurant in Nyaung U with BBQ and traditional Burmese dishes.
- Weather Spoon's Bagan — A popular traveler restaurant in Nyaung U with Burmese curries, cocktails, and a social atmosphere.
- Be Kind to Animals Soya Meat Shop — A vegetarian restaurant in Nyaung U with a quirky name and excellent Burmese tea leaf salad.
- Aung Myint Mo Restaurant — A local restaurant in Nyaung U serving traditional Burmese curries and noodle dishes.
- Golden Myanmar Restaurant — A no-frills Burmese restaurant in Nyaung U with set meal options and tea leaf salad.
🍸 Bars and Nightlife in Bagan
- The View Rooftop Bar — A rooftop bar in New Bagan with sunset views over the temple plain.
- Aureum Palace Hotel Bar — The bar at the Aureum Palace resort, with infinity pool views over the Bagan plain.
- Bagan Lodge Bar — The bar at Bagan Lodge resort, offering cocktails in a garden setting.
- Palm Garden Restaurant & Bar — A garden restaurant and bar in Nyaung U with Myanmar Beer and a relaxed traveler vibe.
🎯 Activities and Tours in Bagan
- Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour — Set yourself free as you go for a full day sightseeing in Bagan and visit famous and most significant tourists attractions including, Gubyaukgyi Temple, Nyaung-U Township, Shwezigon Pagoda & more.
- One Bagan Sightseeing Tour — Enjoy exploring the amazing sights of Bagan with an experienced, licensed guide who knows the best locations for sunset, sunrise, avoiding the crowds and maximising your time in Bagan.
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage — Enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Bagan’s key archeological sites with different design styles of key pagodas and temples from 11 century. Learn about the ancient city’s rich history and Buddhism from your guide
- Bagan Cultrue Tour — Meet with our guide at your hotel in Bagan about 8AM. Start highlight sightseeing in Bagan,one main attraction to tourists who visit Myanmar Because it was first Myanmar dating back 11-12 centuries. Tourist will have learn nature of Myanmar culture, Buddhist temples, pagodas, stu
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay — Embark on the RV Panorama and enjoy the warm sunlight and gentle breeze on the upper deck. Upstream from Bagan to Mandalay. Delicious Myanmar cuisine will await you for lunch as you will have a relaxing time sunbathing on the sun deck. The crew team will demonstrate different way
- Old Bagan Full Day Tour — Enjoy exploring the amazing sights of Bagan Tour with an experienced, licensed guide who knows the best locations for sunset, sunrise, avoiding the crowds and maximising your time in Bagan
- Balloons Over Bagan — Balloons over Bagan is your gateway to flights over 8,000 temples and pagodas. The area is the cultural heart of Myanmar. Your balloon flight will be floating in the sky above thousand years of Myanmar history. The exciting thing is that every balloon flight is different and c
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan — For a more relaxing vacation experience, let someone else take care of arranging your transport between Mandalay and Bagan by booking a private transfer. Skip the hassle of hiring a car and waiting for unreliable public transport and, instead, travel from your Mandalay hotel di
- Private Bagan Cultural Tour — Explore the most significant temples as well as less known but should-not-be-missed temples, and end the tour after seeing the spectacular sunset. Tour includes a good air-conditioning car, an experienced driver and an experienced English speaking tour guide. Why should you boo
- Bagan Antique Day Tour in Bagan — If you visit with me, all of my clients will be get enjoyable & safety trip in Bagan, Myanmar. Thanks.
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🏨 Hotels and Stays in Bagan
- Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort Bagan — Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort Bagan is a resort in Old Bagan, Bagan. Inside the ancient walled city with luxury heritage hotels and immediate access to the most famous temples The property features modern amenities, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Bagan Lodge — Bagan Lodge is a hotel in Old Bagan, Bagan. Inside the ancient walled city with luxury heritage hotels and immediate access to the most famous temples The property features modern amenities, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Hotel @ Tharabar Gate — Hotel @ Tharabar Gate is a hotel in Nyaung U, Bagan. The main town with budget and mid-range hotels, restaurants, and the train/bus station, walking distance to Shwezigon Pagoda The property features a guest review score of 8.7/10 and rates from $118/night, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- The Heritage House Bagan — The Heritage House Bagan is a hotel in Old Bagan, Bagan. Inside the ancient walled city with luxury heritage hotels and immediate access to the most famous temples The property features a guest review score of 7.6/10 and rates from $39/night, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Bagan Thande Hotel — Bagan Thande Hotel is a hotel in Old Bagan, Bagan. Inside the ancient walled city with luxury heritage hotels and immediate access to the most famous temples The property features a guest review score of 8.4/10 and rates from $46/night, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Amazing Bagan Resort — Amazing Bagan Resort is a resort in New Bagan, Bagan. A modern village south of Old Bagan with mid-range hotels and restaurants, built after residents were relocated from the archaeological zone The property features a guest review score of 8.6/10, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Popa Mountain Resort — Popa Mountain Resort is a resort in Nyang U / Airport Area, Bagan. The practical area near the airport and train station with budget guesthouses and transit hotels The property features modern amenities, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Arthawka Hotel — Arthawka Hotel is a hotel in Nyaung U, Bagan. The main town with budget and mid-range hotels, restaurants, and the train/bus station, walking distance to Shwezigon Pagoda The property features a guest review score of 8.5/10 and rates from $41/night, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Thazin Garden Hotel — Thazin Garden Hotel is a hotel in Nyaung U, Bagan. The main town with budget and mid-range hotels, restaurants, and the train/bus station, walking distance to Shwezigon Pagoda The property features a guest review score of 8/10, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
- Kumudara Resort — Kumudara Resort is a resort in New Bagan, Bagan. A modern village south of Old Bagan with mid-range hotels and restaurants, built after residents were relocated from the archaeological zone The property features modern amenities, making it a practical base for visiting Bagan.
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